Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles Market

Market Overview

The global pharmaceutical plastic bottles market size was valued at USD 8.49 billion in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 12.3 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.21% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Pharmaceutical plastic bottles are rigid packaging options that can package pharmaceutical products in liquid and solid forms. Plastic packaging has seen a significant uptick in demand in the pharmaceutical market because of its unparalleled effectiveness. It provides an airtight barrier, high impact strength, low water absorption, transparency, heat and flame resistance, and the capacity to extend the product's shelf life, contributing to its widespread use in the pharmaceutical industry. To ensure that the packaging material is best suited for the intended use, it is crucial to use suitable materials when creating pharmaceutical plastic bottles. Regarding pharmaceutical packaging, the material properties must match the demands of the drug kept inside. Because of growing recycling rates and efforts to lessen the pharmaceutical industry's environmental effects, demand for plastic pharmaceutical bottles is on the rise.

Market Dynamics

Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles Market Drivers:

Increasing Consumer Demand for Lightweight Pharma Bottles

Lightweighting involves a sophisticated design process concentrating on the ideal material distribution to reduce weight without sacrificing the plastic bottle's strength, appearance, or performance attributes. It is well known that manufacturers' cost savings and environmental impact are significantly reduced by lightweighting. Additionally, businesses are looking to switch to PET packaging in response to the government's decision to outlaw bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. Recently, the government outlawed "Polycarbonate" plastic, which may contain BPA. Players are concentrating on switching to lightweight bottles for production to cut costs.

Increased Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Spending

The pharmaceutical industry, which transitions from producing generic drugs to developing new ones, is crucial to the country's roadmap. The Healthy China 2030 project emphasizes this transformation. Therefore, it is anticipated that the pharmaceutical industry's expansion will open up new opportunities, positively impacting the plastic bottle packaging market. Nanotechnology, the study of minimal materials, also has a significant impact on pharmaceutical packaging because it makes it possible to introduce cutting-edge packaging solutions to the market, spurring growth. The pharmaceutical plastic bottle packaging market is expanding thanks to plastics' improved barrier properties and nanotechnology's improved functionality. As a result, advances in nanotechnology help the market grow and expand.

Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles Market Restraints:

Rising Price for Raw Materials

The cost of plastics is on the rise. Crude oil and natural gas are the primary raw materials used in the production of plastic. Producers pass on these changes to consumers, and plastic materials and resin prices increase when oil or gas prices do. Additionally, different regulations would impact the price increase of the packaged product, which could affect consumption and further impede the expansion of the market under study. 

Overall, manufacturers are now using different packaging materials that have green characteristics. Due to its high recyclability and eco-friendliness, glass is used in pharmaceutical packaging at high rates in the regions. As a result, manufacturers are turning more and more away from plastic. These elements are impeding market expansion.

Global Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles Market Opportunities:

Fast-Developing Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Industries

Flexibility in production, multi-drug regimens, self-medication, patient and product involvement, safety and compliance, and serialization are all necessities in the fast-developing pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. Manufacturers of pharmaceutical plastic bottles market have grown to satisfy the increased demand for cold storage and nationwide distribution. These companies have influenced the complexity of drug products and supply chain protocols and regulations, affecting the entire global pharmaceutical supply chain. Due to COVID-19, test kits, medications, and pharmaceutical bottles are in high demand. Many companies need partners to label, store, pack, and distribute products internationally. As e-commerce grows, demand for pharmaceutical-grade plastic bottles will rise because they are easier to ship than glass and cause less product damage. Regulatory changes, consumer expectations, and pressure to lower drug prices fuel pharmacy e-commerce.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

By region, the global pharmaceutical plastic bottles market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific is the most significant revenue contributor and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.45% during the forecast period. Due to plastic's unmatched capacity to form both flexible and rigid containers, the region's demand for plastic bottle packaging is expanding significantly. Barriers against moisture, high dimensional stability, high impact strength, resistance to strain, low water absorption, transparency, resistance to heat and flame, and extensions of expiration dates are additional features that have increased adoption in the pharmaceutical industry. The pandemic caused a sharp rise in demand for pharmaceutical products, necessitating the mass production of pharmaceutical packaging. Many pharmaceutical producers modified their production schedules to increase the production of related products in response to the current situation, which affected consumers. To meet the anticipated high demand for Gerresheimer's primary packaging in China, a new plant for manufacturing plastic pharmaceutical packaging has recently been established in Changzhou.

North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.42% during the forecast period. Due to the steadily rising consumption and industrial use of containers and bottles made of plastic, the market for plastic bottles in the United States is predicted to expand steadily. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) reports that the US plastic bottle market is still growing. Numerous products and industries, such as the beverage, food and water, pharmaceutical, and household sectors, are expected to see an increase in plastic projects. Medicines kept in bottles are protected by various sealed plastic bottle types. The bottles are used for bulk and prescription dose packaging of oral ethical medications and extensive packaging of solid dose oral over-the-counter medications. The market is also growing due to strict regulations, increasing end-user industry demand, and changing demographics that favor cost-effective solutions.

