Pharmaceutical Glass Vials and Ampoules Market

Market Overview

The global pharmaceutical glass vials and ampoules market size was valued at USD 11.94 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 22.70 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.40% during the forecast period (2022-2030).

The two most extensive subcategories of parenteral packaging are vials and ampoules. The pharmaceutical sector mainly uses vials and ampoules. In the pharmaceutical business, they are widely used to fill and store a variety of medications and drugs. These items can be used to store a variety of medications, chemicals, and other substances that are chemically unstable. They aid in avoiding contamination of the medicines and other items kept nearby.

Market Dynamics

Global Pharmaceutical Glass Vials and Ampoules Market Drivers

• Chemically Resistant and Recyclable

Glass can withstand a variety of chemical compositions since it is chemically resistant. Additionally, glass vials and ampoules offer improved transparency, allowing for simple observation and monitoring of their contents. This provides additional protection because glass is chemically resistant to most pharmaceuticals and is mainly impermeable to air and moisture. Pharmaceutical packaging makes up a minor amount of waste because glass is the material utilized for most of it. Glass packaging is 100% recyclable, making it a desirable packaging choice for the environment. Additionally, tinted glass can shield its contents from ultraviolet rays and specific wavelengths. Examples include amber glass and red glass. A safer and greener workplace will result from Piramal Enterprise's utilization of recycled glass and green power sources, which will lower overall energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Global Pharmaceutical Glass Vials and Ampoules Market Restraint

• Increased Relevance of Alternate Material

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 could not offer commercially sensible packaging options for goods intended for mass consumption. For solid oral medications, PET is starting to replace the glass as the material of choice for packaging. Glass remains the dominant material for liquid formulations. However, aluminum and plastic collapsible tubes are chosen for semi-solid formulations. Emerging economies use plastic-based ampoules more frequently due to the high demand for affordable packaging. On the other hand, plastics used in medical applications must comply with strict quality and safety requirements and undergo extensive testing to ensure that they are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and biocompatible.

Global Pharmaceutical Glass Vials and Ampoules Market Opportunities

• Growth of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Emerging Economies

The goal of Schott's new production facility is to meet the growing domestic and worldwide demand for high-quality pharma packaging glass material in the Asian market. According to the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA), Gujarat contributes to about 33% of the country's pharmaceutical production. Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, India's own Piramal Enterprises also sought to increase its current capacity throughout India. Also, the rise of the pharmaceutical market is anticipated to fuel all these investments by significant market incumbents in rising regions around the world during the forecast period.

One of the biggest producers and exporters of pharmaceutical goods worldwide is India. Additionally, the country invests heavily in R&D; estimates show that the top ten Indian pharmaceutical companies spent more than 8.6% of their yearly revenues on R&D. IBEF estimates that the nation's packaging market accounts for 4% of the worldwide packaging market. According to the nation, India's middle-class population is becoming more able to afford healthcare services, notably prescription drugs. The demand for glass vials and ampoules in the nation is also anticipated to be driven by several reasons, including innovations, increasing R&D spending, the rising trend of contract packaging, and the development of the generics industry.

Regional Analysis

Europe Dominates the Global Market

The global pharmaceutical glass vials and ampoules market is bifurcated into four regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Europe is the most significant shareholder in the global pharmaceutical glass vials and ampoules market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period. Schott AG and Gerresheimer AG are two of the world's most renowned pharmaceutical glass packaging businesses. These businesses steadily grow their national presence by introducing new products and increasing their capacity. For instance, Aenova Holding GMBH provides packaging services for vials, ampoules, and syringes. It can make 120 million syringes, 250 million ampoules, and 70 million vials annually. Following the installation of high-speed filling lines in many domestic pharmaceutical companies, glass ampoules are anticipated to produce greater yields. To hasten the production of vaccinations, these pharmaceutical firms collaborate with suppliers of aseptic filling equipment. For instance, a pharmaceutical business acting as a CDMO joined Steriline in February 2021. One of the biologics industries with the highest growth is gene therapy. It has a limited patient base, which increases the need for pre-sterilized vials and the validation of medications. Due to the actual drug usage, advancements in medical knowledge, and rising prevalence of diseases in the UK, the pharmaceutical business is one of the country's most important sectors of the economy. The development of the research-based pharmaceutical sector is also essential to reviving the UK's economy and ensuring its competitiveness in the following years.

North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6%, generating USD 5.60 billion during the forecast period. Due to the dominance of the US region in the North American market for pharmaceutical vials and ampoules, major international companies like Schott, Stevanato, Corning, and Gerresheimer are also present. The demand for vials and ampoules has increased steadily along with pharmacological complexity and the prevalence of ailments like diabetes. The US drug agency permitted several businesses to increase COVID-19 vaccine production with larger vials. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increased the number of doses extracted from the current vials from the previously allowed 10 to a maximum of 11.

