Pharmaceutical Packaging Market by Raw Material (Plastic, Paper & Paperboard, Glass, Metal), Type (Plastic Bottles, Blisters, Caps & Closures, Labels & Accessories, Pre-filled Syringes), Drug Delivery, and Region - Global Forecast to 2028
The global pharmaceutical packaging market size is estimated to be USD 132.0 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 269.9 billion in 2028, at a CAGR of 15.4%. The market growth is driven by increasing concerns about chronic diseases, driving the demand for packaging that ensures product integrity and minimizes contamination risks. The growing demand for drug delivery devices and blister packaging also plays a pivotal role in propelling the pharmaceutical packaging market.
Opportunities in the Pharmaceutical Packaging Market
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Recession Impact
The packaging sector has proven to be resilient through challenging economic environments, such as the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, packaging companies achieved EBITDA growth rates in line with or better than the broader market during these periods, with greater stability and resilience as demonstrated by lower peak-to-trough declines. In the pharmaceutical industry, the predictions for a recession are not nearly as dire but are still high. In the wider economy, recession fears have been sparked by indicators such as the US government's deficit and trade tensions with China. To some extent, the pharmaceutical industry is shielded from these issues. While there may be a general recession, the demand for life-saving medications is not going to change. Yet, these wider economic jitters are now colliding with downward pricing pressures within the pharmaceuticals industry and prompting companies to retool many of their efforts in R&D and their pricing models.
Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Dynamics
Driver: Growing healthcare expenditure and the pharmaceuticals industry in emerging economies drive the market
The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing rapid expansion in emerging economies, fueled by technological innovations, advanced manufacturing processes, and enhanced collaboration among companies. This growth is driving the pharmaceutical packaging market, with the most significant impact expected in emerging economies such as Russia, Brazil, India, and China. Factors such as increased awareness of the benefits of robust healthcare systems, rising income levels, and a focus on healthier lifestyles are contributing to market growth in these regions. Additionally, demographic trends and the large population base, including a growing young population and higher life expectancy, serve as key drivers for this growth.
Restrain: Lack of access to proper healthcare in emerging economies.
The growth of the market is hindered by factors such as poverty, inadequate infrastructure, low literacy rates, and the presence of unorganized healthcare systems in emerging economies. In India, a significant portion of the population continues to face challenges due to subpar healthcare quality and limited access. Poverty stands out as a significant obstacle to obtaining healthcare services in these emerging economies. Financial constraints, lack of information, outdated equipment, lack of proper staff, and awareness of proper healthcare practices are the major challenges that limit access to healthcare services. These issues are restraining the growth of the pharmaceutical packaging market in India, Brazil, South Africa, and other emerging economies.
Opportunity: Growing demand for primary pharmaceutical packaging
Primary pharmaceutical packaging products come in direct contact with the medicine or drug. These products encompass a range of items, including glass bottles, plastic bottles, prefilled syringes, medication tubes, prefilled inhalers, blister packaging, and more. The primary contributors to the growth of this segment are prefillable syringes and prefilled inhalers, with blister packs, plastic bottles, and ampoules & vials also experiencing significant growth. The expansion of diverse and advanced drug-producing companies in emerging economies such as the US, France, Canada, Japan, Germany, and the UK, along with the adoption of advanced packaging technologies such as eco-friendly packaging, patient-specific dosages, and innovative counterfeiting techniques, will propel the growth of primary packaging.
Challenge: Protecting against counterfeit products
The extended timelines and costs associated with the approval of new drugs and their packaging contribute to delays, leading to a rise in counterfeit drugs and fake packaging. These counterfeit products pose health risks, including allergic reactions, nausea, and vomiting. Emerging technologies like induction seals, near-field communication (NFC) tags, nano barcodes, serialization, cloud, and blockchain offer improved counterfeit protection and enhance distribution traceability. However, counterfeiters often find ways to bypass these systems within two to three years, necessitating frequent and costly upgrades for pharmaceutical packaging companies. Hence, fighting the counterfeiting of products is a major challenge for pharmaceutical packaging companies.
Pharmaceutical Packaging Market: Ecosystem
The pre-filled syringes segment is the fastest growing type in the pharmaceutical packaging market during the forecast period.
Pre-filled syringes are highly regarded by healthcare professionals as an effective, dependable, and convenient means of drug administration. They are acknowledged for their ability to reduce drug waste, extend product shelf life, and enhance market share. Additionally, pre-filled syringes offer benefits such as minimizing the risk of contamination, preventing drug wastage due to overfilling, eliminating dosing errors, and enabling rapid drug delivery during emergencies. These are some factors driving demand for pre-filled syringes in the pharmaceutical packaging market.
Primary packaging is the fastest growing packaging type in the pharmaceutical packaging market during the forecast period.
