The ASEAN sales of in-mold labels are estimated to be worth USD 56.7 million in 2025 and anticipated to reach a value of USD 82.3 million by 2035. Sales are projected to rise at a CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast period between 2025 and 2035. The revenue generated by in-mold labels in 2024 was USD 54.8 million. The industry is anticipated to exhibit a Y-o-Y growth of 3.6% in 2025.
The ASEAN IML market was growing steadily through increasing demand from the food and beverage sector for a labeling solution that could be strong, attractive, and environment-friendly. IML was mainly used for margarine tubs, ready-to-eat food containers, and beverage cups because these are the products exposed to high humidity, frequent handling, and potential cold storage.
IMLs prove to be highly resistant to peeling and fading, resulting in consistent brand visibility and quality over the lifecycle of the product. The labels also show excellent resistance to heat and moisture, making them usable for microwaveable food containers.
Direct, high-resolution reproduction of bright branding on packaging also comes directly with IML, which, combined with mono-material designs, is well in line with the growing concerns for sustainable packaging in the region. The food sector in the ASEAN region is expected to grow at 4.0% CAGR with a market valuation of USD 22.4 million by 2025.
ASEAN In-mold Labels Industry Assessment
| Attributes | Key Insights |
|---|---|
| Historical Size, 2024 | USD 54.8 million |
| Estimated Size, 2025 | USD 56.7 million |
| Projected Size, 2035 | USD 82.3 million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 3.8% |
The ASEAN market is also witnessing a rising demand for limited-edition and customized packaging in the food, beverage, and cosmetics sectors. The trend is being driven by the acceptance of digital printing technology that allows low-cost short production runs and creates region-specific designs for packaging.
Using digital printing, QR codes, batch numbers, and other promotional data can be added on products, giving brands the opportunities to reach as many consumer preferences as possible through the region's markets. Nowadays, the technology is applied to high-end products, such as expensive yogurt tubs and luxury containers for cosmetics, for which aesthetics and branding are considered crucial.
The share of the overall market will also be comprised of more than 25% in ASEAN. It is going to reach a value of USD 14.2 million by 2025.
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ASEAN Revolutionizes Packaging with Durable, Stylish In-Mold Labeling Technology
In the ASEAN region, the processes of packaging have fundamentally innovated. Here, in the process, labels are added to the container within the injection or blow molding phase of in-mold labeling technology. It is now possible to make the label part of the structure of the container, thus doing away with adhesives since the incorporation happens at this stage.
Labels are almost more resistant to peeling, scratching, and fading; an important requirement for the ASEAN tropical and humid climate. That would mean that food and beverage packaging would not be a problem because the labels would not come off even with moisture, temperature fluctuations, and frequent handling. It would mean that graphics in bright colors would look much better, as well as design schemes that make ample prominence to one brand.
That minimizes cycles with production but not material wastes-that is also on the manufacturer. ASEAN countries manufacturers should, from now, know this: better manufacturing processes of integrations through that means-and sustainable consumer satisfaction. These will best go with surging consumer needs and wants that for durable yet stylish packaging.
ASEAN Drives Sustainability with Polypropylene IMLs for Green Packaging
Sustainability has now been identified as the biggest imperative to push ASEAN to implement mono-material packaging, one that helps easy recycling. A major shift into the trend can be noted toward polypropylene-based IMLs. Not only is polypropylene fit for meeting ASEAN environmental policies but is not detrimental to aesthetic value; otherwise, this IML finds much adoption in the food, beverages, and personal care segments of companies.
Contrasting with other multi-material compounds, polypropylene IMLs do not present adhesive residue problems and ensure that recycling processes become easier and therefore solve most waste management challenges observed in the vast majority of the ASEAN nations.
Their resistance complements superb chemical and barrier characteristics, providing good protection even at transport and storage, hence good for this demanding region. Through aesthetics integrated with environmental responsibilities, polypropylene IMLs fulfill the growing demand for green products, thereby making it a keystone in ASEAN's transition towards sustainable packaging practices.
ASEAN Faces Climate Challenges, Innovates Multi-Layer In-Mold Label Solutions
ASEAN has adopted multi-layer in-mold labels, especially for high-end food and pharmaceutical packaging because of its enhanced barrier properties against moisture, oxygen, and light. Advanced materials such as aluminum foils or polymer barriers are involved in most multi-layer IMLs so that the product integrity and shelf life are not affected by these products.
However, it is unique for ASEAN to pose challenges related to the multi-layer IML structure. Storage and transport in high-humidity and variation temperature may also result in delamination and nonuniform expansion that leads to structural failures on the surface, thus contaminating contents. The challenges posed to such difficulties necessitate serious engineering and control measures, which have led to significant increase in costs and are relatively unattractive to the mass markets that are more price-sensitive.
More, broadly, advanced recycling for multi-layer materials has lacking infrastructure to enable the whole cycle. With that said, with the many above challenges and innovations in material science and process engineering, developments have the possibility to make its way in providing solutions in improving multi-layer IMLs that should fit well ASEAN's climate and market situation.