In Canada, numerous companies provide vaccines for diseases like influenza, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus. It would be difficult to quickly retool these facilities to combat COVID-19 and create COVID-19 vaccines. For instance, the Connaught Campus in Toronto is run by Sanofi Pasteur in Canada, which manufactures vaccines against diphtheria and tetanus. Sanofi spent about CAD 925 million building a new vaccine manufacturing facility at its current location in Toronto. This will increase the supply of the company's FLUZONE high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine in Canada by adding antigen and filler capacity.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period. The Indian Express reports that almost 50% of all vaccine vials come from China. One of the biggest producers of vaccine vials worldwide, the region saw increased demand for vaccination vials due to the release of COVID-19 vaccines. As a result, China has taken several actions to meet the demand for vials. In response to the COVID-19 vaccination rush, many businesses in the area have been concentrating on growing their production capacities. The annual manufacturing capacities of some companies have reached tens of billions of units. The manufacturing of other items has been decreased at Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech to prioritize the production of vaccination vials.

Like this, Chongqing Zhengchuan Pharmaceutical Packaging enlarged its facility in January 2021 by putting in more than 800 manufacturing units, each capable of producing 3 billion neutral and low borosilicate glass goods. Japan, which continuously focuses on creating proprietary treatments, vaccines, and generic medications, has one of the pharmaceutical industries expanding the fastest after the United States. The Japanese government is also promoting this expansion by removing barriers to foreign businesses investing in the area. Piramida, a producer of glass vials and ampoules in Croatia, was acquired by Nipro. Piramida is vital to Japan, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased manufacturing of vaccines. One of the top five producers of glass ampoules for the pharmaceutical sector in Europe is Piramida.

With the number of manufacturing units expected to treble by 2021, the United Arab Emirates stated its plans to establish itself as the global hub for numerous major pharmaceutical corporations. The country's healthcare industry may be further improved by favorable government laws, which are also anticipated to fuel demand for the pharmaceutical glass vials and ampoules market. For instance, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the growth of the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector in the nation was signed by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and Jafza, a DP World firm. In a joint venture with the technology firm Group 42, the Chinese government opened a new facility in Abu Dhabi. The factory is being constructed in the Khalifa Industrial Zone with a 200 million dosage annual manufacturing capacity. Three filling lines and five automated packaging lines will be installed, projected to enhance demand for vials in the Middle East and Latin American regions.

Segmental Analysis

The global pharmaceutical glass vials and ampoules market is segmented by application.

Based on Application

The global pharmaceutical glass vials and ampoules market is bifurcated into vaccines and others.

The vaccines segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% during the forecast period. As COVID-19 spreads globally at various phases, vaccinations have become imperative. The preferred container in use today and in the past is borosilicate glass, utilized more frequently by all vaccine makers worldwide. The glass composition is listed as follows by the US National Institute of Standard and Technology: 80.8% silicon dioxide, 12.56% boron oxide, 3.98% sodium oxide, and 2.28% aluminum oxide (Al2O3) make up the compound. The boron oxide component stabilizes and maintains the vaccine's pH in an unaltered state.

With 20 manufacturing facilities across the globe, Schott AG is one of the market's pioneers in developing borosilicate vials and can produce containers for more than 1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, according to Wion, Schott AG provides the vials needed to preserve the vaccine for 75% of the vaccination programs. Additionally, Schott provided containers for two billion vaccine doses in June 2020 for several top pharmaceutical firms that produce Covaxin, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Janssen, and Moderna. Additionally, vendors provide filling options for ampoules and vials, making packaging for vaccine producers simple. For instance, the Stevanato Group provided a pharmaceutical company in India with a Coombi machine for liquid ampoules and lyophilized vials so that controls for two different primary containers filled with two different drugs could be set up on the same machine.

Gene therapy, insulin storage, and APIs are just a few other applications for glass vials and ampoules. For many years, injectable medications have been packaged in glass ampoules, and this trend is projected to continue during the forecast period. They are also utilized in pharmaceutical and chemical laboratories to preserve and store pharmaceutical fluids, capsules, and liquids. Glass ampoules have significantly impacted product shelf life since they prevent pharmaceutical contamination and mixing. Additionally, with more people worldwide developing rheumatoid arthritis, the use of anti-rheumatic medicines is increasing. Many anti-rheumatic medications, including methotrexate, Actemra, and Orencia, are available in vials, which is anticipated to drive the global pharmaceutical glass vials and ampoules market.

Recent Developments

• February 2022- Stevanato Group participated in CEPI's new COVAX Marketplace, which serves as a hub for the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines.
• June 2022- In order to keep up with the rising demand for injectable drug storage, SCHOTT plans to triple its ready-to-use vial production capacity in the U.S.