World demand for medical device packaging is projected to increase 5.9% pa to US$25.7 bln in 2017, as per Freedonia. Reflecting the operation of advanced and diversified medical product industries, USA, Western Europe and Japan will continue to account for almost 60% of the total market. However, demand in these countries will expand below the average global pace as intensifying health care cost containment pressures and fierce multiple supplier competition weaken growth prospects for medical device production and heighten the price sensitivity of their producers to packaging costs. The fastest expanding medical device packaging markets will emerge in India, Mexico, China and the more prosperous Africa/Mideast countries, where diversification, expansion, and stricter regulation of medical product industries are raising the quality and functional requirements of containers and related accessories. The US will continue to be the largest market for medical device packaging, as its advanced medical product producers commercialize new high value-added supplies, instruments and equipment with specialized packaging needs. Gains in West European and Japanese demand will also benefit from new product introductions, as well as from the upgrading of government and industry standards covering the barrier, security and tracking properties of medical device packaging. In the developing world, China will provide the largest and broadest sales opportunities for medical device containers and related accessories due to burgeoning domestic and export markets for its medical goods. Spurred by rising internal and external investment, China is evolving into a leading worldwide developer and supplier of technologically advanced medical products. Containers will make up about 80% of medical device packaging demand through 2017 and beyond. Based on adaptability to cost effective infection-resistant and security-enhanced formats, pouches and trays will continue to lead sales among container types. Growth in pouch demand will reflect ongoing advances in strength, puncture resistance and barrier properties, which will expand applications in the packaging of small- to medium-sized supplies and devices, including sharps. Multiple compartment trays will build sales as they virtually eliminate the risk of staff errors and the spread of infectious agents during the preparation of products for surgery and various other patient procedures. Clamshell packs will also fare well in the global marketplace as they match or exceed all the advantages of rigid trays while offering greater protection against product damage during transport and storage. Among other medical device containers, blister packs and glass vials will account for the fastest expanding demand: the former from applications in the packaging of contact lenses; the latter from applications in the packaging of diagnostic reagents and related substances. By contrast, bags, which are used primarily for the packaging of large and odd-sized products, will decelerate based on the downsizing and miniaturization of many medical supplies and devices. Demand for boxes will also slow as cost considerations erode some secondary packaging. The fastest gains among medical device packaging accessories will be seen in high visibility labels and tamper-evident and other security accessories. Demand for these products will benefit from more strict government regulations and industry standards covering the safety, security, and functional features of medical device containers. |
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