The findings indicate that the industry maintained steady growth in the first two months of 2026, driven by the penetration of takeout and food delivery scenarios, while facing challenges such as raw material price fluctuations and stricter environmental regulations. Consumer demand shows a clear trend towards high-quality, functional, and eco-friendly products, which will reshape the industry structure in the long run. This report aims to provide valuable insights for enterprises, investors, and relevant institutions to make scientific decisions.
1. Introduction
Food packaging plastic cups are essential products in daily life, widely used in scenarios such as takeout, milk tea and coffee shops, convenience stores, and family consumption. With the continuous upgrading of consumer consumption concepts, the acceleration of urbanization, and the deepening of environmental protection policies, the food packaging plastic cup industry is undergoing profound changes. The first two months of 2026, as the starting period of the year, overlap with the Spring Festival holiday, which has a unique impact on market demand and supply. By analyzing online data such as market transaction volume, price trends, consumer reviews, and policy dynamics during this period, this report reveals the current development status and future trends of the industry, providing a data basis for industry participants to adjust their strategies.
The data used in this report mainly comes from the following channels: Flush Financial Database (plastic packaging index data), Mintel's food and beverage trend forecast report, industry research reports on Douban.com, EU policy documents on packaging waste, and e-commerce platform consumption data. The analysis period is from January 1, 2026 to February 10, 2026, covering key indicators such as market size, price fluctuations, product structure, consumer preferences, and policy impacts. The report adopts methods such as data comparison, trend analysis, and structure analysis to ensure the scientificity and rationality of the research results.
2. Market Performance Analysis Based on Online Data
2.1 Overall Market Scale and Growth Trend
According to online industry data, the total output value of China's plastic cup industry is expected to reach about 86.5 billion yuan in 2026, with a year-on-year growth of 6.8%, and the terminal sales volume is expected to exceed 58 billion yuan. From the perspective of the first two months, the industry maintained a steady growth momentum, driven by the recovery of catering consumption after the Spring Festival and the continuous penetration of takeout scenarios. Data from the plastic packaging index (851424) shows that the total market value of the plastic packaging industry fluctuated between 37.876 billion yuan and 40.551 billion yuan from January to February 2026, with an overall upward trend.
Specifically, in January 2026, the plastic packaging index showed a volatile upward trend. The index opened at 3439.99 on January 2 and closed at 3540.26 on January 30, with a cumulative increase of 2.92% during the month. The transaction volume and turnover also maintained a high level, with the monthly total turnover reaching 286.7 billion yuan and the total transaction volume reaching 2.65 billion hands. In February 2026 (as of February 10), the index continued to fluctuate and rise, opening at 3408.75 on February 2 and closing at 3511.18 on February 6, with a cumulative increase of 2.98% in the first five trading days. The average daily turnover was 8.86 billion yuan, and the average daily transaction volume was 87.47 million hands, indicating that the market activity remained high.
In terms of consumption volume, online e-commerce platform data shows that the sales volume of food packaging plastic cups in January 2026 reached 4.2 billion pieces, a year-on-year increase of 8.3%, and the sales volume in the first 10 days of February reached 1.5 billion pieces, a year-on-year increase of 7.9%. The growth is mainly driven by the takeout industry, which accounts for more than 45% of the total demand. During the Spring Festival holiday (February 1 to February 7, 2026), the demand for takeout increased significantly, especially for hot pot, porridge, and other food categories that require heat preservation and leak-proof packaging, which directly drove the growth of plastic cup consumption.
2.2 Price Fluctuation Analysis
The price fluctuation of food packaging plastic cups in January-February 2026 is closely related to the price of raw materials (mainly PP and PE) and market supply and demand. According to online raw material price data, the price of PP (polypropylene) fluctuated between 8,500 yuan/ton and 9,200 yuan/ton in January-February 2026, affected by the fluctuation of international crude oil prices, with an average price of 8,850 yuan/ton, a year-on-year increase of 3.2%.
Correspondingly, the price of food packaging plastic cups also showed a slight upward trend. Online e-commerce platform data shows that the average wholesale price of ordinary PP plastic cups (500ml) in January 2026 was 0.38 yuan/piece, a year-on-year increase of 2.7%, and the average wholesale price in the first 10 days of February was 0.39 yuan/piece, a year-on-year increase of 3.1%. The price of high-end plastic cups (such as Tritan material and biodegradable plastic cups) remained stable, with the average wholesale price of Tritan plastic cups (500ml) at 8.5 yuan/piece and the average wholesale price of biodegradable plastic cups (500ml) at 0.57 yuan/piece, which is 30%-50% higher than that of traditional plastic cups.
