Argentina Blister Packaging Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Type (Compartment, Slide, Wallet), By Material (PVC, PVDC, PP, Others), By Technology (Cold-Form, Thermoformed), And By End-User (Consumer Goods, Food, Pharmaceutical) - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

Description

The Argentine blister packaging market was valued at US$101.538 million in 2021 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.17% over the forecast period to reach US$144.502 million by 2028. 

Argentina Blister Packaging Market Key Highlights

• The pharmaceutical sector represents the dominant growth catalyst, primarily driven by the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Devices (ANMAT) mandate for drug traceability, which necessitates high-barrier, individually sealed blister formats.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC) remain core materials, with a market preference for thermoformed packaging technology due to its cost-efficiency and compatibility with high-volume production essential for fast-moving consumer goods and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.
• Persistent macroeconomic instability and import constraints in Argentina represent a significant headwind, directly impacting the domestic supply chain for key plastic and aluminum raw materials, thus creating pricing volatility for packaging manufacturers.
• The market is experiencing a rising imperative for advanced barrier films, particularly for prescription drugs, which drives demand for multi-layer structures incorporating materials like PVDC or Cold Form Foil (CFF) to ensure product integrity under varied logistical and storage conditions.

The Argentine blister packaging market serves as a critical component of the country’s pharmaceutical, food, and consumer goods supply chains, acting as a direct measure of activity within these high-volume sectors. Its structure is intrinsically linked to local economic conditions and stringent regulatory frameworks, particularly those governing drug and food safety. The market exhibits a clear bifurcation in demand: high-barrier, tamper-evident solutions are mandatory for the healthcare segment, while cost-effective, high-speed thermoforming solutions dominate the non-pharmaceutical sectors. A core characteristic is the market’s reliance on imported raw materials for sophisticated barrier films, making local manufacturers highly susceptible to the nation's currency volatility and trade policies, which introduces complexity for end-users seeking consistent pricing and supply assurance.

Argentina Blister Packaging Market Analysis

• Growth Drivers

The primary factor propelling market expansion is the mandated drug traceability system implemented by ANMAT. This regulation creates direct demand for tamper-evident, unit-dose blister formats, as each product must carry a unique serial number on its secondary packaging, making the individual unit dose blister the most compliant and secure primary packaging format. Another significant catalyst is the growth in the organized retail sector for consumer goods, which increases demand for visually appealing, hang-friendly carded and slide blister packs. These formats, used for batteries, hardware, and small electronics, reduce pilferage and enhance product visibility at the point of sale, translating directly into higher purchasing volumes of plastic and paperboard blister solutions by consumer product manufacturers.

• Challenges and Opportunities

A central challenge is the local foreign exchange constraint and the resulting difficulties in importing critical raw materials, specifically specialized plastic resins and aluminum foil. This supply chain friction increases input costs for domestic converters, leading to price volatility for blister packaging and, in some cases, product delays, thereby decreasing demand predictability. Conversely, a major opportunity lies in the accelerated adoption of sustainable materials. As global consumer product and pharmaceutical firms emphasize their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments, a clear demand channel is forming for mono-material blister films (e.g., PP-based structures) that facilitate post-consumer recycling, providing a strategic entry point for local converters to differentiate their product lines and capture premium demand.

• Raw Material and Pricing Analysis

Blister packaging is a physical product, making raw material dynamics crucial. The market's stability hinges heavily on the price and consistent supply of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Aluminum, and PVDC (Polyvinylidene Chloride). PVC is the most common thermoforming material for the base web, and its price is tied to global petrochemical and vinyl industry indices. Aluminum foil, essential for both Cold-Form Foil (CFF) and lidding, is predominantly an imported commodity, and its local price in Argentine Pesos is highly exposed to the country's high inflation and currency devaluations. The significant reliance on imports for these primary and coating materials means local pricing for blister stock does not follow standard domestic production economics but rather reflects an augmented cost model that incorporates import taxes, logistics surcharges, and a significant risk premium due to foreign exchange volatility.

• Supply Chain Analysis

The global supply chain for high-performance blister packaging materials is characterized by distinct production hubs, primarily in Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Europe, where the production of specialized, high-barrier films like Aclar (PCTFE) and multi-layer aluminum laminates is concentrated. Argentina-based packaging converters are heavily reliant on these international hubs for key inputs. Logistical complexity is substantial, driven by the need for temperature-controlled freight for certain barrier films and the administrative friction involved in managing import licenses and currency transfers under local trade policies. This dependency on external sources for specialized materials creates a critical vulnerability in the local supply chain, forcing Argentine manufacturers to maintain larger-than-normal buffer stocks to mitigate against potential customs delays and import stoppages, a strategy that ties up significant capital.

Government Regulations

In-Depth Segment Analysis

• By Technology: Thermoformed

The thermoformed segment holds a commanding position in the Argentine blister packaging market due to its inherent speed and capital-efficiency. This technology uses heat to form a plastic sheet (predominantly PVC or PVC/PVDC) into the blister cavity, allowing for rapid production cycles that align perfectly with the high-volume requirements of the Food and Consumer Goods end-user segments. The need for this technology is directly fueled by the need for cost-competitive packaging for fast-moving items such as chewing gum, small candies, and batteries, where per-unit packaging cost is a primary competitive differentiator. Furthermore, the majority of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and generic pharmaceuticals also utilize thermoforming with a standard aluminum lidding foil, as the barrier requirements for these products often do not necessitate the premium cost associated with cold-forming technology. The high throughput rate of existing installed thermoforming lines within Argentina solidifies this segment's dominance.

