Caps and Closures Market Size, Trends

Caps and Closures Market Overview

Global Caps and Closures Market size is anticipated to be worth USD 62298.83 million in 2024, projected to reach USD 94915.05 million by 2033 at a 4.7% CAGR.

The global caps and closures market plays a vital role in the packaging sector, supporting industries such as beverages, food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In 2023, over 2.6 trillion packaging units were sealed using caps and closures across the globe, highlighting their widespread use. Plastic closures accounted for nearly 63% of these units, with metal closures comprising 27% and others like corks and foils comprising the rest. The beverage sector alone consumed more than 1.4 trillion caps, primarily screw caps and crown caps. Emerging applications in the pharmaceutical sector added over 62 billion closures in 2023, particularly tamper-evident and child-resistant types. The proliferation of single-serve packaging formats and on-the-go consumption trends significantly elevated the demand for lightweight closures. In addition, sustainability measures have pushed companies to adopt recyclable materials, with bio-based closures contributing to over 3% of the total units in circulation by the end of 2023. The demand for caps and closures is also being reinforced by global logistics needs, with over 400 million liters of bulk liquid being shipped in drums and barrels sealed using industrial-grade closures.

Key Findings

Top Driver reason: Rising demand for secure and tamper-evident packaging across the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Top Country/Region: China dominates global cap production, accounting for over 28% of units manufactured globally in 2023.

Top Segment: Plastic screw closures lead the market by volume, exceeding 1.1 trillion units shipped in 2023.

Caps and Closures Market Trends

The caps and closures market continues to experience notable shifts in design innovation, material preference, and sustainability. As of 2024, over 65% of beverage caps were made from polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), materials that offer lightweight strength and ease of molding. Additionally, tamper-evident closures saw a 12% increase in demand between 2022 and 2024, reaching 74 billion units globally. Consumers’ demand for transparency in packaging contributed to this rise, especially in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Another major trend is the increasing usage of flip-top closures, which captured 9% of the personal care product closure market, thanks to convenience and hygiene factors.

Sustainability remains a defining trend. In 2023, more than 410 million units of closures were manufactured from bio-based or compostable materials, especially in Europe. Lightweighting initiatives have also resulted in an average 17% reduction in plastic per cap between 2018 and 2024. Brands in North America have significantly reduced closure weight by 0.5 grams per unit across carbonated drinks. Digital printing technologies for caps increased by 25% in usage in 2023 due to their customization benefits. Meanwhile, in the wine industry, synthetic corks surpassed 38% of market share by units in 2023, replacing traditional corks due to cost-efficiency and consistent sealing performance.

Caps and Closures Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for pharmaceuticals.

The growth of the pharmaceutical industry is directly contributing to higher demand for secure and compliant packaging solutions, particularly caps and closures. In 2023, over 180 billion pharmaceutical units required specialized closures such as child-resistant caps, tamper-evident seals, and desiccant-integrated closures. These closures are critical in preventing contamination and ensuring patient safety. Stringent regulations across the US, EU, and APAC regions necessitate the use of such closures. In India alone, production of medicine bottles requiring certified child-resistant caps rose to 3.4 billion units in 2023. Increased global healthcare access and aging populations further intensify demand for these protective packaging components.

RESTRAINT

Environmental regulations on plastic use.

One of the significant restraints impacting the caps and closures market is the tightening of regulations on single-use plastics. As of 2024, over 60 countries have implemented restrictions on plastic packaging components, affecting over 800 billion plastic closures annually. This regulatory pressure is especially high in Europe, where packaging waste directives have mandated a minimum 25% recycled content in plastic caps. As a result, manufacturers face increased costs in compliance, material sourcing, and redesign of existing products. The transition to recyclable or biodegradable closures requires significant R&D investment and alters supply chain dynamics, which many small and medium enterprises struggle to accommodate.

OPPORTUNITY

Rising demand for premium beverages.

The premiumization of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages presents a key growth opportunity for the caps and closures market. In 2023, over 3.1 billion premium wine bottles were sealed using specialty closures like aluminum screw caps and synthetic corks. Craft beers and spirits also favored customized crown caps and embossed closures, adding brand differentiation. High-end product positioning demands visually appealing and functional closures, supporting an industry-wide shift towards personalization. This trend is expanding rapidly in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, where premium beverage segments have grown their unit output by 18% and 12%, respectively, over two years.

CHALLENGE

Rising costs and expenditures.

The caps and closures market is grappling with increased operational costs. Raw material prices for resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene rose by over 30% between 2021 and 2023, directly impacting closure production costs. Metal caps faced similar pressures due to aluminum price fluctuations, which reached $2,600 per metric ton in Q2 2023. Energy costs in closure manufacturing also rose significantly, especially in Europe and Asia, where natural gas and electricity prices surged post-2022. These cost hikes strained margins, especially for closure manufacturers operating under tight supply contracts with beverage and pharmaceutical giants.

