Report Overview

The bottled water market in India is growing rapidly due to a lack of safe and clean drinking water and increased levels of water pollution in the country. Furthermore, urbanization and awareness of the importance of clean drinking water, along with a thriving tourism industry, are all contributing to the growth of this market.

India Bottled Water Market- Industry Trends & Forecast Report 2027

India bottled water market is estimated to grow at the CAGR of 6.4% in the forecast period. India is one of the leading markets for bottled water due to the increasing number of water-borne diseases and concerns about the safety and sanitation of tap water. Additionally, the depletion of water levels in different states in India is likely to boost demand for bottled water in India during the forecast period.

India Bottled Water Market- Overview

Bottled water is packaged drinking water normally packaged in plastic or glass bottles. You can purchase them in a wide range of sizes ranging from 250 ml single-serve bottles to large water cooler carboys. Often, bottled water is used as an alternative to tap water, which is obtained from a variety of sources, including groundwater from wells or a public water supply. Various types of bottled water are also available in the market, such as groundwater, purified water, mineral water, hydrogen water, etc.

India Bottled Water Market Forecast and Trends

Growth Drivers

Increasing Prevalence of Waterborne Diseases

According to the India Water Portal, Indians are among the worst affected by waterborne diseases with 37.7 million affected, of which 1.5 million are children. Around 128 million people lack safe drinking water in India. This is anticipated to emerge as a major driving factor for the India bottled water market. Consumers are turning to packaged drinking water of renowned brands to get access to safe and clean water, which will drive its market demand during the forecast period.

Availability of a Wide Range of Products

India is a very price-sensitive market, so competitors launch new products at various sizes to appeal to different demographics. Mostly, the companies offer bottled water in 250 ml, 500 ml, one and two-liter pouches, and barrels of 15-20 liters. Moreover, they also launch new products under certain water brands. For instance, Bisleri launched Vedica natural mountain water under its brand as a premium product. A rebranding campaign like this will boost bottled water sales, propelling the market growth.

Restraints

High Penetration of Counterfeit Products

The Indian market has a very deep penetration of counterfeit bottled water products, which acts as a major impediment to the growth of the market. Brands such as Bisleri are being sabotaged by these fake products that imitate their logos and designs. This dilutes the brand’s identity and affects its consumer base. Also, these companies do not follow regulatory guidelines and meet the safety and hygiene standards that restrict the growth of the market.

Impact of COVID-19 on India Bottled Water Market

The India bottled water market was initially negatively impacted by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 infections, the government was forced to implement a strict and complete lockdown across the region. As a result, production and supply chains for bottled water were disrupted, resulting in a shortage of stocks in stores. However, the market is projected to flourish during the post-COVID-19 period. There are several reports documenting COVID-19's drastic effects on Indian water access. Thus, bottled water is becoming a safe alternative for drinking water, leading to an increase in its sales in the post-COVID-19 era.

India Bottled Water Market - By Product Type

Based on product types, the India bottled water market is segmented into spring water, purified water, mineral water, distilled water, sparkling water, and others. Among these, the mineral water segment accounts for the largest share in the India bottled water market. Compared to other types of products, this type of product has a high penetration in the Indian market because it is perceived as healthy among the target demographic. A high nutritional value, such as large amounts of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, also contributes to the market's growth.

India Bottled Water Market - By Category

Based on product types, the India bottled water market is segmented into water exchange, refill, and new. The new bottled water segment holds the largest share in the market because of the higher hygiene levels and nutritional value it offers. Additionally, the lack of single-use bottled water dispensers and refill stalls in India is hampering the growth of the water exchange and refill segments. However, with the government focusing on reducing plastic use and companies promoting their eco-friendliness as a result of increasing environmental consciousness, water exchange and refilled water segment will likely grow during the forecast period.

India Bottled Water Market - By Distribution Channel

Based on the distribution channels, the India bottled water market is categorized into on-trade and off-trade. The off-trade segment is further classified into supermarkets/hypermarkets, convenience stores, retail stores, specialty stores, online channels, home, and office delivery, and others. The retail store segment accounts for the largest market share because of the high number of retail stores in every locality in India and the easy availability of various bottled water brands through these channels. Nevertheless, the on-trade segment also covers a substantial share of the market.

India Bottled Water Market - Regional Insights

Geographically, the India bottled water market is segmented into North India, South India, East India, and West India. Southern India accounts for the largest market share because of the rapidly deteriorating water levels in this region. According to a report, Kerala has the worst rank with only 33.5% of households having access to safe drinking water. A contributing factor to the growth of the bottled water market in India is the depletion of groundwater and the drying up of major water reservoirs in Tamil Nadu.

Competitive Landscape

The leading players in the India bottled water market are Parle, Coca-Cola India, PepsiCo, Tata Waters, Kingfisher Water, Narang Group, Energy Beverages Pvt. Ltd., Manikchand Groups, Rail Neer (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation), A.V Organics LLP, Patanjali, and other prominent players.

The market is highly concentrated among leading players, such as Parle and Coca Cola. Bisleri by Parle brand dominates the Indian market and is synonymous with mineral water. In order to promote brand awareness and boost sales, companies are spending significant amounts on advertisement and marketing. They launch and provide a wide range of products of various sizes to cater to consumers’ needs in India. Furthermore, the adoption of competitive strategies such as partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, etc., is also prominent in this market.

Recent Development

• In November 2021, One of the leading clear bottled water companies, Clear Pani, announced its Clearth edition, which features green bottles made from biodegradable plastic and red bottles containing 40% less plastic, especially for weddings in India.

Scope of the Report

Attributes	Details
Years Considered	Historical data – 2017-2020 Base Year – 2020 Forecast – 2021 – 2027
Facts Covered	Revenue in USD Million
Product Service/Segmentation	By Product Type, By Category, By Distribution Channel, By Region
Key Players	Parle, ColaCola India, PepsiCo, Tata Waters, Kingfisher Water, Narang Group, Energy Beverages Pvt. Ltd., Manikchand Groups, Rail Neer (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation), A.V Organics LLP, Patanjali, and other prominent players.

 

By Product Type

• Spring Water
• Purified Water
• Mineral Water
• Distilled Water
• Sparkling Water
• Others

By Category

• Water Exchange
• Refill
• New

By Distribution Channel

• On-Trade
• Off-Trade

1. Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
2. Convenience Stores
3. Retail Stores
4. Speciality Store
5. Online Channel
6. Home and Office Delivery
7. Others

By Region

• North
• South
• East
• West

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