US medical packaging market to expand

The increasing use of injectable and inhalation therapies for cancer, heart disorders and other major diseases will lead demand growth in the US medical packaging market.

Research group Freedonia forecasts demand for sterile medical packaging to expand by 6.0% per annum, to reach a value of $4.38bn in 2010, compared with $3.28bn in 2005. Traditional packs such as sterile thermoformed trays and pouches will experience an increase but at slower rates. Thermoformed trays will rise by 3.9% per year to $550m, and pouches by 4.4% to $515m, by 2010.

Trays will benefit from advances in plastics and foil materials. Also, multiple compartment trays are being developed that package all products needed for specific patient procedures. Prefillable inhalers will experience the largest growth, rising by 13.7% per annum to $735m by 2010. Prefillable syringes will also see strong growth, increasing by 10.2% per year to $530m. Freedonia expects PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene and thermoplastic polyesters to continue dominating the market in the period ahead.