Caps and Closures Market Segmentation

The caps and closures market is segmented by type and application, reflecting a wide array of industrial uses. On the basis of type, plastic screw closures dominate the landscape with over 1.1 trillion units annually, followed by metal crowns and peel-off foils. Application-wise, bottled water accounts for the highest consumption, followed by carbonated soft drinks and beer.

By Type

Easy-Open Can Ends: More than 85 billion easy-open can ends were used in 2023 across ready-to-eat food packaging. These closures are primarily made from aluminum and tinplate, favored for their ease and safety. Their use has grown particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America, where canned food consumption is rising.
Metal Lug Closures: Metal lug closures were deployed in over 12 billion glass jars globally, mainly for jams, sauces, and baby food. These closures ensure a tight vacuum seal, essential for extending product shelf life. India and Poland emerged as major users, producing a combined 3.1 billion units in 2023.
Peel-Off Foils: In 2023, peel-off foils accounted for 9.7 billion units, primarily used in yogurt, dairy, and pharmaceutical blister packs. Aluminum foil was the dominant material, offering barrier properties essential for perishable contents. The European Union consumed over 4.2 billion foil closures due to high dairy demand.
Plastic Screw Closures: These closures dominate the market, especially for beverages and pharmaceuticals, with over 1.1 trillion units distributed worldwide. Their popularity stems from their cost-effectiveness, sealing efficiency, and compatibility with automated capping systems. China alone produced over 330 billion units in 2023.
Metal Crowns: Used predominantly in beer bottling, metal crown closures secured over 285 billion units globally in 2023. These closures, typically made of steel or tinplate with a PVC-free liner, offer pressure resistance. Germany and Mexico together exported 58 billion metal crowns.
Metal Screw Closures: About 96 billion units of metal screw closures were used in 2023, particularly in wines, spirits, and olive oils. Their airtight seal and resealability are crucial for liquid freshness. Australia is a key market with 1.8 billion screw caps utilized for wine packaging.
Corks: Natural and synthetic corks sealed approximately 14.2 billion bottles of wine in 2023. Portugal remains the world’s largest cork producer, supplying 51% of the global market. Synthetic corks are gaining popularity due to cost and consistency benefits.
Others: Innovative closures like snap-on lids, flip-tops, and pumps accounted for over 38 billion units in the cosmetics and personal care segment in 2023. These closures are designed for reusability, portion control, and aesthetic appeal.

By Application

Beer: Beer packaging consumed over 295 billion closures in 2023, with metal crowns accounting for 96% of this volume. Leading breweries in Germany, China, and the US rely on crown caps for their durability and shelf-life maintenance.
Wine: The wine industry used approximately 17 billion closures in 2023. Metal screw caps held a 47% share, synthetic corks 38%, and natural corks the remainder. Australia and Chile are notable markets where screw caps outnumber traditional corks due to export preferences.
Bottled Water: This application accounted for over 460 billion plastic closures globally in 2023, largely driven by single-use PET bottles. Lightweight screw caps weighing 1.2 grams or less dominate this segment for cost and recyclability.
Carbonated Soft Drinks: Carbonated beverages utilized more than 420 billion closures in 2023, typically requiring tight-seal caps with high burst resistance. Brands in North America and Southeast Asia lead this demand due to massive consumption volumes.
Others: Closures used in food jars, cosmetics, household chemicals, and industrial drums collectively exceeded 390 billion units in 2023. Flip-top lids and press-on caps were prominent in non-beverage applications due to their functionality.

Caps and Closures Market Regional Outlook

The global caps and closures market exhibits significant regional variation based on packaging demand, industry preferences, and regulatory norms.

North America

In 2023, North America consumed over 610 billion closure units, with the United States contributing approximately 470 billion. High demand in bottled water, carbonated drinks, and pharmaceuticals drives the region’s consumption. The pharmaceutical sector alone utilized over 95 billion child-resistant and tamper-evident closures. Plastic screw caps dominated usage with more than 62% market share by volume, particularly in PET bottles. Canada also showed increasing usage of bio-based closures, with more than 11 million eco-friendly units produced locally.

Europe

Europe accounted for over 680 billion closures in 2023, led by Germany, France, and the UK. The EU’s packaging waste regulations accelerated the use of recyclable closures, with 40% of caps containing post-consumer resin. Wine packaging in France used 2.7 billion metal screw caps, while Italy used 1.2 billion synthetic corks in 2023. Food jars across Eastern Europe accounted for 23 billion metal lug closures. Sustainability and compliance with EU directives are major drivers, prompting innovations in closure materials and recyclability.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific led the global market with over 1.2 trillion units consumed in 2023, largely driven by China, India, and Japan. China alone produced over 580 billion closures, exporting over 150 billion to North America and Africa. India’s pharmaceutical and bottled water sectors pushed closure consumption to 310 billion units. Japan’s demand for premium beverage closures, such as embossed metal screw caps, exceeded 8.4 billion units. Local players continue to invest in high-speed injection molding machines to meet rising regional demand.

Middle East & Africa

This region saw closure consumption exceed 240 billion units in 2023. South Africa led with over 65 billion units, particularly in beverages and household goods. The Gulf countries, including UAE and Saudi Arabia, collectively used more than 78 billion closures, with bottled water and cosmetics driving growth. Many countries in this region are importing caps due to limited local manufacturing capacity, with Turkey and India being major suppliers.

