Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Size & Outlook, 2025-2033

Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Overview

The global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market size was valued at USD 162.77 Billion  in 2024 and is projected to reach from USD 178.07 Billion in 2025 to USD 365.37 Billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period (2025-2033).The growth of the market is attributed to increased spendings on medicines to drive the pharmaceutical packaging market.

Key Market Indicators

• North America dominated the Pharmaceutical Packaging Market  and accounted for a 28.7% share in 2024
• Based on  type, the market is segmented into cartridges, blister packs, labels and accessories, caps and closures.
• Based on product type , it is divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. 

Market Size & Forecast

• 2024 Market Size: USD 162.77 Billion
• 2033 Projected Market Size:USD 365.37 Billion
• CAGR (2025-2033): 9.4%
• North America: Largest market in 2024
• Europe: Fastest growing market

Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Trend

Pharmaceutical packaging is used as an economical means for providing protection, presentation, information, convenience, and transportation until the product has been consumed. Over the last several decades, the pharmaceutical sector has been on the rise, owing to the considerable growth in the global population and various government healthcare initiatives. Improving healthcare accessibility has led to an increase in the consumption of medicines and tablets, thereby accelerating the market.

Companies involved in pharmaceutical packaging have engaged in product innovations such as manufacturing eco-friendly packaging solutions or producing attractive labels to boost the sales and use of their products. However, the stringent and dynamic nature of regulations related to the pharmaceutical sector is expected to create some restrictions, impeding the market growth.

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Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Growth Factors

Increased Spendings on Medicines to Drive the Pharmaceutical Packaging Market

Emerging economies such as India, Brazil, among other similar economies, have been instrumental in the growth of the pharmaceutical industry. The sector is responsible for the development, manufacturing, and marketing of medications across the globe. It is estimated that the total revenue of the pharmaceutical industry is over USD one trillion. Notable companies such as Pfizer, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), have been actively investing significant capital into research and development of new and better drugs. For instance, as per the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Association, the research divisions of the pharmaceutical sector spend around USD 149.8 billion per year. Global spending on medicines is anticipated to reach USD 1,460 billion by the year 2021, and the graph will only go upwards. The increased spending is attributed to the market expansion of pharmaceutical companies in emerging economies.

Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products to Hamper the Market Growth

There has been, however, an increase in the number of counterfeit pharmaceutical products. For instance, in the year 2017, the Interpol seized potentially dangerous medicines worth USD 51 million. This exhibits a genuine threat as fake medicines can be packaged as something similar to a real pharmaceutical drug to earn higher profits in the black market. Companies involved in pharmaceutical packaging are focussing on designing packaging material so that it will be easy to distinguish fake products from genuine medicines.

Demographic Trends to Fuel Growth for This Market

Around 8% of the total global population is older than 65 years of age. The older population is prone to more diseases, which will increase the demand for premium drugs. Branded or premium drugs are more expensive as they are volatile to light and other external factors and require special packaging, which will lead to the market growth. Moreover, over half the global population falls in the working-age of 25 to 65 years. The working population is anticipated to consume drugs that cater to health and wellness segment. This will witness dominance and growth of over the counter (OTC) drugs which are available in tablets and jars and is likely to drive the market for packaged medicine during the forecast period.

Regional Insights

Europe’s demographic shows that the region has a large the older population, owing to the lower fertility rates and higher life expectancy. Europe saw industrial development earlier than most other regions, allowing it to witness economic progress before the world reaped it. The high economic gains by this region saw Europe focussing more on improving the healthcare system and focussing on the research of medicines. An improved lifestyle and a robust healthcare system together have contributed to the longevity of its population which now has resulted in an increased number of the population who are above the age of 60. The dominance of Europe in this market will majorly be due to economies in Western Europe.

North America: Fastest Growing Region

North America have the highest share in the pharmaceutical packaging market as the country is the largest pharmaceutical market in the world. Furthermore, the presence of a slew of pharmaceutical companies is likely to provide an impetus to the market. These companies are actively working towards new drug development and are advancing in technologies such as biologics and nanomedicines, which will result in the pharmaceutical packaging market growth in North America.