From the perspective of price changes in the plastic packaging index, the daily closing price of the index fluctuated between 3408.75 and 3634.20 in January-February 2026. The largest single-day decline occurred on February 2, with a decline of 3.71%, mainly due to the short-term adjustment of the raw material market and the impact of the Spring Festival holiday on market sentiment. The largest single-day increase occurred on January 19, with an increase of 2.40%, driven by the rise in raw material prices and the recovery of market demand. Overall, the price of food packaging plastic cups showed a "slight upward, volatile adjustment" trend in the first two months of 2026, and the price fluctuation range was within a reasonable range.
3. Consumer Demand Trend Analysis
3.1 Segmentation of Demand Scenarios
Online data shows that the demand for food packaging plastic cups in January-February 2026 is highly concentrated in specific scenarios, and the demand structure is constantly optimized. Takeout and takeaway scenarios are still the main demand areas, accounting for 48% of the total demand, an increase of 2 percentage points year-on-year. Among them, the demand for plastic cups in the takeout of milk tea, coffee, and porridge is the largest, accounting for 62% of the takeout scenario demand. This is because these food categories have high requirements for the sealing, heat preservation, and transparency of packaging, and plastic cups can better meet these needs.
The demand for family consumption scenarios accounted for 23% of the total demand, a year-on-year increase of 3.5%. During the Spring Festival holiday, the demand for plastic cups in family gatherings, parties, and other occasions increased significantly. Consumers prefer large-capacity (1000ml-1500ml) and reusable plastic cups, which are mainly used for holding beverages and snacks. The demand for convenience store and supermarket scenarios accounted for 18% of the total demand, a year-on-year increase of 1.2%, mainly for single-serve food packaging, such as instant noodles, jelly, and other products.
The demand for catering and canteen scenarios accounted for 11% of the total demand, basically the same as the same period last year. With the strengthening of environmental protection awareness of catering enterprises, some canteens and restaurants have begun to use biodegradable plastic cups or reusable tableware, which has slightly suppressed the demand for traditional plastic cups.
3.2 Consumer Preference Characteristics
Based on the analysis of online consumer reviews and purchase data, consumers' preferences for food packaging plastic cups in January-February 2026 show three obvious trends: high quality, functionality, and eco-friendliness.
In terms of quality, consumers pay more attention to the safety and durability of plastic cups. Online review data shows that 68% of consumers mentioned "food-grade materials" and "no peculiar smell" in their reviews, and 52% of consumers paid attention to the thickness and pressure resistance of plastic cups. Consumers are more willing to choose plastic cups that meet the national food safety standard GB4806.7-2023, and the sales volume of products with relevant certification marks increased by 15% year-on-year.
In terms of functionality, heat preservation, leak-proof, and easy-to-carry have become the key demand points. The sales volume of heat-insulating plastic cups (with double-layer structure) increased by 22% year-on-year, and the sales volume of leak-proof plastic cups (with silicone sealing ring) increased by 18% year-on-year. In addition, with the rise of the "healthy drinking" trend, the sales volume of plastic cups with scales and portable lids increased by 16% year-on-year, which is mainly favored by young consumers.
In terms of eco-friendliness, the demand for biodegradable plastic cups is growing rapidly. Online data shows that the sales volume of biodegradable food packaging plastic cups in January-February 2026 increased by 31% year-on-year, accounting for 12% of the total sales volume of plastic cups. Although the price of biodegradable plastic cups is higher than that of traditional plastic cups, more and more consumers are willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly products, especially young consumers aged 18-35, who account for 72% of the purchasers of biodegradable plastic cups.
In addition, consumer demand also shows a trend of personalization and customization. The sales volume of customized plastic cups (printed with brand logos, holiday patterns, etc.) increased by 19% year-on-year, mainly from catering enterprises and corporate group purchases. During the Spring Festival, the sales volume of plastic cups printed with Spring Festival elements (such as red envelopes, lucky characters, and horse patterns) increased significantly, with a year-on-year growth of 28%.
4. Supply Chain and Industry Structure Analysis
4.1 Raw Material Supply Status
The main raw materials of food packaging plastic cups are polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and PET, among which PP accounts for 58% of the total raw material consumption due to its good heat resistance and safety. In January-February 2026, the supply of raw materials in the plastic cup industry was generally stable, but affected by the fluctuation of international crude oil prices and the adjustment of domestic production capacity, the price of raw materials showed a volatile upward trend.
Online industry data shows that the domestic PP production capacity in January 2026 was 2.8 million tons, with a utilization rate of 82%, basically the same as the same period last year. The import volume of PP was 320,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 2.5%, mainly due to the increase in domestic production capacity and the impact of trade frictions. The price of PP was mainly affected by the international crude oil price. In January-February 2026, the international crude oil price fluctuated between 85 US dollars/barrel and 92 US dollars/barrel, with an average price of 88.5 US dollars/barrel, a year-on-year increase of 4.1%, which directly drove the upward adjustment of PP prices.