• By End-User: Pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical end-user segment is the single most important growth factor for advanced blister packaging in Argentina. Its necessity is not driven by consumption volume alone but by the non-negotiable regulatory and product integrity requirements. Blister packs are the industry standard for solid oral dosage forms because they offer superior protection against moisture, oxygen, and UV light, which is crucial for maintaining drug efficacy and shelf life in a country with varied climate conditions. The requirement here is highly sophisticated, focusing on multi-layer barrier materials. Specifically, high-moisture-sensitive medications mandate Cold-Form Foil (CFF) blisters for absolute protection, while moderately sensitive products drive demand for PVDC-coated PVC structures. The regulatory push for unit-dose dispensing and tamper-evidence, mandated by ANMAT, creates an inelastic, high-value demand for blister packaging, unlike the more elastic requirement observed in the Consumer Goods sector.

Competitive Environment and Analysis

The Argentine Blister Packaging market is characterized by a mix of specialized local manufacturers and the presence of global giants that serve the large multinational pharmaceutical and CPG companies operating in the country. Competition is focused primarily on high-volume production efficiency, material barrier properties, and compliance expertise, especially in the regulated pharmaceutical sector.

Company Profiles

• Nelipak

Nelipak specializes in custom thermoformed packaging solutions, with a significant strategic focus on the highly regulated healthcare and medical device markets. The company’s strategic positioning revolves around providing sterile barrier packaging systems, including both forming webs and lidding solutions for various medical applications. Nelipak leverages its global network of ISO-certified cleanroom facilities to ensure strict quality control and regulatory compliance, addressing the high-quality and integrity demands of the Argentine pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers who require packaging validated for sterilization. Their product portfolio emphasizes innovative, patient-centric designs, such as complex trays and specialty blisters.

• Sonoco Products Company

Sonoco operates as a diversified global packaging leader, positioning itself in the Argentine market with a broad range of flexible and rigid packaging solutions, including blister materials. Sonoco's core strategy is to serve multiple end-user segments—including Consumer Goods, Food, and Pharmaceuticals—by offering a wide material spectrum from standard PVC to multi-layer film laminates. The company often emphasizes its sustainability platform, developing and promoting packaging formats that are either reduced-material or recyclable, addressing the growing ESG requirements of large corporate customers. This diversified approach mitigates risk across a turbulent economic landscape by maintaining exposure to both the stable pharmaceutical sector and the volatile, but high-volume, consumer market.

• WestRock

WestRock’s primary competitive advantage and strategic positioning in the blister market stems from its strength in paperboard and carded packaging systems. While providing plastic films, their integrated offering focuses on the final retail display package, specifically carded blister and clam-shell packaging used extensively in the Consumer Goods and hardware segments. WestRock’s ability to combine the plastic blister shell with a custom-printed, high-graphics paperboard backing card—often providing the final product's anti-theft and marketing function—allows them to capture demand for end-to-end retail packaging solutions. Their focus on the structural and graphical integrity of the entire package is a key differentiator in retail-driven segments.

Recent Market Developments

• April 2025: Sonoco Products Company announced the completion of the sale of its Thermoformed and Flexibles Packaging business to TOPPAN Holdings, Inc. This strategic divestiture focuses Sonoco's portfolio on its core consumer and industrial packaging businesses, which include its remaining blister packaging-related operations. The move signals a streamlining of Sonoco's manufacturing capacity, impacting the competitive structure of the thermoforming segment by transferring a significant operational footprint to a new market participant.

Argentina Blister Packaging Market Segmentation:

By Type

• Compartment
• Slide
• Wallet

By Material

• PVC
• PVDC
• PP
• Others

By Technology

• Cold-Form
• Thermoformed

By End-User

• Consumer Goods
• Food
• Pharmaceuticals

Table Of Contents

1.  INTRODUCTION

1.1. Market Overview

1.2. Market Definition

1.3. Scope of the Study

1.4. Market Segmentation

1.5. Currency

1.6. Assumptions

1.7. Base and Forecast Years Timeline

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY  

2.1. Research Data

2.2. Assumptions

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3.1. Research Highlights

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porter’s Five Force Analysis

4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.3.3. Threat of New Entrants

4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry

4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis

5. ARGENTINA BLISTER PACKAGING MARKET BY TYPE

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Compartment

5.3. Slide

5.4. Wallet

6. ARGENTINA BLISTER PACKAGING MARKET BY MATERIAL

6.1. Introduction

6.2. PVC

6.3. PVDC

6.4. PP

6.5. Others

7. ARGENTINA BLISTER PACKAGING MARKET BY TECHNOLOGY

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Cold-Form

7.3. Thermoformed

8. ARGENTINA BLISTER PACKAGING MARKET BY END-USER

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Consumer Goods

8.3. Food

8.4. Pharmaceuticals

9. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS

9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

9.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix

10. COMPANY PROFILES

10.1. Nelipak

10.2. Sonoco Products Company

10.3. Honeywell International LLC

10.4. WestRock

10.5. Dow Chemical Company

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF TABLES

Companies Profiled

Nelipak

Sonoco Products Company

Honeywell International LLC

WestRock

Dow Chemical Company

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