Qatar Fresh Food Packaging Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The Qatar fresh food packaging market was estimated at around US$1.736 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow to US$2.093 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 3.81%.

Food packaging is a dynamic procedure that is used for preparing fresh food for safe transportation, distribution, storage, retail, and delivery of the said products. Various types of materials are used for the fresh food packaging, which includes low and high-density polyethylene, aluminum, tin, and cardboard.

There are numerous methods available in the market for fresh food packaging, like aspect packaging, where food products, especially liquids products, are packed into beforehand sterilized containers, vessels, and cans, whereas foods like soups, beans, and mais are packed into cans made of steel, tin, or aluminum. Trays, bags, boxes, wrappers, and cartons are among the other methods of packaging fresh foods.

The fresh food packaging market size of Qatar has seen tremendous growth in the recent few years, mainly due to the increasing consumption of processed foods. The Planning and Statistics Agency of Qatar stated that the population of the nation increased significantly over the years. It was further estimated that the nation’s population was about 3.118 million in January 2024, which increased from 2.791 million in January 2022, a growth of about 1 million in the duration of two years. Similarly, the increasing urban population and rapidly growing GDP per capita are also estimated to increase the demand for fresh food in the nation. According to the World Bank, the urban population of Qatar in 2022 was about 99%. Similarly, according to the International Monetary Fund, in 2021, the GDP per capita of the nation was about US$ 66,858.7, which significantly increased to US$ 87,661.5 in 2022. This increase is sure to create a new consumer base for the industry, pushing the demand forward.

One of the major drivers for the food packaging industry’s expansion in Qatar is the increase in the fresh food import of the nation. In 2021, Qatar imported food products valued at about US$ 0.913 billion, most of which was supplied from the European and Central Asian regions. The imports of the nation’s food products increased to US$ 1.02 billion in 2022, importing major products like meat, rice, spices, and bread. The nation’s exports accounted for about US$ 0.003 billion of the same, mainly to the Middle East and North African region.

The market of the fresh food packaging industry in Qatar needs to overcome some challenges to achieve more significant growth in the future. Challenges like dependence on the import of raw materials, like packaging materials and foods, and also limited governmental support for the development of the packaging industry in the nation.

Qatar Fresh Food Packaging Market Drivers:

An increase in the nation’s policy for food securities is expected to increase the demand for fresh food packaging.

Food security is one of the major concerns for the government of Qatar, as Qatar does not have the environmental advantage of growing major crops. The government took the food security issue seriously and introduced various policies and plans to ensure food security and become self-reliant in the production of essential food supplies. In September 2023, the nation announced that they had achieved total self-sufficiency in the supply of essential food items.

Government interest in increasing the supply of fresh food to its citizens creates an opportunity for global food and beverage leaders to enter the Qatar market. To promote food and farm security in the nation, the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar introduced various innovation solutions and sustainable systems to focus on under the new National Food Security Strategy, announced in 2023. Additionally, Qatar's National Resource Management Strategy aims to enhance the use of land in the nation and to increase the production of plant, animal, and fishery products.

Qatar Fresh Food Packaging Market Restraint:

Heavy reliance on the import of raw materials, including fresh food.

One of the major challenges for Qatar’s fresh food packaging industry is the heavy reliance on food and consumer product imports. Qatar has very limited production capability for agricultural producers, making the nation rely heavily on imports. It was estimated by the World Integrated Trade Solution, an organization by the World Bank, that the total import of food products of the nation reached US$ 9.13 billion in 2023, making it about 3.26% of the total import value of Qatar. Some of the major products that the nation imports include fresh or frozen meat carcasses, bread, cakes, chocolates, and dairy products. This dependence on imports can create a shortage of raw materials and food products for the food packaging industries operating in the nation.

Qatar Fresh Food Packaging Market Players and Products:

• Hotpack: The company offers Deli Container Round, ZipLock Storage Bags, 38 Oz Rectangular Corrugated Container, and PE Coated Chicken Paper Bag, among others.
• EcoLeaf: In the fresh food packaging industry, EcoLeaf offers a Compartment Sugarcane Container, a Deli Box, and a Dinner BioBoard Box, among others.

Qatar Fresh Food Packaging Key Industrial Updates:

• In March 2023, Baladna group, borrowing the technology from the SIG in Qatar, launched white cheese in aseptic carton packs. SIG installed its CFA 312 filling machine, which offers Baldana a total of four different filling sizes, and also has the flexibility to fill and pack juice and dairy products in carton packs.

The Qatar Fresh Food Packaging market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

By Materials Type

• Flexible plastic 
• Rigid plastic 
• Paper and paperboard

By Application

• Poultry & Meat Products
• Dairy Products
• Produce (Vegetables and Fruits)
• Sea Food