Q3 2026

Plastics Sector M&A Update

In Q3, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing increased 5.7% year-over-year, reflecting
higher feedstock costs as geopolitical tensions drove up prices of transportation fuels and petrochemical resources.
The YTD Q3 2026 median EV/EBITDA multiple for strategic buyers increased to 17.7x from 5.1x in 2025, while the multiple on private equity deals decreased to 7.8x from 9.9x.
M&A deal volume in the sector increased 34.2% in Q3 to 161 deals from 120 in Q2, and increased 22.9% from 131 in Q3 of the prior year.
Europe was the most active region in Q3 with 67 deals in the sector. The most notable European deal was Kimball Solutions’ $118.5 million acquisition of Netherlands-based Helvoet Rubber & Plastic Technologies, a contract manufacturer of precision micro-molded medical components.
Strategic acquirers accounted for 72.9% of total capital invested YTD through Q3 2026, down from 82.4% in 2025, as PE’s share increased to 27.1% from 17.6%.