Latin America Retort Pouch Market Size & Outlook, 2025-2033

Market Overview

The Latin America retort pouch market size was valued at USD 2.23 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow from USD 2.39 billion in 2025 to reach USD 19.51 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 29.9% during the forecast period (2025–2033).

A retort pouch is a type of food packaging made of flexible plastic and metal foil laminate. For the sterile packing of a wide variety of food and drink handled by aseptic processing, it is used as an alternative to typical industrial canning methods. Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) are completely prepared, thermo-stabilized (heat-treated), high-calorie (1,300 kcal on average) meals that can be consumed cold, warmed by submerging in hot water, or heated with a flameless ration heater.

The Latin America region is divided into three sections: Brazil, Mexico, and the Rest of Latin America. During the forecast period, Latin America is expected to be the fastest-growing market.

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Market Dynamics

Key Market Drivers

• Online meal delivery's popularity: The rising popularity of online food delivery is fuelling demand for flexible packaging for convenience foods and the trend has been observed in the whole of the Latin American market when online food delivery has increased with more use of retort pouch packaging.
• Growing consumption of packaged foods: The consumption of packaged food products has increased substantially in Latin America in recent years. As a result, the demand for flexible packaging has increased, creating numerous prospects for retort packaging makers. Businesses in end-use industries, in particular, have grown increasingly cognizant of sustainable packaging options.

Key Market Restraints

• Slower filling speeds: Slower filling processes and the necessity for extra protection while shipping are two potential issues. Filling procedures are slower than those used in canning. Depending on the container you choose, you may need to give additional wrapping during distribution to avoid accidental puncture and this is a very significant restraint in the growth of the market.

• High cost linked with research and development: As packaging companies rely substantially on their research and development capabilities, they can afford to spend more on R&D. For example, shifting customer preferences from traditional packaging to intelligent and active packaging, and raising consumer knowledge of food safety, among other things. As a result, businesses must spend in research and development to diversify their businesses and uncover new growth prospects as technology advances and this can potentially become a restraint in the growth of the business.

Regional Analysis

During the projected period, the Latin America retort pouch market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% to a total value of 436 million USD in 2030. Argentina's packaging business went through a terrible period during the economic downturn, which was exacerbated by the epidemic. Low- and middle-income social groups' purchasing power plummeted, stifling any prospects for innovation and premium packaging. Argentina has seen a dramatic drop in earnings, increased unemployment, and a downturn in consumer patterns, all of which have had an impact on packaging types and sizes in many categories.

According to the Brazilian government, the packaged food market in Brazil experienced considerable development in 2021, with a growth rate of more than 30% since 2016. Ready meals, breakfast cereals, infant food, sauces, dressings, and condiments, processed meat, shellfish, and soup all have significant growth rates.

Since the last decade, public awareness of the negative consequences of plastic use has increased dramatically. Many public campaigns and initiatives launched by Latin American governments (multiple countries) have raised public awareness. As a result, plastic packaging consumption has increased significantly in recent years.

Brazil is expected to have a large share of the market due to the following reasons: Brazil is a leader in Latin America in terms of economic growth and foreign direct investment. Food and industrial items are in high demand, which is met by imports. To protect the products from damage, retort packaging will be required in this region. Demand for packaged food is projected to rise as the middle-income class grows, allowing the flexible packaging sector to expand.

In this market, there is a trend that favors premiumization. Brazilians are eager to spend on cosmetics despite their price sensitivity and thus retort packaging is expected to increase significantly in this region.

Segmental Analysis

Polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, PET, aluminum foil, and other materials are used in the market. With an expected market value of USD 1,690.8 million in 2021, polypropylene will be the fastest-growing sector. It will reach a market value of USD 3,015.8 million in 2030, with an annual growth rate of 8.1%. Extreme temperature and chemical resistance, as well as expanding usage in automotive, packaging, healthcare, electronics, and building and construction, will all contribute to market expansion. Higher tensile strength, superior barrier, and cheaper cost will all contribute to the segment's value. With an expected value of USD 1,453.8 million in 2030, the PET sector will have the second-largest market share.

The market can be separated into two types of packaging: stand-up pouches and flat pouches. With a market value of USD 2,482.2 million in 2021, stand-up pouches will have the biggest market share. With a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period, it will reach a value of about USD 4,573.9 million in 2030. Sustainability, lightweight, and increasing printability and seal ability availability will all contribute to the segment's growth. Due to its simplicity and availability in a wide range of materials and seals, the flat pouches market is expected to reach USD 3,693.4 million in 2030.

The market can be divided into three types of closures: tear notch, zipper, and spout. With a market value of USD 1,828 million in 2021, the zipper segment will have the biggest market share during the projected period. In 2030, it will have a market value of USD 3,245.1 million. Due to the possibility to be accessed several times due to its usefulness and increased utilization of e-commerce and on-the-go applications, the CAGR is expected to be 7.3 percent. With an expected market value of USD 3,137.9 million in 2030, the tear-notch sector will account for the second-largest market share.

The market can be divided into food, drinks, pet food, and other categories based on application. With a market value of USD 2,499.6 million in 2021, food will hold the biggest market share over the projected period. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.1 percent. The market will be worth USD 4,123.2 million in 2030, according to estimates. The segment's growth will be aided by factors such as increased temperature resistance and the capacity to be integrated into ready-to-eat packaging. Pet food will have the second-largest market share in 2030, with an estimated value of USD 1,701.3 million.

Impact of Covid-19

COVID Impact: During COVID-19, supply chain interruptions hampered the trade, causing a lack of raw materials for producers and a delay in delivering finished items in the form of blind bolts to customers. As official prohibitions around the world have been lifted, demand for blind bolts has already begun to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

List of key players in Latin America Retort Pouch Market

1. Amcor PLC
2. Berry Global Inc.
3. Mondi Group
4. Sealed Air Corporation
5. Coveris Holdings SA
6. Constantia Flexible
7. Sonoco Products Company
8. Huhtamamaki
9. Winpak
10. Fujimori Kogyo Co. Ltd
11. Clondalkin Group
12. Flair Flexible Packaging Corporation
13. DNP America LLC
14. Clifton Packaging Group Limited
15. HPM Global Inc.
16. Floeter India Retort Pouches (P) Ltd
17. ProAmpac 

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Recent Developments

• Coveris Holdings SA created a new cereal liner solution in June 2021. Using a newly designed formulation, the Cereal+ liner was devised to combine packer performance, shelf life, and consumer usefulness. Coveris' Cereal+ liner is constructed of 100% recyclable polypropylene and protects cereals and dry foods packed in bag-in-box films.

• Mondi PLC enhanced its paper-based MailerBAG range in June 2021, allowing it to replace plastic packaging in e-commerce with a recyclable solution consisting of responsibly sourced renewable resources. The MailerBAG comes in three different designs. The flat bottom variant adds to the existing line of pinch and folding bottom bags, all of which provide consumers with user-friendly packaging that delivers several benefits.