Breast Pumps Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)

Market Overview

The breast pumps market was valued at USD 924.39 million in 2020, and it is expected to reach USD 1,513.51 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 8.61% during the forecast period, 2021-2026.

A 2020 research study by Lars Bode on breast milk from COVID-19 infected women indicated that transmission from the mother to the infant via human milk is unlikely. Moreover, studies confirmed that breast milk is safe and still the best way to give babies the nutrients and immune boost they need to thrive. This indicates there was no negative impact on the market as mothers continued to provide milk to babies even during the pandemic. Adding to that, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided information on how to properly clean and sanitize breast pumps during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The major factors driving the market growth include increasing global women employment rates, improving healthcare infrastructure in emerging economies, and government initiatives in support of employed mothers.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there has been visual progress in terms of employment opportunities and gender equality in the past 20 years. ILO initiated the 2030 UN agenda, which announces that the genders of youth and disabled population are likely to have equal pay without discrimination to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, for achieving productive employment, gender equality, and economic development.

In addition, according to World Employment, women’s labor force participation rate at the global level was around 48.5% in 2018, which was 26.5% less compared to that of the employment rate of men. The global unemployment rate for women is 0.8% higher than men.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the perfect food for babies is mother’s milk. Many working mothers are opting for breast pumps to pump milk and feed their babies when they are away for work. Breast pumps ease the pumping of the milk and save a lot of time. Hence, owing to the aforementioned factors, the market is expected to witness growth over the forecast period.

Scope of the Report

As per scope of the report, breast pumps are used by lactating women to extract milk from their breasts. There are lot of advantages of feeding the mother’s milk to infants, as breast milk contains important antibodies by which the baby can develop a strong immune system, thereby decreasing the chances of being diseased. Breast pumps help in boosting the supply of milk and help working mothers store the milk for the infant. The breast pumps market is segmented by product (open system breast pump and closed system breast pump), technology (manual breast pump, battery powered breast pump, and electric breast pump), application (personal use and hospital grade), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa, and South America). The report offers the value (in USD million) for the above segments.

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Key Market Trends

The Closed System Breast Pumps Segment is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over the Forecast Period

It has been observed that open breast pumps are comparatively less hygienic than closed breast pumps, and they registered high usage rates as these systems are relatively more hygienic and contamination-free.

The COVID-19 virus can persist on surfaces like metal, glass, or plastic for up to three days, but the transmission of the virus can be prevented with cleaning and use of disinfectants. Moreover, closed breast pumps are more hygienic than open breast pumps. This indicates that closed breast pumps are expected to register a rise in demand during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Closed system breast pumps provide a barrier between a collection kit and motor, which prevents contamination of the collected milk. The barrier also ensures that milk particles do not enter the pump tubing or motor, thereby preventing contamination and maintaining sterility.

According to a research article by Mi Kyung Lee et al., published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health January 2020, approximately 800,000 lives could be saved by improving breastfeeding rates and duration. In Asia, an estimated 300,000–350,000 child deaths could be prevented with optimal breastfeeding, and the majority would be under 12 months of age.

According to the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the closed breast pump provides more hygienic milk collection mechanism as it is not exposed to air at all, while the open system does not have a barrier between the milk collection kit and the pumping unit, presenting a possible risk of milk contamination from impurities such as bacteria, smoke, and dust in the air and sometimes mold. According to the Centre for Economic and Political Research, in Europe, the battery-powered breast pumps segment is dominating the market because of their portability.

Closed system breast pumps provide better safety for the child’s health, ensure maximum removal of impurities, and are easy to clean. The introduction of portable instruments such as Ameda HygieniKit by Ameda is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

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