The primary packaging market in the pharmaceutical packaging industry is rapidly expanding due to several significant factors. These include the global growth of the pharmaceutical industry, which is being driven by increasing healthcare needs, population expansion, and the prevalence of chronic diseases. Additionally, the demand for primary pharmaceutical packaging materials and solutions is on the rise due to stringent regulatory requirements set by organizations such as the FDA and EMA, which ensure product safety and traceability. Furthermore, the globalization of the pharmaceutical supply chain is increasing the need for packaging materials that can withstand international shipping and maintain product integrity.
Injectables are the fastest growing drug delivery in the pharmaceutical packaging market during the forecast period.
Injectable drug delivery modes are recognized as highly effective and successful routes of drug administration due to their rapid and efficient delivery to the target area. While most drugs are administered orally or through injections, injectables come in various forms such as self-injection devices, prefilled syringes, auto-injectors, safety syringes, patch injectors, pen injectors, and more. Technological advancements have led to the creation of a diverse range of improved and enhanced devices.
Plastic is the fastest growing raw material in the pharmaceutical packaging market during the forecast period.
Plastics are permeable to moisture, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, and they allow the penetration of light rays unless the plastic container is pigmented. The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly exploring sustainable and recyclable packaging materials to reduce waste and improve environmental impact. The market for this segment is driven by the wide use of plastics in OTC drugs, blister packaging, prefilled syringes, and the oral drug delivery mode.
Asia Pacific is the fastest growing in the pharmaceutical packaging market, in terms of value.
Asia Pacific stands as the fastest-growing region in the pharmaceutical packaging market due to the rising population and increasing adoption of advanced technologies. The recent trends reflecting improved healthcare systems and enhanced access to healthcare services in the region present new growth opportunities for pharmaceutical packaging providers. The emerging markets within the Asia Pacific region are poised to experience rapid growth in the coming years, driven by factors such as increasing government initiatives, evolving lifestyles, expanding contract manufacturing activities, and an aging demographic.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Interviews, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
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Key Market Players
Berry Global (US), Gerresheimer AG (Germany), Amcor plc (Switzerland), Schott AG (Germany), and AptarGroup, Inc. (US) are some of the established players in the pharmaceutical packaging market. These players have established a strong foothold in the market by adopting strategies, such as expansions, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions.
Read More: Pharmaceutical Packaging Companies
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Report Metric |
Details |
Years considered for the study |
2020–2028 |
Base year considered |
2022 |
Forecast period |
2023–2028 |
Units considered |
Value (USD) |
Segments |
Type, Packaging Type, Drug Delivery, Raw Material, and Region |
Regions |
North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America |
Companies |
Berry Global (US), Amcor Plc (Europe), Gerresheimer AG (Europe), Schott AG (Europe) and AptarGroup (US) |
The study categorizes the pharmaceutical packaging market based on type, raw material, packaging type, drug delivery, and region.
By Type:
- Plastic Bottles
- Blister Packs
- Caps & Closures
- Pre-filled Syringes
- Pouches & Strips
- Pre-filled Inhalers
- Vials
- Ampoules
- Cartridges
- Labels & Accessories
- Medical Specialty Bags
- Temperature-controlled Packaging
- Medication Tubes
- Jars & Canisters
- Others
By Drug Delivery:
- Oral Drugs
- Pulmonary
- Transdermal
- Injectables
- Topical
- Nasal
- Ocular/Ophthalmic
- IV Drugs
- Others
By Packaging Type
- Primary
- Secondary
By Raw Material
- Plastics
- Paper & paperboard
- Glass
- Metal
- Others
By Region:
- North America
- Asia Pacific
- Europe
- Middle East & Africa
- South America
Recent Developments
- In June 2022, Becton, Dickinson and Company acquired Parata Systems. This strategic acquisition enables the company to venture into new pharmacy automation solutions aimed at reducing costs, enhancing patient safety, and improving the overall patient experience. It bolsters the company's pharmacy automation portfolio by incorporating high-speed robotic dispensing technologies, medication adherence packaging, and pharmacy workflow solutions.
- In November 2022, Amcor investment in PulPac fiber technology, a Swedish company providing disruptive manufacturing technology for low-cost, high-performance fiber-based packaging.
- In November 2022, Aptar Pharma collaborated with TFF Pharmaceuticals. The collaboration focuses on the development and testing of dry powder vaccines administration using TFF Pharmaceutical's Thin Film Freezing technology and Aptar Pharma's proprietary intranasal Unidose (UDS) powder nasal spray system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the current size of the global pharmaceutical packaging market?
Global pharmaceutical packaging market size is estimated to be USD 132.0 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 269.9 billion in 2028, at a CAGR of 15.4%, during the forecast period.
Who are the winners in the global pharmaceutical packaging market?
Berry Global (US), Gerresheimer AG (Germany), Amcor plc (Switzerland), Schott AG (Germany), and AptarGroup, Inc. (US) fall under the winner’s category. They have the potential to broaden their product portfolio and compete with other key market players. Such advantages give these companies an edge over other companies.
What are some of the strategies adopted by the top market players to penetrate emerging regions?
The major players in the market use expansions, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions as important growth tactics.
What is the recession on pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers?
