SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The International Molded Fiber Association (IMFA) has released the industry's first-ever global benchmarking reports, marking a significant milestone for the molded fiber sector and providing the most comprehensive snapshot to date of industry sentiment, production trends, investment priorities, and growth expectations.

As demand for sustainable packaging continues to accelerate worldwide, the molded fiber industry has grown significantly in both scale and complexity. What was once a niche segment has evolved into a global manufacturing industry serving a growing range of packaging applications, creating an increasing need for reliable market intelligence and benchmarking data.

The inaugural benchmarking initiative was launched earlier this year in response to a clear need identified by manufacturers worldwide: access to objective data to help companies better understand market conditions, investment trends, operational performance, and future growth expectations. Until now, much of that information has largely existed through regional perspectives, individual company experience, or anecdotal observations.

Drawing participation from manufacturers across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Africa, the initiative established the first coordinated global dataset for the molded fiber industry, creating an unprecedented foundation for industry intelligence and benchmarking.

The findings paint the picture of an industry entering a continued period of accelerated growth and investment.

Nearly 79% of participating manufacturers expect production to increase in 2026, while 74% report plans to invest in additional production capacity within the next 24 months. At the same time, 84% of respondents expect to either expand their workforce or maintain current staffing levels, signaling continued confidence in long-term market demand.

The data also highlights the growing influence of sustainability-driven policy and innovation across the sector. Nearly 70% of participants reported that regulations are having a positive impact on molded fiber demand, reinforcing the role fiber-based packaging is playing in the transition toward more sustainable packaging solutions worldwide.

As manufacturers continue to scale operations, technology is becoming an increasingly important part of the industry's future. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) indicated plans to increase their use of artificial intelligence over the next year, reflecting a growing focus on efficiency, process optimization, and operational performance.

"When we launched this initiative, the goal was simple: provide our industry with the kind of intelligence that mature industries take for granted," said Gary Visser, Executive Chairman of IMFA. "For too long, many of our decisions have been informed by regional experiences and assumptions. Today, we have something far more valuable: data.

"What the results tell us is encouraging. Manufacturers are investing in capacity, planning for growth, expanding their workforces, and responding to increasing demand for fiber-based packaging solutions. Just as importantly, companies from around the world were willing to contribute to this effort because they recognize that a stronger understanding of the industry benefits all of us."

Beyond the individual findings, the reports also highlight several of the forces shaping the industry's future. Participants identified energy costs, regulatory uncertainty, and technological limitations as the most significant constraints on future growth, while tariffs and trade duties continue to affect manufacturers across global markets. At the same time, companies expressed strong confidence in the long-term outlook for molded fiber, supported by growing demand, regulatory momentum, and continued investment in innovation.

The benchmarking initiative was developed to provide manufacturers with meaningful market intelligence while maintaining strict confidentiality standards. All responses were independently administered by Canopy Management Group's Data Department and reported only in aggregated and anonymized formats.

"The value of this initiative extends far beyond a single report," Visser added. "This establishes a baseline that will allow us to measure change over time, identify emerging trends, and provide participating companies with increasingly valuable insights as the industry continues to evolve."

IMFA expects the benchmarking initiative to become a cornerstone industry resource, helping manufacturers track changes in market conditions, production trends, investment activity, workforce development, and emerging technologies over time. Future benchmarking and industry intelligence programs are already under evaluation as part of the Association's commitment to strengthening data-driven decision-making across the global molded fiber industry.

The benchmarking reports were made available exclusively to participating organizations.

In response to strong interest from the membership, IMFA is providing a pathway for current members who did not participate during the initial survey period to contribute data and gain access to the benchmarking reports. This opportunity reflects IMFA’s commitment to building the most comprehensive industry dataset possible while ensuring members continue to receive access to valuable market intelligence and benchmarking resources.

Interested members are encouraged to visit www.imfa.org/benchmarking for details on participation.

To learn more about the International Molded Fiber Association and its work advancing the global molded fiber industry, visit www.imfa.org.