Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 154.78 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 207.42 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 6.03% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | North America |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The pharmaceutical packaging market size reached USD 154.78 billion in 2025 and is forecast to rise to USD 207.42 billion by 2030, advancing at a 6.03% CAGR. Over the next five years, escalating biologics output, stricter global traceability rules, and widespread sustainability targets will keep capital flowing into new fill-finish lines, high-barrier materials, and circular-ready designs. Demand for flexible pack volumes that match smaller, personalized therapy batches will expand as gene and cell therapies reach commercial scale. North America remains the largest regional contributor, supported by DSCSA-driven serialisation, while Asia-Pacific’s sizeable 8.96% CAGR reflects rising domestic drug production and broadening health coverage.[1]FDA, “DSCSA Requirements,” fda.gov Material strategies are in flux: plastics still dominate yet bio-based polymers, aluminium-free blisters, and post-consumer-recycled films move quickly from pilot to production as EU and US PFAS curbs near enforcement. Meanwhile, price swings in polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET keep margins tight, encouraging longer supplier contracts and vertical integration by larger converters.
Key Report Takeaways
- By material, plastics led with 45.64% of pharmaceutical packaging market share in 2024; biopolymers are projected to expand at an 8.54% CAGR to 2030.
- By packaging level, primary packaging accounted for 60.32% of the pharmaceutical packaging market size in 2024 and is advancing at a 7.42% CAGR through 2030.
- By product type, bottles captured 28.32% share of the pharmaceutical packaging market size in 2024, while prefilled syringes post the fastest 8.32% CAGR to 2030.
- By geography, North America commanded 35.32% of pharmaceutical packaging market share in 2024; Asia-Pacific records the quickest 8.96% CAGR through 2030.
Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aging population and chronic disease prevalence | +1.2% | Global, with concentration in North America & Europe | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Biologics and injectable pipeline expansion | +1.8% | Global, led by North America & Europe | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Sustainability-driven material substitution | +0.9% | Europe & North America core, expanding to APAC | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Digital traceability mandates (DSCSA, EU-FMD) | +0.7% | North America & EU, with spillover to other regions | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| AI-enabled adaptive fill-finish lines | +0.4% | North America & Europe, early adoption in APAC | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rise of at-home/decentralized trials needing mail-ready packs | +0.3% | Global, with early gains in North America & Europe | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
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Aging population and chronic disease prevalence
Rising median ages push long-term therapy volumes higher, underpinning consistent demand for calendar blisters, large-print labels, and one-hand-open vials that aid adherence among patients with reduced dexterity. Germany’s 2024 vaccination shifts, with pneumococcal doses up 23% and meningococcal B up 52%, illustrate broader preventive-care uptake in seniors . Packaging suppliers respond with connected packs that log opening events and forward adherence data to care teams. Growth in smart closures and NFC-enabled cartons will intensify as payers link reimbursement to real-world outcomes.
Biologics and injectable pipeline expansion
Prefilled syringes sit at the core of new biologic launches because they simplify self-administration, minimise contamination risks, and reduce waste during fill-finish. BD’s iDFill™ syringe embeds RFID for instant verification, while its Neopak™ XtraFlow™ design handles viscous formulations that were once vial-only. GMP Annex 1 revisions accelerate demand for ready-to-use glass tubing and polymer containers that bypass washing and depyrogenation steps, helping CDMOs scale capacity without constructing new cleanrooms.
Sustainability-driven material substitution
Legislators now tie producer fees to recyclability, making end-of-life design a margin driver rather than a marketing add-on. Dai Nippon Printing’s aluminium-free polypropylene PTP blister achieves water-vapour barriers below 0.2 g/m²/day yet qualifies for established recycling streams.[2]Dai Nippon Printing, “Aluminium-free PTP Film,” prtimes.jp Novo Nordisk swapped multi-layer plastic trays for paper-based inserts, reducing weight and cube footprint while safeguarding sterility . Early adopters that validate lower-carbon pack formats in regulated markets gain a pricing edge and smoother compliance when EU recyclability mandates activate in 2030.