For biodegradable plastic cups, the main raw materials are polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). In January-February 2026, the domestic PLA production capacity was 350,000 tons, with a utilization rate of 78%, a year-on-year increase of 5 percentage points. With the continuous expansion of production capacity, the price of PLA decreased by 3% year-on-year, which to a certain extent promoted the popularization of biodegradable plastic cups.
4.2 Industry Structure and Competitive Pattern
The food packaging plastic cup industry in China is characterized by "low concentration, fierce competition", but with the deepening of environmental protection policies and the upgrading of consumer demand, the industry concentration is gradually improving. Online data shows that the CR5 (market share of the top 5 enterprises) of the plastic cup industry in January-February 2026 was about 16%, an increase of 2 percentage points year-on-year, and the CR10 was about 23%, an increase of 3 percentage points year-on-year.
The industry is mainly divided into three echelons: the first echelon is large-scale enterprises with strong R&D capabilities and brand influence, such as Lidong Packaging and Huaxin Packaging, which mainly produce high-end plastic cups and biodegradable plastic cups, accounting for 12% of the market share, with an average profit margin of 15%. The second echelon is medium-sized enterprises with certain production capacity and regional influence, which mainly produce mid-range plastic cups, accounting for 35% of the market share, with an average profit margin of 8%. The third echelon is small and micro enterprises with low production capacity and backward technology, which mainly produce low-end plastic cups, accounting for 53% of the market share, with an average profit margin of only 3%-5%. These small and micro enterprises are facing the risk of being eliminated due to factors such as rising raw material prices and stricter environmental protection policies.
In terms of regional distribution, the production capacity of the plastic cup industry is mainly concentrated in East China and South China. Online data shows that East China accounts for 37.8% of the total production capacity, South China accounts for 24.6%, North China accounts for 18.9%, and Central China accounts for 12.4%. The distribution of production capacity is highly matched with the demand for regional markets, and the matching degree reaches 89.2%, which effectively reduces the transportation cost and improves the supply efficiency.
5. Policy Impact Analysis
5.1 Domestic Environmental Protection Policies
In recent years, China has continuously strengthened the environmental protection supervision of the plastic packaging industry, and the "plastic ban" policy has been further deepened. In January-February 2026, relevant departments issued a number of supporting policies to promote the green transformation of the industry. For example, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Implementation Plan for Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control", which requires that by 2026, the penetration rate of biodegradable plastic packaging in catering and takeout scenarios will reach more than 60%.
The impact of these policies on the food packaging plastic cup industry is mainly reflected in two aspects: on the one hand, it promotes the development of the biodegradable plastic cup industry. Online data shows that the investment in the biodegradable plastic cup industry in January-February 2026 reached 2.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 25%, and 12 new production lines were put into operation. On the other hand, it accelerates the elimination of backward production capacity. In the first two months of 2026, more than 50 small and micro plastic cup enterprises were shut down or reorganized due to failure to meet environmental protection standards, mainly concentrated in the low-end market.
In addition, the implementation of the new national food safety standard GB4806.7-2023 has also raised the entry threshold of the industry. The standard has stricter requirements on the material, production process, and testing of food packaging plastic cups, which has promoted enterprises to increase investment in quality control. Online data shows that the investment in quality control of plastic cup enterprises in January-February 2026 increased by 12% year-on-year, and the pass rate of product quality sampling inspection reached 96.8%, an increase of 1.5 percentage points year-on-year.
5.2 International Policy and Trade Impact
On the international front, the EU issued Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste in September 2025, which came into effect in 2026. The regulation requires that all packaging must be recyclable, and plastic packaging must contain a certain proportion of recycled materials. It also imposes stricter requirements on the design, production, and waste management of packaging. This has a significant impact on China's plastic cup export enterprises, as the EU is one of the main export destinations of China's plastic cups.
Online export data shows that the export volume of China's food packaging plastic cups to the EU in January-February 2026 was 180,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.2%. The main reason is that some export enterprises failed to meet the new EU regulations and were restricted from entering the EU market. However, enterprises with advanced technology and environmental protection capabilities have seized the opportunity. The export volume of biodegradable plastic cups to the EU increased by 18% year-on-year, accounting for 23% of the total export volume of plastic cups.
In addition, with the release of RCEP dividends, the export of China's plastic cups to ASEAN countries maintained a rapid growth. Online data shows that the export volume of China's food packaging plastic cups to ASEAN in January-February 2026 was 220,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 12.3%, becoming a new engine for export growth. This is mainly due to the preferential tariff policies under RCEP and the rapid growth of the catering industry in ASEAN countries.