List of Top Caps and Closures Market Companies

Global Closure Systems
Silgan Holdings
Reynolds Group Holdings
Crown Holdings
Berry Plastics Corporation
Berlin Packaging
Guala Closures Group
Manaksia

Top Two Companies With highest share

Silgan Holdings: shipped over 125 billion closures globally in 2023, specializing in tamper-evident and plastic screw caps for food and beverages.

Berry Plastics: Corporation produced more than 110 billion units, with a strong footprint in personal care, dairy, and water bottle closures across 40+ countries.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The caps and closures market presents robust investment opportunities, driven by sustainability trends, healthcare expansion, and packaging innovation. In 2023, over $1.2 billion was invested globally in new closure manufacturing plants, with Asia-Pacific receiving 48% of the total. Investments in injection and compression molding technologies saw a 14% rise year-over-year, enhancing production capacity and reducing material waste.

In India, over 25 new plants focused on pharmaceutical closures opened in 2023, collectively producing 2.1 billion child-resistant caps annually. European investments targeted bio-based and recycled resin-based closures, with over 460 million units manufactured using compostable materials in Germany alone.

The premium beverage market is attracting significant capital. Over 430 million specialty closures (embossed screw caps, synthetic corks, and luxury snap-ons) were introduced globally in 2023. Brands are increasingly investing in closures that add brand identity and aesthetic appeal, especially in wine and spirits.

In North America, automation in closure production gained traction, with over 120 manufacturing lines upgraded to smart systems in 2023, reducing labor dependency and increasing throughput by 22%. Investors are also focusing on digital printing solutions for cap customization, especially for limited-edition beverages.

E-commerce growth also fuels innovation in secure closures. Tamper-evident features were added to 380 million closure units in 2023 across food and personal care items sold online. Investments in anti-counterfeit technologies, such as holographic seals and QR code-enabled closures, are expanding, particularly in pharmaceutical exports.

New Product Development

Closure manufacturers are increasingly innovating to meet consumer preferences, sustainability mandates, and safety standards. In 2023, over 80 new closure designs were launched across materials including bio-based polymers, aluminum, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). One of the key innovations was a tethered cap for carbonated soft drinks, now mandatory in parts of Europe, with over 1.5 billion units produced by leading suppliers.

Silgan introduced a lightweight flip-top closure in early 2024 weighing just 1.4 grams, 22% lighter than its predecessor. This closure, aimed at the personal care industry, offers enhanced ergonomics and requires less material. Berry Plastics launched a child-resistant closure integrated with a desiccant unit, eliminating the need for external moisture-absorbing components—a solution that shipped over 130 million units in Q3 2023 alone.

Peelable foils now come with easy-grip tabs and laser-etched branding, enhancing both functionality and marketing potential. These closures were widely adopted by yogurt manufacturers across North America in 2023, with 210 million units rolled out by three major dairy brands.

In wine and spirits, synthetic corks with oxygen-permeability control were introduced in 2024, offering better flavor preservation. These corks saw over 70 million units sold in premium wine markets across France and Australia. Meanwhile, flip-top caps with dual-dispensing options (e.g., stream and spray) were piloted in the household cleaners market in the US and received positive feedback across 180 million products.

Five Recent Developments

Silgan Holdings: launched a biodegradable tamper-evident cap line in Q2 2023, producing 220 million units in its first 6 months.
Berry Plastics: expanded its Ohio plant in 2024, increasing output capacity by 35%, equivalent to 1.1 billion more plastic closures annually.
Guala Closures Group: introduced digital traceability caps for wine bottles, using QR codes to authenticate origin—over 14 million units were produced in 2023.
Crown Holdings: partnered with a beverage company to develop resealable metal crowns, a first in the beer segment, piloted on 90 million units in 2023.
Global Closure Systems: integrated AI-enabled quality inspection in all European facilities by late 2023, increasing defect detection rates by 40%.

Report Coverage of Caps and Closures Market

This comprehensive report on the caps and closures market spans over 50 countries, analyzing data from both established and emerging economies. It evaluates over 10 types of closures across five major application areas: beer, wine, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, and others including food jars, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

The scope includes a breakdown by type such as plastic screw closures, metal crowns, synthetic corks, and foil seals, analyzing their material usage, weight, sealing strength, recyclability, and consumer preference. It also delves into application-based demand trends with over 2.6 trillion closure units assessed globally in 2023. Key metrics analyzed include units shipped, closures per product type, material share, and market distribution.

Regional insights are provided for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa, each supported by factual shipment and production figures. The report details how environmental regulations, healthcare expansion, and consumer lifestyle shifts shape market trends in each geography.

Company profiling covers eight major players, focusing on manufacturing footprint, product innovation, volume leadership, and market penetration strategies. Detailed segmentation and forecasting help stakeholders understand which closure types are poised for demand in specific applications and regions. The report also highlights technological investments, such as AI integration in manufacturing and digital printing for closures.