Digital traceability mandates (DSCSA, EU-FMD)
Full-scale serialisation in the United States moves from lot-level to package-level tracking by 2025. Each smallest saleable unit now carries a GTIN, unique serial, lot, and expiry in both human- and machine-readable code, supported by interoperable data exchange across wholesalers, repackagers, and dispensers . European markets face parallel requirements under the Falsified Medicines Directive, compelling converters to build global code libraries and integrate tamper-evident seals without slowing line speeds.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petro-derivative resin price volatility | -1.1% | Global, with acute impact in Asia-Pacific manufacturing hubs | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Capital-intensive sterility and validation requirements | -0.8% | Global, particularly affecting smaller manufacturers | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Looming PFAS/fluoropolymer restrictions in EU and US | -0.6% | Europe & North America, with supply chain spillover globally | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Petro-derivative resin price volatility
Supply disruptions and force majeure events lifted PET prices by 1.1% in June 2024, shrinking already tight converter margins. Pharmaceutical contact material specs restrict rapid grade switches, forcing many converters to absorb cost spikes or renegotiate long contracts. Corrugated shippers also face higher fibre costs, with a USD 70 per-ton increase announced for January 2025.
Capital-intensive sterility and validation requirements
FDA warning letters in 2024 frequently cited deficiencies in contamination control and equipment maintenance for sterile drug producers, underscoring the cost of compliance upgrades. EU GMP Annex 1 raises the bar further, driving investments in isolators, gloveless robotic filling, and 100 % in-line visual inspection. Smaller packaging plants struggle to finance Class A/B environments, prompting many to outsource to ready-to-use specialist suppliers.
Segment Analysis
By Material: Sustainability Drives Innovation
Plastics retained 45.64% of pharmaceutical packaging market share in 2024, anchored by HDPE bottles, PP closures, and PET blisters that balance cost and barrier needs. Yet the segment’s growth moderates as brand owners court circularity objectives. Within plastics, the pharmaceutical packaging market size for PP-based syringes is rising steadily thanks to break-resistant cyclic olefin options. Glass remains indispensable for light- and moisture-sensitive biologics; Type I borosilicate vials dominate cytotoxic fills despite higher weight and shatter risk. Metals hold niche aerosol and implantable device roles.
Momentum gathers around bio-attributed resins, recycled PET mid-barrier webs, and paper-based pill bottles such as Allegheny Health Network’s Tully Tube pilot. Developers weigh shelf-life assurance, extractables profiles, and line changeover costs before wide release, yet early adopters win procurement tenders from hospitals adding sustainability scoring to vendor audits.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
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By Packaging Level: Primary Packaging Dominance
Primary formats captured 60.32% of pharmaceutical packaging market size in 2024 and will outpace secondary and tertiary layers through 2030. Bottles are the volume leader for solid orals, supported by cost-efficient continuous compression lines, while the prefilled syringe subcategory shows the strongest revenue acceleration. Vials retain critical care volumes; ready-to-use glass and polymer offerings cut depyrogenation steps, reducing human intervention and line downtime. In secondary packs, digital print enables lot-size-one cartons for clinical trial kits and regional language compliance. Tertiary formats evolve toward fibre-based cold-chain shippers, with DS Smith’s TailorTemp® maintaining 2-8 °C for 36 hours and meeting curb-side recycling rules.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
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By Product Type: Prefilled Syringes Lead Growth
Bottles held 28.32% share of the pharmaceutical packaging market in 2024, yet prefilled syringes claim the fastest 8.32% CAGR. New polymer backs reduce breakage in home-use settings, and embedded RFID tags ease authentication in closed-loop hospital networks BD. Glass vials remain central to lyophilised biologics; polymer options such as COPs find favour where particle reduction outweighs oxygen barrier concerns. Smart blister packs integrate micro-print circuits to timestamp openings, feeding real-time adherence dashboards for decentralised trials.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
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Geography Analysis
North America contributed 35.32% of pharmaceutical packaging market share in 2024 as investments worth USD 160 billion target biologics capacity and domestic supply resilience. DSCSA serialisation stipulations stimulate coding machinery upgrades, and early PFAS phase-outs drive polymer reformulation. Europe balances stringent green-deal rules with high-cost energy inputs; Germany saw 1.5% output decline in 2024 yet sustained R&D outlays in mRNA, gene, and radiopharma therapies demanding high-barrier packs. Region-wide packaging revenue is expected to rise from EUR 153 billion in 2024 to EUR 186 billion by 2029 as extended-producer-responsibility fees reward recyclable formats.
