Corrugated Handle Box Market Report 2026

The corrugated handle box market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $47.66 billion in 2025 to $50.9 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of retail distribution networks, growth in packaged goods transportation, rising use of corrugated packaging in agriculture, availability of low-cost paperboard materials, increased adoption of box-based logistics.

The corrugated handle box market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $66.75 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions, expansion of e-commerce shipping volumes, rising focus on plastic replacement packaging, increasing customization in retail packaging, higher demand for reusable transport boxes. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of recyclable corrugated packaging, rising demand for durable handle box designs, growing use of custom printed corrugated boxes, expansion of lightweight protective packaging solutions, enhanced focus on ergonomic carrying features.

The increasing demand within the food and beverage industry is expected to drive the growth of the corrugated handle box market in the coming years. The food and beverage industry encompasses a wide range of activities related to the production, processing, packaging, distribution, and retail of food and drink products. Corrugated handle boxes are widely used by restaurants and food service providers for carrying takeaway and delivery orders, as they allow customers to conveniently transport multiple food items and beverages at once. For example, in March 2025, according to Statistics Canada, a Canada-based government agency, total sales by food and beverage retailers increased by 3.8% in 2023 to reach CAD 156.4 billion (US$ 114.2 billion). During the same period, operating expenses rose by 4% to CAD 34.7 billion (US$ 25.3 billion), while the cost of goods sold also increased by 4% to CAD 110.7 billion (US$ 80.8 billion). Therefore, rising demand across the food and beverage sector is contributing to the expansion of the corrugated handle box market.

Companies operating in the corrugated handle box market are increasingly concentrating on product innovation, including the development of sustainable heavy-duty corrugated boxes, to address growing demand for durable, eco-friendly, and damage-resistant packaging solutions in logistics and e-commerce. Heavy-duty corrugated boxes are sturdy, multi-layered cardboard containers designed to endure rough handling, heavy loads, and long-distance transportation, while offering enhanced strength, durability, and protection for fragile or bulky products during storage and shipment. For instance, in November 2025, The Boxery, an India-based sustainable packaging company, introduced a new range of sustainable heavy-duty corrugated boxes. These products feature reinforced walls and ergonomic handles, are manufactured using recycled and recyclable materials, help reduce packaging waste, and are suitable for shipping, storage, and retail logistics applications. Key benefits include reduced product damage, improved handling efficiency, and a lower environmental footprint.

In January 2023, Stora Enso Oyj, a Finland-based manufacturing company, acquired De Jong Packaging Group for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Stora Enso seeks to broaden its packaging solutions portfolio and strengthen its footprint in the European packaging market. De Jong Packaging Group is a Netherlands-based manufacturing company specializing in corrugated handle box solutions.

Major companies operating in the corrugated handle box market are Reid Packaging, Allen Field Company Inc., Unicraft Industries, Guangzhou Bosing Paper Printing and Packaging Co. Ltd., GWP Group, CBS Packaging, Riverside Paper Co., Rengo Co. Ltd., Mondi Group, DS Smith plc, Shanghai Forests Packaging Group Co. Ltd., Planet Paper Box Group Inc., Georgia-Pacific LLC, International Paper Company, Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, Oji Holdings Corporation, Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit Kappa Group, WestRock Company, Shanghai DE Printed Box, Shenzhen Tianya Paper Products Co. Ltd., Jamestown Container Companies, Landaal Packaging Systems, Mac Papers, Illinois Paper & Copier Co., Bay Cities, Belmont Packaging.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the corrugated handle box market in 2025. The regions covered in the corrugated handle box market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the corrugated handle box market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The corrugated handle box market consists of sales of liquid packaging board, paperboard, and corrugated fibreboard. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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