The ASEAN in-mold labels industry recorded a CAGR of 3.4% during the historical period between 2020 and 2024. The growth of the in-mold labels industry was positive as it reached a value of USD 54.8 million in 2024 from USD 48.0 million in 2020.
Advances in molding technologies, enhanced awareness of sustainability, and higher adoption of mono-material solutions, such as polypropylene, drove growth. In addition, printing with high resolutions, blending digital with flexography techniques, has offered labeling solutions, which are customized, yet visually beautiful, to markets in the food and beverage areas. Despite increasing efforts toward the recycling of IML, creation of efficient infrastructure for recycling within many ASEAN nations is challenging this broader adoption.
The demand for in-mold labels is expected to grow with the increase in regulatory policies supporting recyclable and sustainable packaging. Digital printing technologies will further evolve to increase personalization capabilities and meet the diverse needs of food, beverage, and cosmetics end-users.
The use of specialized equipment and technical expertise could be a constraint for smaller manufacturers, thereby encouraging industry consolidation. Large established players are therefore likely to capture the ASEAN market share as they will have established expertise to aptly address increased demand in high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions.
Tier 1 company leaders are characterized by high production technology and a wide product portfolio. These market leaders are distinguished by their extensive expertise in manufacturing and reconditioning across multiple packaging formats and a broad geographical reach, underpinned by a robust consumer base.
They provide a wide range of series including reconditioning, recycling, and manufacturing utilizing the latest technology and meeting the regulatory standards providing the highest quality. Prominent companies within Tier 1 include Sanko Mold Vietnam Co., Ltd., Thai KK Industry Co., Ltd., Scientex Berhad, Hexachase Group, Stenta Films (Malaysia).
Tier 2 companies are characterized by a strong presence overseas and strong market knowledge. These market players have good technology and ensure regulatory compliance but may not have advanced technology and wide ASEAN reach. Prominent companies in Tier 2 include Indopoly Swakarsa Industry Tbk (Indonesia), Mega Label (Malaysia), Labelmen Enterprises (Philippines), Tomypak Flexible Packaging (Malaysia), PT Argha Karya Prima Industry Tbk (Indonesia).
Tier 3 includes the majority of small-scale companies operating at the local presence and serving niche markets. These companies are notably oriented towards fulfilling local market demands and are consequently classified within the tier 3 share segment.
They are small-scale players and have limited geographical reach. Tier 3, within this context, is recognized as an unorganized market, denoting a sector characterized by a lack of extensive structure and formalization when compared to organized competitors.
The section contains information about the leading segments in the industry. By printing method, digitals are projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.0% through 2025 to 2035. Additionally, food end uses are expected to expand by 1.4 times its current market value by 2034.
| Material | Value Share (2035) |
|---|---|
| Polypropylene (PP) | 78.9% |
The PET segment is expected to dominate the market in ASEAN, with a revenue share of about 74.5% in 2024, with a CAGR of 3.0% during the next five years. The material is highly favored as it provides very high strength and clarity, which gives an excellent edge for good-quality label designs, quite in preference for premium product segments. The recyclability also goes well along with the new environment regulations up-coming in the ASEAN region, further enhancing the adoption rate.
PET is lighter, thereby making it more suitable for use in packaging applications. This also poses a factor toward reducing the overall weight of the final product. The labels made of PET are significantly resistant and even to tears as well as mostly other environmental elements such as water and temperature.
The properties make PET an excellent material for use in in-mold labels applied to various sectors such as beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The emerging trends toward sustainability and initiatives on the circular economy, aside from applications in packaging, continue to support PET demand growth in the ASEAN market.
| Process | Value Share (2035) |
|---|---|
| Blow Molding | 30.8% |
The ASEAN market seems to favor blow molding as it is that process most suited for the hollow and light-weight containers including bottles, jars, often used in beverages and personal care markets. Such a process is effectively better suited for blow molding seamlessly integrating labels with the container surface for maximum durability and good aesthetics.
This process, blow molding, favors high-speed production cycles with excellent precision and accuracy-the key requirement to be critical in mass manufacturing in the cost-sensitive ASEAN markets. The compatibility of this process with materials such as PET and polypropylene makes it even more relevant, as it offers flexibility in design as well as functionality.
In addition, it supports sustainable practice, as the process will allow for mono-material labeling solutions that would align with the increasing focus among consumers and regulations with regard to eco-friendly packaging solutions in the ASEAN region.
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Key players operating in the in-mold labels market are investing in the development of innovative sustainable solutions and also entering into partnerships. Key in-mold labels providers have also been acquiring smaller players to grow their presence to further penetrate the in-mold labels market across multiple regions.
The ASEAN in-mold labels industry is projected to witness CAGR of 3.8% between 2025 and 2035.
The ASEAN in-mold labels industry stood at USD 54.8 million in 2024.
The ASEAN in-mold labels industry is anticipated to reach USD 82.3 million by 2035 end.
Vietnam sub-region is set to record the highest CAGR of 4.7% in the assessment period.
The key players operating in the ASEAN in-mold labels industry include Sanko Mold Vietnam Co., Ltd., Thai KK Industry Co., Ltd., Scientex Berhad, Hexachase Group, Stenta Films (Malaysia).
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ASEAN In-mold Labels Market
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