Medical Grade Tubing Market

Market Overview

The global medical grade tubing market size was valued at USD 4.45 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 6.27 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.48% during the forecast period (2022–2030).

Medical tubing is an extruded polymer tube used widely in medicine delivery systems, feeding tubes, and peristaltic pumps, among other applications. Due to their exceptional thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties, the tubes are used in numerous minimally invasive applications, including stent delivery systems, cardiovascular catheters, and urological retrieval devices. In addition, medical tubing is utilized with anesthesia and respiratory devices, intravenous fluids, and biopharmaceutical laboratory equipment.

Medical grade tubing is used for various functions, including the delivery of fluids and devices and the passage of gases. Medical grade tubing is most frequently connected with ventilators and intravenous lines, although it is also used to support access devices and distribute other equipment. Various applications may necessitate utilizing unique materials and highly specialized manufacturing techniques. In the pharmaceutical and medical industries, medical-grade tubing is used for various applications to meet their standards and criteria and regulate fluid drainage and flow.

Market Dynamics

Global Medical Grade Tubing Market Drivers

Transition to Minimally Invasive Medical Procedure

Globally, the minimally invasive medical method is gaining immense popularity due to its numerous advantages, such as shorter hospital stays, rapid recovery, and inexpensive treatment costs. The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cancer increases the demand for minimally invasive medical procedures. Treating these diseases is complex and requires extensive precision, thereby boosting the demand for catheters and medical tubing in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, medical tubing has excellent potential and is cost-effective, which is why it is in high demand in hospitals and clinics.

Increasing Elderly Population

The aging population has dramatically increased the demand for medical equipment that utilizes medical tubing. In developing regions, the growth of the elderly population is most pronounced, whereas it is low in developed regions. China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, and Nigeria are anticipated to have the largest populations. With the strengthening of their healthcare systems, numerous nations are enjoying a rise in life expectancy. This demographic trend will expand the lightweight, portable medical equipment and tubing market. The use of technology, such as home care equipment, patient monitoring equipment, and enteral tube feeding equipment, would significantly increase in these places. The need for equipment and tubing related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases is also anticipated to rise.

Global Medical Grade Tubing Market Restraints

Product Development requires Significant Time and Financial Investments

The production of medical tubing demands substantial resources and much time. Delay in regulatory approvals lengthens the development process, decreasing investment in medical product development technologies. The market is witnessing continual product innovation to prevent costly and time-consuming technical and biocompatibility difficulties. In the case of medical tubing, selecting the best polymer for a particular medical application and examining the areas of use for each polymer require significant R&D and technical expertise. Different polymers and medical devices have distinct approval procedures, which may necessitate different approval times. For example, FDA regulations are projected to become more complex and costly, which could lengthen the time required to approve medical devices. Additionally, regulatory approval processes vary by area, making it challenging for producers to commercialize and promote their products.

Global Medical Grade Tubing Market Opportunities

Growing Investments in the Healthcare Industry

The healthcare market in developing countries is witnessing significant changes due to shifting customer demands, expanding healthcare knowledge, and aging populations, which presents numerous potentials for medical tubing in the healthcare and medical device sectors. Growing economies, lavish government spending on healthcare infrastructure, and rising consumer purchasing power are the main drivers of market growth in developing countries. Consequently, the market for medical tubing is presented with a substantial opportunity by expanding and growing investment in healthcare infrastructure.

Regional Analysis

The global medical grade tubing market is segmented into four regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

North America controls the medical tubing market and is backed by a sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, government assistance, and market players performing extensive research to produce new products. Due to increased healthcare spending, robust healthcare facilities, technological advancements, a big patient pool, and rising market player investments, the United States dominates the regional market. Vinyl compounds, thermoplastic urethanes, polyolefins, and polyamides are the polymers available to produce medical tubing in this country.

Europe will be the second-largest market for medical tubing due to the expanding healthcare infrastructure, the development of novel technology, rise in research activities, the incidence of chronic diseases, and population aging. The United Kingdom, Russia, France, and Germany are leading contributors to the global medical tubing market. Despite this, the strict limitations established by the European Commission and the health authorities of member states on the production of medical tubing are hindering market expansion to some degree.

Asia-Pacific is capturing the most significant share of the worldwide medical tubing market because of the increasing geriatric population, expanding healthcare industry, vast patient pool, growing government backing, and rising health and wellness consciousness. The major regional manufacturers are actively working to develop cost-effective medical tubing solutions to meet the needs of a growing patient population, contributing to the market's expansion.

Segmental Analysis

The global medical grade tubing market is segmented by Material, Application, and Structure.

Based on material, the market is segmented into Silicone, PVC, Polyolefins, Polycarbonates, and Fluoropolymers.

The silicone segment has the most significant revenue share. Silicone offers various advantages over natural rubber and other materials. Unlike others, silicone does not cause allergic reactions in humans. Additionally, it is impermeable, so fluid can easily pass through it without becoming trapped. Additionally, silicone is malleable, elastic, and resistant to extreme temperature fluctuations, leading to a significant preference for silicone in the healthcare industry.

Based on application, the market is divided into drug delivery systems, catheters, biopharmaceutical laboratory equipment, and disposable tubing.

The catheters category dominates the global market for medical tubing, and this trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. Medical tubes are widely used in various catheters in several treatments, such as angiography, electrophysiology (EP) ablation, and urinary catheterization. The segment is mainly driven by market leaders actively attempting to accelerate innovation in their field.

Based on structure, the market is divided into single-lumen, co-extruded, multi-lumen, tapered, and braided segments.

The multi-lumen segment dominates the market during the forecast period. Catheters and endoscopes use multi-lumen tubing for flushing, aspiration, heating, cooling, flow rate monitoring, and drug infusion. The demand for multi-lumen tubing with superior dielectric qualities, temperature resistance, high lubricity, tight tolerances, and biocompatibility drives this segment's revenue growth. Instruments, guide wires, and fluids can reach several sites through these channels while remaining contained within a single tube. Depending on the resins used in the production of multi-lumen tubing, customization possibilities permit the creation of multi-lumen products that are stiff and abrasion-resistant while retaining a high degree of flexibility for easier handling. These advantages increase end-users demand and contribute to the segment's revenue growth.

Recent Developments

• February 2022- Zeus Launches PTFE Sub-Lite-Wall® Multi-Lumen Tubing for Steerable Catheters.
• May 2022- Lubrizol and Park Place Technologies Partner to Expand Collaboration with Intel by Providing World-class Service, Maintenance, and Monitoring for State-of-the-Art Immersion Cooling Systems in Data Centers.
• May 2022- TekniPlex Consumer Products Launches New Sustainable PET Processor Tray Line with Premium Esthetics & Packaging Efficiencies.
• May 2022- High-Temperature Seal Increases Productivity in Semiconductor Subfab Applications.