Biopharma Plastics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Polymer Type (Polyvinyl Chloride, Polyethylene, Polypropylene), By Application (Syringes, Containers, Depth Filters), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Biopharma Plastics Market Size & Trends

The global biopharma plastics market size was valued at USD 4,811.88 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% from 2023 to 2030. Factors such as the increase in global healthcare expenditure and increasing cases of cancer across the globe are expected to boost market growth during the forecast period. Biopharma plastics are widely utilized in the manufacturing of various healthcare products such as protective wear, containers, syringes, disposable connectors, and bioreactor bags owing to their properties including thermal stability, low chemical reactivity, and high resistivity. Due to their promising applications, polymer types such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have witnessed a rise in the demand from the biopharma industry.To cater to the increasing growth in the healthcare industry, biopharma plastics are being utilized for providing higher stability to several applications including depth filters, syringes, and containers. The market offers opportunities for the usage of a variety of polymer types such as PP, PE, PET, PTFE, and ABS as these polymer types are used for manufacturing biopharma plastic components including personal equipment (PPE), face masks, gloves, and gowns.

The increasing per capita healthcare spending in the U.S. in the form of health insurance has been one of the major trends fueling the growth of the biopharma plastics market in North America as it is expected to augment the demand for generic drugs and biopharma plastic-based medical products in the region from 2022 to 2030.

Key initiatives such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid undertaken by the U.S. government have provided a large percentage of the population to have access to effective and improved healthcare facilities and services. This has fueled demand for branded drugs, medical devices, and healthcare services in the U.S., thereby driving the consumption of biopharma plastics in the country for developing disposable medical connectors, syringes, depth filters, etc.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most common cancer that affects women in the U.S. It usually occurs in middle-aged and old women. The use of hormone therapy for the treatment of menopausal symptoms elevates estrogen levels in women. This is one of the major causes of breast cancer in women. Mastectomy performed to treat breast cancer is expected to result in a surged demand for biopharma plastic-based products such as syringes, valves, and medical disposable connectors. This, in turn, is expected to lead to the growth of the market for biopharma plastics in the U.S. in the coming years.

Polymer Type Insights

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) dominated the global market and accounted for more than 21.0% share of the overall revenue in 2022. Polyvinyl chloride can undergo many processes without breaking or cracking, which accounts for its multiple uses in the market. It is extremely flexible, resistant, and can easily withstand high temperatures, making it suitable for the production of syringes, disposable connectors, depth filters, and other applications of biopharma plastics.

Biopharma plastic polymers are used to provide a smooth durable finish having high resistance to UV and chemical exposure. Biopharma plastic polymers are also impressive for their oxidation resistance capacity, water-repellency with simultaneous vapor permeability, and outstanding mechanical properties. This ensures that the end product is durable, sustainable, and economical. The hydrophobic nature of biopharma polymers has led to the increased usage of biopharma plastics in protective wear in the healthcare industry.

Factors such as suitable demographics for production, increasing health concerns, and growth in healthcare expenditure are expected to drive the market for biopharma plastics along with polymers. Moreover, the presence of large-scale PP molding facilities and the manufacturing sector is projected to propel the market growth over the forecast period. Other polymer types such as polyethylene and polytetrafluoroethylene are mainly used in various applications owing to their properties such as gloss, durability, and detergent resistance. The aforementioned factors are likely to boost market growth over the forecast period.

Application Insights

Syringes dominated the market and accounted for more than 20.0% share in terms of revenue in 2022. Growth in the demand for prefilled syringes owing to their usage, convenience, low costs, minimal microbial contamination, low injection errors, and dilution errors is expected to boost the growth of the market.

Additionally, the surging adoption of advanced healthcare technologies, the growing production of large molecules, and the rising expenditure for the development of advanced healthcare facilities are fueling the growth. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the ease of usage and convenience offered by disposable biopharma plastic syringes.

The presence of well-developed healthcare infrastructure in various countries is also fueling the demand for these devices. This, in turn, is expected to have a positive impact on the demand for biopharma plastics used for developing different medical devices. In addition, the increasing demand for prefilled syringes owing to their usage convenience, low costs, minimal microbial contamination, low injection errors, and dilution errors is anticipated to contribute to the growth of the syringes segment of the biopharma plastics industry from 2023 to 2030.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2022 and accounted for a revenue share of more than 30.0%. China led the market in 2022, in terms of both volume and revenue. The demand for high-quality biopharma plastic devices and components from hospitals is increasing in emerging economies such as China, India, and Japan on account of the rising population and expenditure on healthcare. This is boosting the market growth in the region.

North America is expected to register a CAGR of 11.4% in terms of revenue over the forecast period on account of a halt in the healthcare industry in this region. The U.S. has been spearheading the demand for biopharma plastics in this region. The presence of key manufacturers of biopharma plastics such as Celanese Corporation, Eastman Chemical Co., and DuPont can be regarded as one of the leading factors driving the market in the country. 

Competitive Insights

The market has been characterized by the presence of key players along with a few medium and small regional players. Major players are continuously working on developing polymers for the production of biopharma plastics owing to the rising demand for biopharma plastic components from the healthcare industry. 

The global biopharma plastics industry is a highly competitive market due to the presence of major industries across the region as these companies are comparatively concentrated and fiercely competitive along with acquisitions, mergers, and collaborations. For Instance, in April 2023, PSG Group International one of the leading global pump, metering, and dispensing-solution company launched a new biotech brand with the name, ‘PSG^® Biotech for life science and biopharma’. Some prominent players in the global biopharma plastics market include: 

• BASF SE

• LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.

• SABIC

• LG Chem

• Toray Industries, Inc.

• Solvay

• Dow, Inc.

• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

• Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics

• Tekni-Plex

• Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., LLC

• Exxon Mobil Corporation

• Formosa Plastics Corporation

• Covestro AG

• TEIJIN LIMITED

• Mitsui & Co. Plastics Ltd.

• INEOS Group

• CHIMEI

Biopharma Plastics Market Report Scope

Global Biopharma Plastics Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts volume & revenue growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2023 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global biopharma plastics market report based on polymer type, application, and region:

• Polymer Type Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Polyethylene (PE)

  • Polypropylene (PP)

  • Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

  • Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

  • Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

  • Polycarbonate (PC)

  • Other

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Protective Wear

  • Containers

  • Bioreactor Bags

  • Syringes

  • Depth Filters

  • Disposable Medical Connectors

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • GCC Countries

    • South Africa