Astron, Miracle, Oji India, and JK Paper make significant strides

Ahmedabad-based Astron Packaging has commissioned India’s largest single-location corrugation unit in Pune, Maharashtra. This expansive 2,00,000-sqft site is Astron's most ambitious corrugation expansion to date, strategically positioned to serve India's burgeoning fresh produce export market. The new plant aims to significantly reduce transportation and logistics costs, improve service, and double customer volumes. With a high-speed corrugation line from European and Chinese manufacturers, the plant will process 10,000 tonnes of board per month at full capacity. This move is expected to contribute significantly to Astron's target of 30% revenue growth this year.

Miracle Group, one of India’s fastest-growing packaging companies, has invested INR 125-crore across its packaging vertices. This substantial investment covers a wide range of packaging products, including corrugated boxes, labels, folded cartons, plastic cans, laminates and pouches, and rigid boxes. The investment is aimed at creating scalable and sustainable infrastructure to meet evolving customer needs in both Indian and global markets, with an expected increase in overall production capacity by up to 30% by the end of FY2025. Expansions are underway at the company's Jaipur plant, with new equipment being installed and commissioned. Miracle Group, with eight manufacturing plants across India, has demonstrated impressive year-on-year growth and is now targeting a minimum 20% annual growth.

In March, Oji India Packaging, a subsidiary of the global Oji Group, inaugurated South Asia's second-largest corrugated plant in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. This fifth and largest unit in India for producing corrugated boxes and packaging accessories underscores Oji India's commitment to meeting the escalating demand for sustainable and high-quality corrugated packaging solutions across South India. The automated facility spans 43,000-sqmt and is designed to meet the increasing demand with an annual capacity of 100-million-sqmt. Oji India specialises in heavy-duty boxes and packaging solutions and supports various industries, enhancing product protection, efficiency, and sustainability.

JK Paper has approved the acquisition of Borkar Packaging, marking its fifth acquisition in the packaging segment over the last three years. This strategic move comes as JK Paper recorded a consolidated net profit decline for the quarter ended 30 June 2025, attributed to low sales realisation and elevated wood pulp costs. The acquisition of a 72% stake in Goa-headquartered Borkar Packaging for about INR 235-crore is expected to be completed within approximately 12 weeks. With this acquisition, JK Paper aims to consolidate its leadership in corrugated packaging and position itself among the top three players in the folding cartons market.

These developments collectively demonstrate a vibrant and expanding Indian packaging market, with companies making significant investments to enhance their capabilities, reach, and sustainability efforts.