South Africa Bottled Water Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

South African bottled water market is expected to experience a CAGR of 4.74% throughout the forecast period, reaching a market size of US$853.445 million by 2029. This represents a substantial increase from US$617.335 million recorded in 2022.

Bottled water is expected to hold a significant share in the South African market, owing to factors like lack of drinkable water, increase in waterborne disease, rising health consciousness, and increasing disposable income among the people in the country. For instance, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), states that climate-included changes in the water cycle and drought are expected to increase across Southern Africa over the next decade. Additionally, South Africa is one of the driest countries in the world, it ranks 29th out of 193 countries surveyed by the IPCC, which has an average yearly rainfall of about 50% of the world average. Hence, if the availability of water from natural resources falls, it will inversely increase the demand for bottled water in the projected period.

Furthermore, companies have started providing innovative solutions in the country. For instance, Coca-Cola has expanded the rollout of refillable 2-liters and 1.5-liters PET (RefPET) plastic bottles, that can be cleaned, refilled, and reused before being recycled and made into new PET bottles in South Africa. Therefore, in the coming years, a shortage of water is expected to push the market for bottled water.

The increasing water crisis and companies' rising focus on bottled water products is propelling the South African bottled water market.

According to the International Trade Administration, various elements are impacting the availability of fresh water in the nation. Deforestation, the construction of dams, the destruction of wetlands, rapid urbanization, mining activities, agricultural practices, unintentional water pollution, and excessive energy consumption collectively contribute to a water crisis in the country. Additionally, the increased occurrence of hot and dry conditions leads to a heightened rate of evaporation, exacerbating the scarcity of fresh water. These factors are anticipated to intensify the shortage of fresh water, compelling individuals to increasingly rely on bottled water. As per the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, South Africa is projected to experience a 17% deficit in water supply by the year 2030.

Strategic mergers and acquisitions are expected to boost the market in the coming years. For instance, in December 2023, Varun Beverages announced the acquisition of BevCo, a South African beverage company, for INR1,320 crores. This acquisition will help the company to increase its geographical presence, as BevCo has manufacturing and franchise rights from PepsiCo Inc. in Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa. As per the Government of South Africa, just 45.2% of the population had access to water through piped water sources, while 29.4% had to depend on on-site water. Additionally, 12.2% of people relied on communal taps for their water supply, and 1.9% had to obtain water from their neighbors' taps. The limited availability of water in the country has led companies to perceive a necessity to introduce bottled water, aiming to enhance their presence in response to the prevailing water challenges.

Segmentation:

By Size:

• 330 ml
• 500 ml
• 1 liter
• 5 liters
• Others

By Water Type:

• Natural Water
• Water Defined by Origin
• Prepared Water

By Distribution Channel:

• Online
• Offline

By Packaging Material:

• Glass
• PET
• Others