The global pharmaceutical glass tubing market size was valued at USD 14.79 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 26.40 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.65% during the forecast period (2022-2030)
Pharmaceutical packaging businesses create primary packaging goods using pharmaceutical tubing as a raw material. Pharmaceutical tubing is produced using extremely sophisticated production equipment and fabrication processes. The tube's several uses are principally responsible for this intricacy. The majority of pharmaceutical applications call for tubing that adheres to a set of requirements. At the moment, production techniques are advancing quickly to meet this broad category of requirements. Due to tight regulations to enhance the integrity and caliber of medications produced domestically, glass is now more frequently used in pharmaceutical packaging. The pharmaceutical industry's rising need for sterile medical packaging products will also help the market expand over the forecast period.
The pharmaceutical sector is expanding in India as a result of government initiatives. For instance, to strengthen India's bulk drug security, the Indian government proposed a production incentive (PLI 1.0) scheme in July 2020. The program addressed vital starting materials, drug intermediates, and active pharmaceutical ingredients that have been identified. The cost of manufacturing is among the lowest in the world in India. It is more peaceful than those of the US and practically all of Europe. Major pharmaceutical firms are investing in response to the pandemic. For instance, Piramal Enterprises set aside USD 42 million as of February 2020 for country expansion. The industry's expansion and the requirement for packaging are both fueled by the significant investments made by large pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Aluminum and glass have always been the favored materials for pharmaceutical packaging. These materials eventually became too expensive due to increases in the cost of raw materials and other considerations. They were unable to provide commercially viable packaging choices for mass-produced items. After that, plastics started to be a real possibility. For solid oral medications, PET is starting to replace the glass as the material of choice for packaging. Glass continues to be the dominant material for liquid formulations. However, aluminum and plastic collapsible tubes are chosen for semi-solid formulations. According to ICH (WHO) criteria, any material used for pharmaceutical packaging must pass a rigorous inspection before being approved as a package.
Glass can withstand a variety of chemical compositions since it is chemically resistant. Due to its chemical inertness and ability to maintain its original form in typical environmental circumstances, borosilicate tube glass is essential in pharmaceutical applications for storing chemicals and medications. The market for glass tubing is being driven by the rapidly rising commodity value of glass due to its ability to be recycled. Glass packaging items, including vials, ampoules, cartridges, and syringes, are also recyclable, making them a desirable choice from an environmental standpoint. Glass vials are broken into little pieces when they are brought to recycling facilities. These broken fragments are then crushed and sent through a rotating screen classifier, which separates the crushed particles into distinct categories.
Pharmaceutical packaging items can also use plastics. However, glass is favored over plastics due to concerns about recycling. Another essential element influencing the growth of glass is the government's strict limitations on plastic items due to their capacity to be recycled. As part of its Finance Bill 2021, the United Kingdom issued information about a GBP 200/tonne plastic packaging tax in March 2021. The law will become operative in April 2021.
Additionally, the use of glass is consistent with international recycling targets. By 2030, the EPA set a 50% national recycling target. The national policy will also invest in innovative processes for sorting and separating waste, improving the recycling stream's quality and making it more beneficial to the environment and the economy.
| Study Period | 2018-2030 | CAGR | 6.65% |
| Historical Period | 2018-2020 | Forecast Period | 2022-2030 |
| Base Year | 2021 | Base Year Market Size | USD 14.79 Billion |
| Forecast Year | 2030 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 26.40 Billion |
| Largest Market | Europe | Fastest Growing Market | North America |
The global pharmaceutical glass tubing market is divided into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
Europe is the most significant shareholder in the global pharmaceutical glass tubing market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.00% during the forecast period. The process of making pharmaceutical tubing has become incredibly complex, and the numerous uses for tubing across the nation have led to advancements in production tools and fabrication methods. Some of the most well-known manufacturers of pharmaceutical glass packaging are based in Germany, including Schott AG and Gerresheimer AG. Glass is increasingly being used for pharmaceutical packaging items as a result of strict legislation being introduced in the nation to improve the quality and integrity of pharmaceuticals made domestically. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industries require sterile medical packaging products, which is predicted to fuel market expansion over the forecast period.
