Anti-counterfeit packaging market seen topping $349 billion by 2030

The Business Research Company says the global anti-counterfeit packaging market will surpass $349 billion by 2030, driven by counterfeiting risks, tighter regulations and e-commerce growth. North America is projected to lead the market, while mass encoding remains the largest technology segment.

Why it matters: - Anti-counterfeit packaging is moving from a niche protection tool to a major packaging category as brands and regulators push harder on authenticity, traceability and supply chain security. - The market is projected to top $349 billion by 2030, or nearly 3% of the broader paper, plastics, rubber, wood and textile industry value expected that year. - The size of the market signals continued investment in smart packaging, serialization and anti-piracy tools across pharmaceuticals, food, consumer goods and other sectors.

What happened: - The Business Research Company published an updated market report on the global anti-counterfeit packaging market. - The report estimates the market will grow from $202 billion in 2025 to more than $349 billion in 2030, a 13% compound annual growth rate. - The report also projects North America will be the largest region in 2030, with a market value of $131 billion. - The USA is projected to be the largest single country market in 2030, valued at $111 billion. - The report says mass encoding will be the largest technology segment in 2030, accounting for 31% of the market, or $108 billion.

The details: - North America is expected to grow from $73 billion in 2025 to $131 billion in 2030. - The US market is expected to rise from $60 billion in 2025 to $111 billion in 2030. - Growth in North America is linked to counterfeit concerns in pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and consumer goods, along with stricter authentication and traceability rules. - The report points to wider use of RFID, holograms and QR-code-based solutions as a key driver. - In the USA, the report highlights RFID, holograms and serialization solutions, plus e-commerce and cross-border trade, as growth supports. - Mass encoding is supported by demand for product authentication and traceability, rising serialization, government transparency rules, and advances in digital printing and coding. - The market is also segmented by packaging format into bottles and jars, vials and ampoules, blisters, trays, pouches and sachets, and other formats. - The market is segmented by end use into food and beverage, healthcare, automotive, personal care and cosmetics, electrical and electronics, and other users. - The report says the biggest growth opportunities through 2030 are in mass encoding, RFID, holograms, forensic markers, tamper evidence and other technologies. - Those segments are projected to add more than $159 billion in value by 2030. - Over the next five years, mass encoding is projected to grow by $49 billion, RFID by $38 billion, holograms by $23 billion, forensic markers by $20 billion, tamper evidence by $18 billion and other technologies by $11 billion. - The report links market growth to rising counterfeiting and product piracy, stricter government compliance requirements and rapid e-commerce expansion. - The report says rising counterfeiting and product piracy should contribute 2.3% annual growth to the market. - The report says stringent government regulations and compliance requirements should contribute around 2.0% annual growth. - The report says rapid growth of e-commerce and digital sales channels should contribute about 1.9% annual growth. - Request a free sample of the report - Access the detailed market report

Between the lines: - The report suggests anti-counterfeit packaging is being pulled by both defensive pressure and commercial growth, as online commerce makes fake goods easier to distribute and harder to detect. - The strongest demand appears to be shifting toward scalable technologies that can work across high-volume consumer and regulated goods markets. - The segment forecasts also show that packaging security is broadening beyond physical tamper resistance toward digital verification and track-and-trace systems.

What's next: - The report expects continued adoption of serialization, unique coding and smart packaging technologies through 2030. - The company’s forecast implies the market’s biggest gains will come from technologies that combine security, traceability and cost-effective scale. - As e-commerce and cross-border trade expand, brand protection and authentication tools are likely to remain a priority for manufacturers and regulators.

The bottom line: - Anti-counterfeit packaging is on track to become a $349 billion-plus market by 2030, with North America and mass encoding leading the next phase of growth.