Companies may focus more on cost-cutting measures and short-term survival strategies rather than long-term investments. Recessions might bring about shifts in consumer preferences and market demands.
What are some of the drivers in the market?
Growing pharmaceutical industry driving the market. .
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The study involved four major activities in estimating the current market size for pharmaceutical packaging. Exhaustive secondary research was done to collect information on the market, peer market, and parent market. The next step was to validate these findings, assumptions, and sizing with industry experts across the value chain through primary research. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were employed to estimate the complete market size. After that, the market breakdown and data triangulation methodologies were used to estimate the market size of segments and sub-segments.
Secondary Research
In the secondary research process, various sources have been referred to for identifying and collecting information for this study. The secondary sources include annual reports, press releases, and investor presentations of companies; white papers, journals, and certified publications; and articles from recognized authors, directories, and databases. Secondary data has been collected and analyzed to arrive at the overall market size, which is further validated by primary research. Secondary research has been used to obtain key information about the value chain of the industry, the monetary chain of the market, the total pool of key players, market classification, and segmentation according to industry trends to the bottom-most level and regional markets. It was also used to obtain information about the key developments from a market-oriented perspective.
Primary Research
The pharmaceutical packaging market involves a variety of stakeholders across the value chain, including raw material suppliers, manufacturers, and end-users. For this study, both the supply and demand sides of the market were interviewed to gather qualitative and quantitative information. Key opinion leaders from various end-use sectors were interviewed from the demand side, while manufacturers and associations were interviewed from the supply side.
Primary interviews helped to gather insights on market statistics, revenue data, market breakdowns, market size estimations, market forecasting, and data triangulation. Primary research also helped to identify trends related to grade, application, end-use industries, and region. C-level executives from the demand side, such as CIOs, CTOs, and CSOs, were interviewed to understand their perspective on suppliers, products, and component providers, which will affect the overall market.
Breakdown of primary interviews
Note: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 companies are classified based on their market revenue in 2022 available in the public domain, product portfolios, and geographical presence.
Other designations include sales representatives, production heads, and technicians.
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, download the pdf brochure
Company Name |
Designation |
Berry Global Inc. |
Sales Manager |
Gerresheimer AG |
Sales Manager |
Amcor PLC |
Technical Sales Manager |
Schott AG |
Marketing Manager |
AptarGroup |
R&D Manager |
Market Size Estimation
- The top-down approach was used to estimate and validate the size of various submarkets for pharmaceutical packaging for each region. The research methodology used to estimate the market size included the following steps:
- The key players in the industry have been identified through extensive secondary research.
- The supply chain of the industry has been determined through primary and secondary research.
- The global market was then segmented into five major regions and validated by industry experts.
- All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns based on product type, packaging type, drug delivery, raw material, and country were determined using secondary sources and verified through primary sources.
All possible parameters that affect the markets covered in this research study were accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to get the final quantitative and qualitative data. This data was consolidated and added with detailed inputs and analysis and presented in this report.
Pharmaceutical Packaging Market: Bottum-Up Approach
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Pharmaceutical Packaging Market: Top-Down Approach
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the overall market size—using the market size estimation process explained above—the market was split into several segments and sub-segments. To complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics of each market segment and sub-segment, data triangulation, and market breakdown procedures were employed, wherever applicable. The data was triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply of pharmaceutical packaging.
Market Definition
Pharmaceutical packaging can be defined as products that are used for the packaging of medicines to prevent their contamination, provide protection from harsh environmental conditions (such as moisture, snow, and others), and ensure safety throughout their shelf life. It can be categorized into two forms—primary and secondary packaging. The layer or material in direct contact with the drug is known as primary packaging, whereas the packaging used to further cover or protect the drug is secondary packaging. The primary objective of pharmaceutical packaging is to safeguard drugs from environmental factors during storage and usage, preserve the original properties of the drugs, and ensure quality assurance. It also involves providing clear identification of trademarks and comprehensive drug descriptions.
Key Stakeholders
- Manufacturers of pharmaceutical packaging
- Raw Material Suppliers
- End-use companies, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare companies
- Traders, Distributors, and Suppliers
- Regional Manufacturers’ Associations
- Government and regional Agencies and Research Organizations
Objectives of the Study:
- To analyze and forecast the pharmaceutical packaging market in terms of value and volume
- To provide detailed information about the key factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the market
- To analyze and forecast the market by type, raw material, drug delivery, packaging type, and region
- To forecast the size of the market with respect to five regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East & Africa, along with their key countries
- To strategically analyze micro markets1 with respect to individual trends, growth prospects, and their contribution to the overall market
- To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide a competitive landscape for market leaders
- Analyze competitive developments, such as mergers & acquisitions, new product launches/development, investments & expansions, and agreements & collaborations, and partnerships in the market.
- Strategically profile key players and comprehensively analyze their market shares and core competencies.
Available Customizations:
MarketsandMarkets offers the following customizations for this market report.
- Additional country-level analysis of the pharmaceutical packaging market
- Profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Pharmaceutical Packaging Market