In Germany, pharmaceutical R&D, production, and distribution are all very well suited. Due to trends like demographic change, an increase in chronic diseases, and a growing emphasis on preventive and self-medication, Europe's largest pharmaceutical market is growing faster than the German economy. The ban applies to drinking straws, stirrers, cotton buds, balloon wands, disposable flatware and plates, and cotton swabs. The sale of foamed expanded polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, food containers and drink cups is also prohibited. All items made of oxo-degradable plastic are also forbidden because they degrade into tiny particles that are difficult to discard but do not further decompose. Furthermore, a group of German academics gathered to discuss this subject at a symposium in the Czech Republic. The business will benefit from a more accurate and repeatable method to determine how well packaging keeps moisture out because moisture permeation is a common problem affecting product quality.

Brazil is one of the important markets for producing plastic bottles by major market players. The pharmaceutical industry is driving the demand for pharmaceutical plastic bottles nationwide. Companies from other regions have made sizable investments in Brazil's market to grow their businesses. Moreover, because the country's pharmaceutical industry is providing more opportunities, producers and suppliers are concentrating on ophthalmology and rhinology products with irradiation. Numerous vendors are focused on Brazil's expanding plastic packaging demand. Market vendors are boosting the country's pharmaceutical packaging to meet this need.

Saudi Arabia is attempting to establish itself as a significant investment destination for multinational pharmaceutical companies by implementing economic development initiatives. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), the nation's official investment promotion organization, aspires to implement the Vision 2030 plan, which calls for diversifying the Saudi economy through collaborations with domestic and foreign public and private sector organizations, to make the Kingdom a significant hub between East and West. The nation's geographic location is an essential asset in achieving this goal. The Saudi government enhances the business climate and makes it a more desirable investment location.

Furthermore, in line with the Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia is promoting local pharmaceutical product manufacturing, according to the official chairman of the National Committee for Pharmaceutical Industries. The Kingdom's transformation plan aims to increase the share of all pharmaceutical production from 20% to 40%. The regulatory body encourages and facilitates global companies to take advantage of this opportunity while the government supports local businesses locally. The market for pharmaceutical plastic bottles in the nation is anticipated to increase.

Segmental Analysis

The global pharmaceutical plastic bottle market is segmented by raw material and type.

Based on raw material, the global pharmaceutical plastic bottles market is bifurcated into polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.06% during the forecast period. PET is a thermoplastic polymer with a polyester base derived from PE and is widely used for pharmaceutical bottles worldwide. PET exhibits moisture-resistant qualities and keeps a firm protective structure, making it helpful in making plastic bottles for liquids in the pharmaceutical industry. When used for pharmaceutical applications, PET must be non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, biocompatible, and not harmful to the biological environment. PET packaging is included in and examined during the drug development process, where they are tested for leaching and extractability in conjunction with the drug. PET bottles have an effective oil barrier that helps them fend off chemicals that could harm the plastic.

Un-pigmented bottles are translucent with excellent stiffness and barrier properties and are produced using HDPE, a material used to manufacture many different types of bottles. The substance comes in a pigmented variety that the pharmaceutical industry can use to package medications with light sensitivity. These materials are appropriate for perishable packaging goods. Since HDPE is less brittle than PP and has a high strength-to-weight ratio among common polymers, it is also frequently used for larger containers in the commercial sector. Since it retains its lightweight during molding, it can be used for larger containers like plastic canisters.

Based on type, the global pharmaceutical plastic bottle market is bifurcated into solid containers, dropper bottles, nasal spray bottles, and oral care bottles.

The liquid bottles segment owns the highest market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.63% during the forecast period. Liquid dosage forms are becoming more prevalent all over the world. Children's dosages of liquid/semisolid medications are frequently used for various medical needs. Children require smaller doses and cannot swallow tablets or capsules, which has long been a problem. There has been increasing pressure in recent years to make sure that medications are available in dosages that are safe for children to take. Liquid dosage forms can be treasured because they are simple to consume and can easily be adjusted for variations in body weight.

The market for oral care products in the area has been stagnant, and the revenue for these bottles has grown slowly in recent years. Grocery stores and pharmacies, where the majority of industry products are sold to end users, benefited from an overall increase in consumer spending. However, over the past five years, there has been a slight improvement in the penetration of mouthwash in households. In recent years, businesses have introduced several new products, but mouthwash only has a few uses. Due to its stringent safety and quality requirements, PET, one of the most widely used plastic types, has recently gained popularity and is now frequently used in the healthcare industry. It is the more commonly used and widely accepted type of plastic in pediatric and geriatric drug packaging and is frequently used in the packaging of liquid oral medicine formulations.

Recent Developments

• October 2022-Amcor Rigid Packaging (ARP) created a ground-breaking two-step light weighting technology that eliminates more than 50% of the material and weight in the bottle's finish, making significant progress in the field of packaging weight reduction.
• July 2022- Gerresheimer signed another significant step toward realizing its financing strategy by agreeing to a revolving credit facility for EUR 150 million. This refinancing is a component of Gerresheimer's overall financial strategy to support the organization's successful transition into a solution provider and system integrator with long-term, profitable growth.