Market research

Plastic boxes, cases and crates market in the Netherlands

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$420

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the physical volume of the plastic boxes, cases and crates market in the Netherlands contracted significantly, from 422.1 thousand tons to 177.4 thousand tons. However, the market value showed a more resilient pattern, rising to 708.5 million dollars in 2019 before later adjustments. This divergence can be partly linked to the global dominance of the crates and totes segment for transporting heavy goods, which supported demand for higher-value products even as overall tonnage declined.

The Netherlands solidified its role as a key European exporter of these products, a factor that influenced trade flows throughout the period. Concurrently, a strong industry trend towards sustainability emerged, exemplified by DS Smith's 2021 partnership to advance recycling technology for used plastic crates. This shift was further reinforced in 2022 by the introduction of environmentally friendly industrial packaging solutions by major chemical companies, steering the market towards more sophisticated and sustainable offerings.

Innovation and market expansion continued to shape the landscape, with activities from global players like Brambles and the 2024 emphasis on cost benefits and e-commerce growth for plastic turnover boxes. These developments highlight the market's ongoing evolution in response to logistical demands and environmental considerations.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators
1. 4.1. In kind
  1. 4.1.1. Production, 2018-2020, 2022-2023
  2. 4.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
  3. 4.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
  4. 4.1.4. Market size, 2018-2020, 2022-2023
2. 4.2. In value
  1. 4.2.1. Production, 2018-2020, 2022-2023
  2. 4.2.2. Imports, 2018-2025
  3. 4.2.3. Exports, 2018-2025
  4. 4.2.4. Market size, 2018-2020, 2022-2023
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in the Netherlands
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2020, 2022-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. In value, 2018-2020, 2022-2023, M $ US
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, K t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Netherlands in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from the Netherlands, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Netherlands in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from the Netherlands, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Netherlands in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to the Netherlands, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Netherlands in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to the Netherlands, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the Netherlands by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production plastic boxes, cases and crates in the Netherlands

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

In the Netherlands, the production value of plastic boxes, cases and crates reached 634.0 million US dollars in 2020, marking a 6.4% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2020, production declined by 3.6%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 1.2%. The highest production value was recorded in 2019 at 677.3 million US dollars, with the largest year-on-year increase of 3.0% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of production in the Netherlands in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.0%	(6.4%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

The Netherlands experienced a second consecutive year of decline in the production of plastic boxes, cases and crates. In 2020, production volume stood at 243.6 thousand tonnes, representing a significant drop of 20.8% compared to 2019. From 2018 to 2020, production fell by 44.6%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of -17.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(30.1%)	(20.8%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Exports plastic boxes, cases and crates from the Netherlands

Exports in kind, K t

The Netherlands saw a second consecutive year of growth in the export volume of plastic boxes, cases and crates. In 2021, exports reached 208.3 thousand tonnes, up by 22.5% from 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, exports increased by 18.8%, averaging an annual growth rate of 5.9%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 151.8 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 13.4% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(13.4%)	12.0%	22.5%	5.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Germany, Belgium, and France remained the top buyers of plastic boxes, cases and crates from the Netherlands in volume terms. Germany accounted for 41.0% of exports, Belgium for 17.6%, and France for 8.5%. Together, these three countries represented 67.0% of total export volumes.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

The Netherlands recorded a second consecutive year of growth in the export value of plastic boxes, cases and crates. In 2021, exports were valued at 779.4 million US dollars, showing a sharp increase of 30.8% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, exports grew by 35.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.6%. The lowest export value was in 2019 at 544.3 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 5.4% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Netherlands in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.4%)	9.5%	30.8%	10.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, the leading destinations for Dutch plastic boxes, cases and crates in value terms were Germany, Belgium, and France. Germany accounted for 34.3% of export value, Belgium for 20.1%, and France for 9.4%. Collectively, these three markets made up 63.8% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the Netherlands in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports plastic boxes, cases and crates to the Netherlands

Imports in kind, K t

In 2021, the Netherlands imported 165.7 thousand tonnes of plastic boxes, cases and crates, representing a 9.2% increase year-on-year. From 2018 to 2021, imports rose by 5.3%, averaging an annual growth rate of 1.7%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2020 at 151.8 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 4.2% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.7%	(4.2%)	9.2%	1.7%

Source: SHEV.io

During the period from 2018 to 2021, three key markets—Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom—collectively accounted for 66.5% of the Netherlands' total import volume of plastic boxes, cases and crates.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the Netherlands in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2021, the import value of plastic boxes, cases and crates into the Netherlands reached 619.4 million US dollars, reflecting a substantial increase of 15.9% compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports grew by 9.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.1%. The lowest import value was in 2020 at 534.3 million US dollars, which also recorded the largest decline of 7.1% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Netherlands in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.9%	(7.1%)	15.9%	3.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom were the primary sources for imports of plastic boxes, cases and crates into the Netherlands in value terms. Germany contributed 38.5% of import value, Belgium 20.7%, and the United Kingdom 5.9%. Together, these three countries represented 65.2% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the Netherlands in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io