Regional review:
India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA)
Revenue
€
445
m
Revenue growth
0.4
%
constant currency1
333
aseptic carton filling machines in field
1 Constant currency and constant resin growth of 0.4%.
Key growth drivers
Easing inflation and policy reforms.
Continued shift from loose to packaged milk and growth in value-added dairy beverages driven by nutrition-led choices.
Rising demand for ambient, single-serve, affordable beverages.
Young populations and rising incomes driving consumption.
In 2025, we scaled innovation with the first commercial SIG Neo Slimline-15 Aseptic filling machine, delivering 25% higher capacity, and strengthened customer partnerships across the region. With the aseptic carton plant in India now fully operational, we are well positioned to drive growth in high-potential markets.
Abdelghany Eladib
President and General Manager IMEA at SIG
Summary of 2025
The region reported revenue growth of 0.4% for the year at constant currency1, following a strong growth of above 13% in the prior year.
In the Middle East and Africa, the year was marked by several commercial and operational milestones. In Saudi Arabia, the first commercial deployment of SIG Neo Slimline 15 Aseptic was completed, delivering a 25% increase in output, waste rates below 0.5% and up to 15% lower total filling costs, while maintaining pack size flexibility within the same factory footprint. In Egypt, SIG secured the first global order for the SIG Mini 26 Aseptic filling machine and signed its first field test agreement for SIG XSlim 32 Aseptic, targeting affordability and on-the-go consumption. Expansion beyond dairy continued with the first deployment of SIG XSlim 24 Aseptic for tomato paste in Jordan. Operational performance remained strong, supported by improved overall equipment effectiveness, and market share increased.
Additional milestones included recognition from the Sharjah Royal Family in the UAE for SIG’s contribution to the dairy sector, the launch of Egypt’s first end-to-end recycling system for used aseptic beverage cartons, and the commissioning of a 2-megawatt rooftop solar plant at the Riyadh factory.
In India, the strategy remained anchored in innovation-led partnerships, aseptic packaging solutions and strong local execution. Dairy remained the core focus, with customers including GCMMF (Amul), MilkyMist, Heritage, Creamline and regional cooperatives expanding shelf life and value-added offerings, including the world’s first aseptic probiotic buttermilk with MilkyMist. Beyond dairy, partnerships with Parle Agro, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Dabur and ITC, supported by investments in co-packing infrastructure, accelerated aseptic, affordable beverage launches.
1 Constant currency and constant resin growth of 0.4%.
The fully operational aseptic carton plant in Ahmedabad strengthened supply for customers in India and neighboring Asian markets and further underlined SIG’s long-term commitment to the region, complemented by growing sustainability collaborations across the value chain.
Case studies
Introducing spouted pouch with Al Nasseem
Al Nasseem is a growing dairy producer in Libya, serving the local market with a focus on accessible and convenient dairy products.
In 2025, Al Nasseem partnered with SIG to introduce drinking yogurt in spouted pouch format for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the company’s product portfolio and in the local market. The deployment of SIG’s spouted pouch technology enables Al Nasseem to diversify its offering, enhance consumer convenience, and address evolving consumption preferences, while supporting continued growth in Libya.
“2025 marks an exciting milestone for Al Nasseem as we diversify our portfolio and introduce drinking yogurt in spouted pouch format for the very first time. Investing in SIG’s Spouted Pouch technology opens a new chapter for our brand – one driven by innovation, consumer convenience, and a commitment to keep expanding our offering in the Libyan market. We see this as a strategic step forward and look forward to strengthening our partnership with SIG as we bring this category to life.” Mr. Moneer, Operations Director – Al Nasseem (Libya)
MilkyMist Probiotic
In January 2025, MilkyMist introduced the world’s first shelf-stable probiotic buttermilk in aseptic carton packaging, representing a notable development in functional dairy processing. Probiotic beverages are typically dependent on cold-chain distribution due to the sensitivity of live cultures to UHT treatment.
This innovation demonstrates the technical feasibility of delivering probiotics in an ambient, long-life format without compromising food safety, sensory quality, or functional performance, and scalability.
SIG supported the development through a close collaboration with MilkyMist and ingredient partner AnaBio Technologies. The project combined SIG’s aseptic filling technology with AnaBio’s probiotic protection solution to enable stable integration of probiotics in UHT dairy beverage. The product was commercialized in SIG XSlimBloc aseptic cartons, ensuring consistent quality and scalability. This launch demonstrates how innovation-led partnerships can unlock new categories within aseptic packaging and highlights India’s role as an emerging hub for globally relevant food innovation.
SIG sold 9 filling lines and won Best Packaging Innovation Award at Gulfood Manufacturing 2025
SIG concluded contracts to sell 9 filling lines during its participation in Gulfood Manufacturing 2025, held between November 4–6 in Dubai World Trade Centre. The deals highlight SIG’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that support the food and beverage industry’s growth and sustainability goals. During the event, SIG was also awarded the Best Packaging Innovation for its SIG Terra Alu-free + Full barrier packaging material.
Pioneering spouted pouch for liquid cough and cold medication
Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a global innovation-driven lifesciences company, and SIG, a leading packaging solutions provider, entered into an agreement to pioneer packaging of liquid cough and cold medication in single-serve spouted pouches featuring the tethered spout solution SIG StrawCap 30 Linked and the SIG Motion Servo 3.2 filling technology. This launch marks a significant advancement in pharmaceutical packaging, delivering precisely dosed medicine, improved hygiene, and reduced product waste.
“Our goal at Zydus is to make effective medication more accessible and consumer-friendly,” said Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences Limited. “Continuing with our patient-centric approaches, we are introducing Deriphyllin CoughGo in single-serve spouted pouches utilizing SIG’s advanced filling technology.”
