North America Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The North America Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles Market size is estimated at USD 2.69 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 3.09 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 2.81% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Key Highlights

• The increasing importance of contemporary packaging in the pharmaceutical industry has enabled brands to capitalize on the advantages of unique plastic bottle packaging design to differentiate themselves from their competitors and boost their bottom line.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established strict requirements to ensure that pharmaceutical products are safe. Thus, plastic bottle materials must comply with regulations like the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). These regulations cover aspects like the selection of materials, manufacturing processes, and packaging controls, all of which impact the safety and integrity of pharmaceutical products. Compliance with these regulations drives the demand for specialized plastic bottle packaging products for pharmaceutical applications to meet the standards.
• Vendors offer a complete bundle solution to help clients exploit the growing demand for tamper-evident (TE) packaging in the pharmaceutical syrup and liquid medicine market. In March 2023, pharma film coatings and specialty excipients leader Colorcon Inc. announced the acquisition of Airnov Healthcare Pack, a player in pharmaceutical film coatings. The Airnov portfolio includes specialized plastic bottles containing oxygen barrier materials, quality drop-in products such as canisters and packets, and integrated desiccant systems.
• Despite undeniable advances in the industry, there is an upward price trend for plastics. The primary raw materials used in plastic manufacturing are crude oil and natural gas. As a result, the cost of plastic materials and resin rises when the price of oil or gas increases as producers pass through these fluctuations to purchasers.​ In particular, recent years have seen significant calls for intervention against high pharmaceutical plastic bottle and packaging prices.

North America Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles Market Trends

High-density Polyethylene to Hold Significant Market Share

• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a type of thermoplastic produced from the catalytic process of ethylene/petroleum. It is known for its high tensile strength and unique properties, making it stand at high temperatures. HDPE is preferable to most plastic bottles used in pharmaceutical packaging and may contain small amounts of additives that stabilize and affect the specific properties and leaching potential.
• HDPE is a material that is significantly used by the pharmaceutical industry for containers of drugs as it is a good barrier against moisture and is not readily attacked by most solvents, strong acids, and alkalis. It is considered a suitable option for manufacturing medicine bottles since it is a thermoplastic, which means it can be molded into any shape necessary.
• The increasing number of patients using long-term medication has increased the demand for solid containers and plastic bottles in the United States and Canada. North America is witnessing a gradual increase in patients with diseases like cancer, thyroid, and other chronic diseases. This scenario may lead to an increase in long-time medication, thereby augmenting the market growth.
• The pharmaceutical plastic packaging market is estimated to grow steadily, owing to the constantly increasing consumption and industrial applications of plastic-made containers and bottles. For instance, in March 2023, Bormioli Pharma announced that its North American business experienced substantial growth in 2022, with sales rising by more than 40%. Bormioli Pharma has a long innovation history and a comprehensive product portfolio in the packaging industry, including bottles, solid containers, and closures.
• Advances in medicine and life sciences primarily drive the pharmaceutical industry. The demand for pharmaceutical plastic bottles has bolstered revenue in the packaging industry and is projected to persist through the forecast period. Moreover, according to AstraZeneca, the sales of pharmaceuticals in the United States were recorded at USD 678 billion in 2023, while sales were recorded at USD 608 billion in 2022.
• Overall, the pharmaceutical plastic bottles market is projected to register a steady growth rate with ongoing expansion and research and development to improve pharmaceutical packaging. Thus, demand is anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period.

United States to Dominate the Market

• Dropper bottles are mainly used by people suffering from dry eye syndrome. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 12 million people over 40 with vision impairment in the United States are totally or partially blind. More than 2.2 billion people around the world have eye and vision disorders.
• A large part of the world’s population suffers from dry eye syndrome, and this number is expected to rise as people’s lifestyle changes, especially the long-term use of electronic devices such as computers and television, have increased the incidence of dry eye syndrome, which has increased the need for dropper bottles.
• The demand for nasal spray bottles is anticipated to increase due to the growing number of patients suffering from sinusitis. According to Medical Devices Business Services Inc., sinusitis is a prevalent health concern in the United States, affecting 35 million Americans annually. It is more prevalent than heart disease and asthma and significantly impacts the quality of life than chronic back pain or congestive heart failure.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services forecasts that the United States' total health expenditure will hit approximately USD 7.1 trillion by 2031. With increased healthcare spending, there is likely to be a higher demand for prescription medications. Pharmaceutical companies will need packaging solutions for these medications, and plastic bottles are a common choice due to their cost-effectiveness, versatility, and ability to preserve the medication's integrity.

North America Pharmaceutical Plastic Bottles Industry Overview

The North American pharmaceutical plastic bottles market is fragmented with the presence of many players like Amcor Group GmbH, Altium Packaging, COMAR LLC, Berry Group Inc., AptarGroup Inc., and ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co. KG. The players have adopted various organic and inorganic strategies, such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, new product launches, and collaborations, to dominate the market.

• In February 2024, Amcor, a leading sustainable packaging solutions provider, announced a substantial expansion to its thermoforming capabilities in North America, specifically targeting the healthcare industry. With this bolstered capacity, Amcor is poised to ramp up its production of packaging solutions, including PET plastic bottles.
• In February 2023, Berry Global Healthcare introduced a comprehensive bundle solution to help customers capitalize on the increasing demand for child-resistant (CRC) and tamper-evident (TE) packaging for the pharmaceutical and herbal market for syrup and liquid medicines.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support

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