The global pharmaceutical packaging market is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period. The market growth is attributed to the increasing demand for reusable and environmentally friendly packaging. To overcome environmental concerns, pharmaceutical drug manufacturing companies have begun to adopt environmentally friendly pharmaceutical packaging solutions. Technological advances in pharmaceutical packaging solutions provide the pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical industries with immense, innovative, and advanced applications to improve their packaging standards. Further, it is expected that the introduction of nano-enabled packaging will have a positive impact on the growth of the pharmaceutical packaging market in the near future. The sale of prescription drugs is increasing in the US and Canada as individuals become more health-conscious and pursue a healthy lifestyle. These boosts sales of pharmaceutical packaging items such as refillable syringes, vials, blister packs, and other similar items. In the US market, constant innovation is required due to tight regulations imposed by bodies such as the FDA, which compel producers to adhere to strict regulations when packaging medications in the region.

Pharmaceutical packaging includes the combination of the necessary material to contain, preserve, and protect drug products. In addition, packaging also allows manufacturers to distinguish between their products and competitors’ products. Pharmaceutical packaging protects products against physical damage, biological contamination, and any external adverse effects that may damage the properties of the product. Pharmaceutical packaging material consists of primary and secondary packaging. The primary packaging system is the packaging material that has direct contact with the product. Bottles, caps, labels, and cap liners are included in primary packaging. While, the secondary packaging system includes cartons, pallets, and corrugated shippers. 

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the pharmaceutical packaging market. The spread of COVID-19 had a detrimental influence on the market due to supply chain disruptions as a result of protracted plant closures around the world. Bottles, blister packaging, refillable syringes, vials, and ampoules producers have found it challenging to supply pharma businesses logistically. For instance, AGI glaspac's pharma division, which accounts for 30% to 32% of glass packaging in the Indian pharma packaging business, is experiencing production delays, supply disruptions, and higher inventory. So far, the company has only worked with a limited number of raw materials, such as sand and soda ash, which are important input raw materials for glass packaging.

Segmental Outlook 

The global pharmaceutical packaging market is segmented based on product type, material type, and end-user. Based on product type, the market is segmented into primary packaging and secondary packaging. Primary packaging includes bottles, blister packaging, refillable syringes, vials and ampuls, and others. Secondary packaging includes closures, containers, labels, and packaging accessories. Primary pharmaceutical packaging is expected to hold a significant share of the global market. Bottles packaging is one of the major segments of primary packaging. The convenience of using the bottles to store any form of medicine it is whether solid, liquid, or powered is contributing to the segmental growth of the market. Based on material type, the market is segmented into plastic & polymers, paper & paperboard, glass, and metals. Based on end-user, the market is segmented into pharmaceutical manufacturing, contract packaging, retail pharmacy, and others. 

Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Share by End-Users, 2021 (%)

The Plastic Pharmaceutical Sub-Segment is Anticipated to Hold Prominent Share in the Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market

The plastic pharmaceutical sub-segment is expected to hold a prominent share. The plastic segment is increasing due to its properties offered by it such as moldability, vapor and gas resistance, cost-effectiveness, protection against any breakage during fall, and many more. The compatibility of plastic with any form such as blister, bottles, laminates, and others is also increasing its popularity to be used in pharmaceutical packaging. Glass along with the paper and paperboard is expected to grow at a significant rate. Glass segment is gaining popularity for the packaging purpose in the pharmaceutical market due to its nonreactive nature with a maximum number of chemicals. The Paper and paperboard segment are anticipated to grow in the near future due to government initiatives to use paper instead of plastic. 

Regional Outlooks

The global pharmaceutical packaging market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Others), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Others), and the Rest of the World (the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America).  The market can be analyzed for a particular region or country level as per the requirement. Among these, the North American regional market is expected to cater to considerable growth during the forecast period. Factors contributing to the regional growth of the market include the use of advanced technology such as nanotechnology in manufacturing processes and technological innovation and increasing demand for drug delivery devices. North America is followed by Europe while Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period. 

Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Growth, by Region 2022-2028

The Asia Pacific Region is Expected to Hold a Prominent Share in the Global Pharmaceutical Packaging  Market

The Asia Pacific region is expected to hold a prominent share in the global pharmaceutical packaging market owing to the enforcement of government regulations for drug safety. Factors such as the increasing popularity of rigid plastic material and the high demand for Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polyethylene (PE) as the primary plastics will also contribute to the growth of pharmaceutical packaging in the region.  China is a major economy in the region which contributes majorly to the growth of the market. India and Japan are also contributing significantly to the market. 

Market Players Outlook

The major companies serving the global pharmaceutical packaging market include Amcor Ltd., Schott AG, AptarGroup, Inc., Gerresheimer AG, and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., among others. The market players are considerably contributing to the market growth by the adoption of various strategies including mergers and acquisitions, new launches, and partnerships.

The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2021 and forecast to 2028.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global pharmaceutical packaging market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.