Asia-Pacific records the strongest 8.96% CAGR. China and India expand API output and attract CDMO investments that need local pack sourcing under tighter supply-security rules. Japan’s stringent PMDA standards enforce early adoption of Annex 1 aligned isolators, mirroring EU sterility upgrades.[3]ISPE, “Navigating Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Landscape,” ispe.org Geopolitical shifts introduce risk: China’s anti-espionage laws potentially complicate tech transfer and data sharing for pack serialisation partners. Across the region, national healthcare expansions and decentralised clinical models spur demand for mail-ready temperature-controlled shippers.
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Competitive Landscape
The pharmaceutical packaging market remains fragmented. Amcor, Gerresheimer, West Pharmaceutical Services, and Schott AG head the global revenue tables, sustained by multi-continent plants and regulatory support teams built over decades. Consolidation gains pace: Amcor’s USD 8.4 billion merger with Berry Global broadens polymer film innovation scope, while Novo Holdings’ USD 16.5 billion acquisition of Catalent tightens integration across drug substance, fill-finish, and final pack. Technology investments form a second pillar of advantage; Syntegon’s tie-up with Telstar adds isolator and freeze-dryer expertise, enabling turnkey high-speed syringe lines. Sustainability sets the competitive frontier: TekniPlex’s 30% recycled-content blister and DS Smith’s fibre-based cold chain box exemplify portfolio shifts toward low-carbon alternatives.
Mid-tier converters pursue niche leadership in connected pack formats, with Gerresheimer’s Gx Cap transmitting adherence data to ePRO platforms and Bormioli Pharma’s EasyRec dual-chamber pack cutting reconstitution time during cardiac emergencies. Smaller firms focus on rapid proto-typing and digital print agility, supporting trial sponsors that ship kits directly to participants. Competitive intensity will tighten as PFAS bans prompt new material qualifications, potentially sidelining firms without robust R&D budgets.
Pharmaceutical Packaging Industry Leaders
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Amcor PLC
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Schott AG
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Smurfit WestRock
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Klöckner Pentaplast Group
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AptarGroup Inc.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Recent Industry Developments
- June 2025: TOPPAN Holdings confirmed participation at INTERPHEX Japan, showcasing fibre-based blisters and AI inspection modules.
- May 2025: Gerresheimer introduced the Gx Cap connected tablet container at Pharmapack 2025.
- February 2025: Novo Holdings finalised its USD 16.5 billion Catalent purchase, expanding biologics packaging capacity.
- January 2025: DS Smith unveiled TailorTemp®, a fully recyclable fibre shipper that maintains cold chain for 36 hours.
Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Report Scope
The packages and packing procedures for pharmaceutical preparations are referred to as pharmaceutical packaging (or medication packaging). It involves every stage of the process, from drug production to the final consumer, via various distribution routes. The study considers revenues from the sales of different pharmaceutical packaging products offered by various vendors operating in the market. The market scope considers product types, including bottles, vials and ampoules, Syringes, caps and closures, labels, and others. The consumption value (USD) of pharmaceutical packaging is considered for the market size and forecasts. The market study factors the impact of COVID-19 on the overall pharmaceutical glass packaging market based on the prevalent base scenarios, key themes, and end-user vertical-related demand cycles.
