Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Demand to Reach $62 Billion in 2015

World demand for pharmaceutical packaging products is forecast to expand 5.5 percent annually to $62 billion in 2015.  Reflecting the operation of extensive and diverse drug-producing industries, the developed countries of Western Europe, the US and Japan will account for over 70 percent of this amount.  However, China will provide faster growth opportunities based on rapidly expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and the phasing-in of an extensive government program designed to upgrade the quality and integrity of nationally produced medicines.  Among other major developing economies, India and Brazil will also evolve into fast-growing pharmaceutical packaging markets as drug-producing sectors are upgraded and diversified. These and other trends, including market share and product segmentation, are presented in World Pharmaceutical Packaging, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

The US will remain the largest consumer of pharmaceutical packaging as its advanced drug-producing sector introduces new sophisticated therapies with specialized packaging needs.  Growth in West European demand will reflect upgraded government standards requiring unit dose, high barrier and anti-counterfeit packaging for many types of medication.  Based on its broad range of proprietary and generic drug producers, Japan will remain a large, diverse consumer of pharmaceutical containers, closures and related accessories.  However, the country will provide below-average growth opportunities as drug makers pursue greater packaging efficiencies to offset pricing pressures.

World demand for primary pharmaceutical containers will increase 5.6 percent annually to nearly $39 billion in 2015.  The fastest growth is anticipated for prefillable syringes and vials, which will expand applications as advances in biotechnology lead to the introduction of new therapies that must be injected.  Plastic bottles will remain the most widely used package for oral drugs distributed in bulk and prescription dose volumes to retail and mail order pharmacies.  Plastic bottles will also continue to dominate applications in over-the-counter medicines sold in tablet and capsule quantities of 50 or more.  Blister packaging will comprise the second-largest selling group of primary pharmaceutical containers based on its adaptability to unit dose and clinical trial formats with expanded label content, high visibility, and built-in track and trace features.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.