In the second half of 2026, the domestic packaging and printing industry willGreen transformation, AI technology empowerment, and industrial chain integrationUnder multiple drivers, it presents a stable and differentiated development trend. Top enterprises are accelerating their layout in high value-added tracks, while regional specialized enterprises are deeply cultivating innovation in segmented scenarios. The industry as a whole is transforming from traditional processing and manufacturing to comprehensive service providers that combine manufacturing, services, and technology.

Top enterprises upgrade their strategies, with AI and green as core drivers

Leading companies in the industry have been making frequent moves recently, focusing on building technological foundations and integrating industrial chains.Jihong CorporationHolding a joint innovation seminar with Alibaba Cloud marks the official entry of the company's AI strategy from platform self-developed to a new stage of ecological co construction. Both parties will engage in in-depth cooperation around three main themes: AI Agent Infra underlying infrastructure, cross-border e-commerce AI native scene co creation, and Token overseas distribution authorization. In conjunction with the upcoming release of the Qwen 3.8 flagship model, they will explore the path of global implementation and plan to build a standardized Token overseas distribution service system to help domestic models comply and efficiently go global, providing a new collaborative sample for AI implementation in the packaging and printing industry.

International packaging giants are also responding to complex market environments through asset optimization. European packaging giantMengdiIn the first half of 2026, revenue slightly increased to 3.975 billion euros, but due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the soaring cost of timber energy in Europe, net profit plummeted by 70% year-on-year to 63 million euros. To cope with the severe macro environment, Mengdi has officially launched a series of measures, including shutting down six inefficient factories, reducing annual capital expenditures, and vigorously promoting paper price increases in the second half of the year, to alleviate the impact of high cost operations by optimizing factory networks and reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Under the Prinzhorn Group in AustriaDunapac PackagingWe will sign an agreement to fully acquire EL Pack's three corrugated packaging factories and related assets located in Patras, Capandriti, and Thebes, a well-known Greek enterprise, involving approximately 250 employees. After the transaction is completed, it will bring approximately 43 million euros in annual revenue to the group, further strengthening its market position in Southeast Europe and creating a new regional growth pole based on the group's integrated industrial chain advantages of "papermaking recycling cardboard box processing".

Breakthrough in segmented track technology, intensive implementation of patent innovation

Recently, multiple companies have launched innovative achievements in the field of segmented packaging, using technology patents to build differentiated competitiveness. Benxi Jiuxing Printing and Packaging Co., Ltd. has disclosed a utility model patent for a buffer packaging box. The packaging box consists of four panels that are horizontally and sequentially connected to form a closed-loop structure. The through holes on each panel together form two 360 degree omnidirectional clamping positions, which can stably fix the two ends of the packaged items. At the same time, the suspended setting method is used to keep the main body of the item in a suspended state, effectively isolating external impacts and solving the industry pain point of precision items being easily damaged during transportation.

Guangdong Wangying Environmental Protection Packaging Industry Co., Ltd. has also disclosed an environmentally friendly packaging box with an intelligent visible window and its integrated preparation method. The side of the packaging box body is equipped with a closed visible window, and the molding material sequentially includes a barrier coating, a paper layer, and a functional film layer from the outside to the inside. The functional film layer has excellent water vapor and oxygen barrier properties and is biodegradable. It is also uniformly dispersed with intelligent indicator materials, which ensures the display function of the visible window while achieving the integration of environmental protection and intelligent monitoring function of the packaging. International enterprise Graphic Packaging has officially launched its first uncoated recycled cardboard product, PaceSet Ridgeline, which is made of 100% recycled fibers and contains at least 45% post consumer recycled content. It is suitable for folding cardboard boxes, laminates, edge protectors, and other scenarios, further expanding the application boundaries of recycled cardboard in the industrial packaging field.

Regional enterprises deeply cultivate localized services and build differentiated advantages

While leading enterprises are accelerating their integration, many specialized packaging and printing enterprises in China are also leveraging regional advantages to build service capabilities that are suitable for the local market. Dongguan, as a gathering place for the domestic packaging and printing industry, has demonstrated strong supply vitality from several local enterprises. Dongguan Junya Packaging Materials Co., Ltd. has launched a wood pulp material clothing and footwear packaging paper printing wholesale service, which supports full specification customization with a unit price as low as 0.22 yuan/sheet, widely adapting to the interlayer and packaging needs of clothing and footwear; Dongguan Kangchuang Paper Industry Co., Ltd. supplies customized roll interlayer packaging paper, which is delicate, tough, easy to disassemble and cut, and can meet the filling and color separation needs of different industries.

Kunshan Rongle Packaging Co., Ltd., located in the Yangtze River Delta region, is deeply engaged in the local custom processing of cardboard boxes. It is equipped with a fully automatic complete set of cardboard box production lines, with business coverage throughout the city and within a 50 kilometer radius. It can meet the diverse needs of enterprises such as long-term bulk procurement, personal small order customization, and trade merchant OEM, providing stable supporting services for enterprise customers with monthly procurement amounts of 10000 to 100000 yuan. It has formed a localized service advantage in the subdivision of thickened cardboard boxes and heavy-duty industrial cardboard boxes. Shanghai Zhengwei Printing Co., Ltd. focuses on the field of turnover box printing and customization, forming a professional design and production team that can design unique appearances and logos according to customer needs. We provide high-quality customization services for enterprises such as fast-moving consumer goods and cosmetics that have high requirements for turnover box brand display, and have accumulated a good industry reputation in segmented markets.

Overall, in 2026, the competition in the packaging and printing industry has shifted from simple price competition to comprehensive competition in technology, service, and green attributes. Whether it is the ecological layout of top enterprises or the deep cultivation of small and medium-sized enterprises, they are all driving the industry towards a higher quality development stage. (AI generated)

Article reposted from: Packaging Zone AI