North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.45%, generating USD 6.70 billion during the forecast period. In the US, glass bottles and syringes are the most common types of packaging. The pharmaceutical market is likewise dominated by the US regarding production and consumption. By 2023, STAT estimates that the US spending on prescription drugs will reach USD 600 billion, up from a projected USD 500 billion in 2019. This increase is further anticipated to fuel the US market for pharmaceutical glass packaging. Due to the considerable presence of international manufacturers like Owens Illinois, Corning, and Gerresheimer, the United States dominates the North American market for pharmaceutical glass packaging. These businesses serve some of the biggest pharmaceutical firms, including Abbott, Pfizer, Roche, and Novartis.
Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period. In order to address the country's production plant and facility limitations for glass tube packaging, China consistently sees developments. As an illustration, Chongqing invested in developing machinery that turns glass tubes into vials for COVID-19 vaccinations. Diabetes cases are rising in China, driving demand for borosilicate glass-tipped needles, cartridges, vials, and ampoules. For instance, according to Novo Nordisk, Levemir, a long-acting insulin treatment, is expected to generate DKK 1.05 billion in sales in Denmark in 2020. Tresiba insulin sales for the company increased significantly and reached DKK 418 million. The high demand for insulin is driving the rise in glass tubing.
One of the lucrative marketplaces for producing glass tubes by top market leaders has been in nations like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The pharmaceutical industry is driving the demand for the pharmaceutical glass tubing market in the area. Due to the area's low cost of land and labor, the market has seen significant investment from numerous enterprises from other regions. Additionally, because the pharmaceutical industries in Mexico and Brazil offer more chances, particularly in the generics sector, manufacturers and suppliers are concentrating on moving their bases there. The import of finished pharmaceutical formulations made only of raw materials from foreign nations is critical to the region.
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The global pharmaceutical glass tubing market is segmented by application.
Based on application, the global pharmaceutical glass tubing market is bifurcated into vials, ampoules, cartridges, and syringes.
The vials segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.70% during the forecast period. Glass vials are utilized as intermediaries in the pharmaceutical business and have evolved from being mere commodities to becoming a crucial component of a finished medication product. The healthcare sector has been working tirelessly over the past few decades to solve the problem of patients' poor medication compliance and increased drug intake. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that, particularly in the United States, patients take about 50% of prescribed drugs wrongly on average. The inappropriate use of medications and the rising propensity of various end-users, including hospitals and drug producers, are additional variables that are anticipated to influence the use of the product over the projected period.
Glass ampoules have been a common packing material for injectable medications. Throughout the forecasting period, the tendency is anticipated to persist. The glass ampoule can hold between 2 and above 8 milliliters. Glass is now more frequently utilized in pharmaceutical packaging due to strict rules to improve the integrity and caliber of domestically produced. Due to their ability to prevent contamination and medication mixing, they have had a significant impact on product shelf life. Factors like the increasing complexity of medications, the rise in lifestyle diseases (like diabetes), and the rising consumption of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and insulin, particularly in developing markets like Asia-Pacific (India and China) and Eastern Europe, are likely to encourage growth in the use of ampoules during the forecast period.
There is a rising market for premium parenteral packaging solutions for pharmaceutical and biotech therapies, including dental care and insulin management, because cartridges are widely utilized in these fields. Glass cartridges exist in various designs, and dimensions and offer greater storage. A SCHOTT player provides various cartridge shapes and a tighter tolerance for high precision. SCHOTT cartridges have a superior Extractables and Leachables profile because they are made entirely of FIOLAX Type I glass, unlike other container types that also use glue. Tight inner tolerances guarantee plunger-stopper Container Closure Integrity (CCI), and a perfectly shaped shoulder facilitates proper drug administration.