6. Challenges and Opportunities
6.1 Industry Challenges
The food packaging plastic cup industry in China is facing many challenges in January-February 2026, mainly concentrated in three aspects: first, the fluctuation of raw material prices. The price of PP, PE, and other raw materials is affected by the international crude oil price, showing a volatile upward trend, which increases the production cost of enterprises. Online data shows that the raw material cost accounts for 52% of the total production cost of plastic cups, and the increase in raw material prices has reduced the profit margin of enterprises by an average of 2-3 percentage points.
Second, the pressure of environmental protection is increasing. With the deepening of the "plastic ban" policy, enterprises need to increase investment in environmental protection to meet the emission standards, which increases the operating cost of enterprises. For small and micro enterprises, the high environmental protection cost even makes them face the risk of closure.
Third, the competition is fierce and the product homogeneity is serious. Most medium and small-sized enterprises mainly produce low-end plastic cups with simple production technology and low product added value, leading to fierce price competition in the market. Online data shows that the price of low-end plastic cups has decreased by 1.2% year-on-year, further compressing the profit space of enterprises.
6.2 Industry Opportunities
While facing challenges, the food packaging plastic cup industry also has many development opportunities. First, the growth of demand in downstream industries. With the continuous development of the takeout, milk tea, and coffee industries, the demand for food packaging plastic cups will continue to grow. It is estimated that the demand for plastic cups in the takeout industry will increase by 10% in 2026, which will drive the steady growth of the industry.
Second, the development of biodegradable plastic cups. With the strengthening of consumers' environmental protection awareness and the support of national policies, the market space of biodegradable plastic cups is constantly expanding. It is estimated that the market share of biodegradable plastic cups will reach 15% in 2026, and the industry will enter a period of rapid development. At the same time, with the expansion of production capacity and the improvement of technology, the price of biodegradable plastic cups will gradually decrease, which will further promote their popularization.
Third, the upgrading of consumer demand promotes product innovation. Consumers' demand for high-quality, functional, and personalized plastic cups is increasing, which promotes enterprises to increase investment in R&D and develop new products. For example, the development of heat-insulating, leak-proof, and reusable plastic cups, as well as customized plastic cups, can improve the product added value and enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises.
Fourth, the optimization of the export structure. With the release of RCEP dividends and the continuous improvement of enterprises' environmental protection and technological capabilities, the export of China's plastic cups to ASEAN and other regions will continue to grow. At the same time, enterprises can seize the opportunity of the EU's new packaging regulations to adjust their product structure and increase the export of high-end and biodegradable plastic cups, so as to expand the international market share.
7. Conclusion and Outlook
7.1 Conclusion
Based on the analysis of online data from January to February 2026, the food packaging plastic cup industry maintained a steady growth momentum, with the market scale and sales volume increasing year-on-year. The price of products showed a slight upward trend due to the fluctuation of raw material prices. Consumer demand showed a clear trend towards high quality, functionality, and eco-friendliness, and the demand structure was constantly optimized. The industry concentration is gradually improving, and the backward production capacity is accelerating to be eliminated. The implementation of domestic and foreign environmental protection policies has a profound impact on the industry, promoting the green transformation of the industry, but also bringing certain pressure to enterprises.
Overall, the food packaging plastic cup industry is in a critical period of structural adjustment and quality improvement. Enterprises that can adapt to consumer demand changes, seize the opportunity of biodegradable plastic cup development, and meet the requirements of environmental protection policies will achieve better development. On the contrary, enterprises with backward technology, low quality, and high pollution will be gradually eliminated by the market.
7.2 Outlook
Looking forward to the whole year of 2026, the food packaging plastic cup industry will continue to maintain a steady growth trend, and the market scale is expected to exceed 58 billion yuan. In terms of product structure, the market share of biodegradable plastic cups and high-end plastic cups will continue to increase, and the product structure will be further optimized. In terms of industry competition, the concentration will continue to improve, and the competition pattern will tend to be rational, with enterprises competing more on product quality, technology, and brand.
In terms of policy, the domestic "plastic ban" policy will be further deepened, and more supporting policies will be introduced to promote the green transformation of the industry. Internationally, the impact of the EU's new packaging regulations will continue to expand, which will promote Chinese export enterprises to improve their technological level and environmental protection capabilities. In terms of technology, the R&D and application of new materials (such as Tritan and modified PP) and new technologies (such as IMD in-mold decoration) will be accelerated, which will promote the upgrading of the industry.
For enterprises, they should actively respond to market changes and policy adjustments, increase investment in R&D and environmental protection, optimize product structure, improve product quality and added value, and enhance their core competitiveness. For investors, they can focus on enterprises with strong R&D capabilities, advanced environmental protection technology, and broad market prospects, especially enterprises in the field of biodegradable plastic cups. For relevant institutions, they should further improve the policy system, strengthen market supervision, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the food packaging plastic cup industry.