Type Insight

The market is segmented into cartridges, blister packs, labels and accessories, caps and closures, plastic bottles, pre-fillable syringes, temperature-controlled packaging, pre-filled inhalers, medical specialty bags, pouches and strip packs, vials, ampoules, jars and canisters, and medication tubes. The pre-fillable syringes segment is expected to hold the dominant share during the forecast period. They aid in reducing wastage and are also patient compliant by presenting self-administered metered dosages.

An active lifestyle, combined with high healthcare costs in emerging economies have driven patients to seek drugs that would aid in, not only saving time but also enabling them to avoid going to clinics and hospitals. These trends will lead towards higher demand for pre-fillable syringes, especially from patients who have a history or are currently battling illnesses such as diabetes and use self-administering.

Product Type Insight

it is divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. The primary packaging segment is the packaging that comes first in terms of coming in contact with the medicine. The constant temperature fluctuations and other disturbances while transporting medicines are likely to accelerate the primary packaging segment growth during the forecast period.

The plastics and polymers segment is expected to dominate the market, owing to the easy availability of raw materials to manufacture the final product. The paper and paperboards segment is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period, while the oral drugs segment is anticipated to have the highest growth rate in the drug delivery mode segment.

List of key players in Pharmaceutical Packaging Market

1. WestRock Company
2. Amcor plc
3. Berry Global INC.
4. Gerresheimer AG
5. AptarGroup INC.
6. Schott AG
7. West Pharmaceutical Services INC.
8. Dickinson
9. Company
10. Becton
11. Nipro Corporation
12. Catalent INC.
13. 3M Company
14. Plastube Incorporated
15. Nampak Limited
16. Hindalco Industries

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Recent Development

• April 2025 – Amcor completed its all-stock combination with Berry Global, strengthening its position in consumer and healthcare packaging, unlocking $650 million in synergies, and expected to boost EPS by 12% in FY 2026
• August 2025 – Reported fiscal Q4 and full-year results, emphasizing integration progress and reaffirming execution of previously announced $650 million synergy plan
• August 2025 – Sale of its North American beverages packaging unit (~$1.5 billion in sales) attracted interest from multiple industry players, signaling Amcor's intent to streamline operations and focus on growth in healthcare/consumer packaging
• April 2025 – As part of the merger, Berry Global fully combined with Amcor, forming a stronger entity in healthcare and consumer packaging with expanded R&D and global reach
• March 2025 – Private equity firms Warburg Pincus and KKR entered talks to acquire Gerresheimer; the company also revised its 2025 organic revenue growth guidance down to 3–5% from 7–10%
• May 2025 – Completed a €100 million modernization at its Lohr moulded glass facility, including a new oxy-hybrid furnace reducing CO₂e emissions by up to 40% and enabling up to 50% electricity use
• July 2025 – Gerresheimer terminated takeover discussions with PE firms, citing limited benefit, and reaffirmed a strategic review of its moulded glass unit, with further detail expected at its Capital Markets Day on October 15
• July 2025 – Downgraded its 2025 revenue outlook again now expecting 0–2% growth—and lowered mid-term guidance to 6–9%. Despite challenges, it maintained an adjusted EBITDA margin target (20%)
• August 2025 – Announced immediate divestment of the moulded glass business, triggering 4% share price rise. Positioned to become a pure-play system and solution provider for pharma and biotech
• August 2025 – Activist investor Active Ownership, now the second-largest shareholder, called for speeding up the moulded glass sale, portfolio optimization, cost cuts, and the formation of a strategy committee to improve return on sales by 5 percentage points 
• August 2025 – CFO Bernd Metzner resigned unexpectedly, to be succeeded by Wolf Lehmann effective September 1; Capital Markets Day scheduled for October was postponed due to these leadership changes
• July 2025 – Introduced a dual-active material science technology that simultaneously controls moisture and oxygen, enhancing protection for pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices (e.g., GLP-1 compounds, implantable devices, transdermals)