Medical device packaging demand to grow the fastest in emerging markets

The fastest expanding medical device packaging markets will emerge in India, Mexico, China, and the more prosperous Africa/Middle Eastern countries, as world demand for medical device packaging increases at a projected rate of 5.9% annually to $25.7 billion in 2017.

While the growth in those regions will be the fastest, the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan will still continue to account for almost 60% of the total, global market.

Those figures and more from a new report entitled World Medical Device Packaging published by The Freedonia Group Inc. (Cleveland, OH).

World Medical Device Packaging Demand

Pouches and trays will lead in the container type category, based on their adaptability, cost effectiveness, infection resistance, and security-enhanced formats. Within that space, Freedonia sees multiple compartment trays building sales due to the fact that they "virtually eliminate the risk of staff errors and the spread of infectious agents during the preparation of products for surgery and various other patient procedures."

Clamshell packs will also see growth globally since they match or exceed the advantages of rigid trays, while offering greater protection against product damage during transport and storage.

Bags and boxes, however, will experience below average gains in demand. Among other medical device containers, Freedonia believes blister packs and glass vials will post the fastest growth, with increasing use in contact lens packaging boosting the market for blister packs, while glass vials remain the principal container used for diagnostic reagents and related substances.

U.S. stays on top
The U.S. will remain the largest market for medical device packaging. Gains in Western Europea and Japan will come from new product introductions, as well as from the upgrading of government and industry standards.

In the developing world, Freedonia believes that China will provide "the largest and broadest sales opportunities for medical device containers and related accessories due to burgeoning domestic and export markets for its medical goods," noting that "spurred by rising investment, China is evolving into a leading worldwide developer and supplier of technologically advanced medical products."