World pharmaceutical packaging demand is projected to increase 6.3 percent annually to $62.3 billion in 2013.

CLEVELAND—World pharmaceutical packaging demand is projected to increase 6.3 percent annually to $62.3 billion in 2013. The developed countries of Western Europe, the U.S. and Japan will continue to account for more than 60 percent of this amount. However, China will provide among the strongest growth opportunities based on rapidly expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and the phasing-in of an extensive government program designed to upgrade the quality and integrity of nationally produced medicines. Among other major developing economies, India and Brazil will also evolve into fast-growing pharmaceutical packaging markets as drug producing sectors are upgraded and diversified, especially in the area of generic ethical drugs. These and other trends are presented in “World Pharmaceutical Packaging,” a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

The U.S. will remain the largest consumer of pharmaceutical packaging as its advanced drug-producing sector introduces new sophisticated therapies with specialized packaging needs. Growth in West European demand will reflect upgraded government standards requiring unit dose, high barrier and anti-counterfeit packaging for many types of medication. Based on its broad range of proprietary and generic drug producers, Japan will remain a large, diverse consumer of pharmaceutical containers, closures and related accessories.

World demand for primary pharmaceutical containers will increase 6.1 percent annually through 2013 to $38.2 billion. Prefillable inhalers and prefillable syringes will generate the fastest growth opportunities among all pharmaceutical packaging products based on performance advantages in drug delivery and the introduction of new bioengineered medicines. Plastic bottles will sustain the largest share of global demand based on low cost, versatility, availability, and ongoing quality and design improvements. Pharmaceutical blister packaging will generate favorable growth in global demand based on adaptability to unit dose, clinical trial, compliance, institutional and over-the-counter drugs. Equipment upgrades, coupled with trends favoring unit dose packaging, will also boost demand for pouches and strip packs. Parenteral vials and ampuls and, to a lesser extent, IV containers will fare well in the global marketplace as new injectable therapies based on biotechnology and other advanced disciplines reach the commercial stage. By contrast, world demand for medication tubes and glass bottles and jars will expand at a below average pace due to competition from alternative containers.

For more information on the Freedonia Group, visit www.freedoniagroup.com or contact Corinne Gangloff at pr@freedoniagroup.com.