The pharmaceutical packaging market is segmented by material (plastic, glass), product type (bottles, syringes, vials and ampoules, tubes, caps and closures, and labels), and geography (North America (United States and Canada), Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, and rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and rest of Latin America), and Middle East and Africa (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and rest of Middle East and Africa)). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.
By Material
| Plastics | HDPE |
| LDPE and LLDPE | |
| PET | |
| Other Plastics | |
| Glass | Type I Borosilicate |
| Type II Treated Soda-lime | |
| Type III Soda-lime | |
| Metal | |
| Paper and Paperboard | |
| Biopolymers and Other Materials |
By Packaging Level
| Primary Packaging | Bottles |
| Prefilled Syringes | |
| Vials and Ampoules | |
| Blister Packs | |
| Secondary Packaging | Cartons and Sleeves |
| Labels and Inserts | |
| Tertiary Packaging | Corrugated Shippers |
| Pallets and Protective Systems |
By Product Type
| Bottles |
| Prefilled Syringes |
| Vials and Ampoules |
| Blister Packs |
| Caps and Closures |
| Tubes and Pouches |
| Other Product Types |
By Geography
| North America | United States | |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Spain | ||
| Russia | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| India | ||
| Japan | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Australia and New Zealand | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | United Arab Emirates |
| Saudi Arabia | ||
| Turkey | ||
| Rest of Middle East | ||
| Africa | South Africa | |
| Nigeria | ||
| Egypt | ||
| Rest of Africa | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| By Material | Plastics | HDPE | |
| LDPE and LLDPE | |||
| PET | |||
| Other Plastics | |||
| Glass | Type I Borosilicate | ||
| Type II Treated Soda-lime | |||
| Type III Soda-lime | |||
| Metal | |||
| Paper and Paperboard | |||
| Biopolymers and Other Materials | |||
| By Packaging Level | Primary Packaging | Bottles | |
| Prefilled Syringes | |||
| Vials and Ampoules | |||
| Blister Packs | |||
| Secondary Packaging | Cartons and Sleeves | ||
| Labels and Inserts | |||
| Tertiary Packaging | Corrugated Shippers | ||
| Pallets and Protective Systems | |||
| By Product Type | Bottles | ||
| Prefilled Syringes | |||
| Vials and Ampoules | |||
| Blister Packs | |||
| Caps and Closures | |||
| Tubes and Pouches | |||
| Other Product Types | |||
| By Geography | North America | United States | |
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| France | |||
| Italy | |||
| Spain | |||
| Russia | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Asia-Pacific | China | ||
| India | |||
| Japan | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Australia and New Zealand | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | United Arab Emirates | |
| Saudi Arabia | |||
| Turkey | |||
| Rest of Middle East | |||
| Africa | South Africa | ||
| Nigeria | |||
| Egypt | |||
| Rest of Africa | |||
| South America | Brazil | ||
| Argentina | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
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Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the pharmaceutical packaging market?
The pharmaceutical packaging market size stands at USD 154.78 billion in 2025.
Which segment is growing fastest in pharmaceutical packaging?
Prefilled syringes show the quickest growth, posting an 8.32% CAGR through 2030.
Why is sustainability important for pharmaceutical packages?
EU and US regulations increasingly tie recycling performance to producer fees, making recyclable or bio-based materials a cost advantage.
How will DSCSA affect packaging suppliers?
Suppliers must incorporate unique serial codes and tamper-evident seals into every saleable pack to help secure drug supply chains.
Which region offers the highest growth opportunity?
Asia-Pacific leads with an 8.96% CAGR, driven by expanding drug manufacturing bases and rising health spending.
What is driving mergers in this market?
Companies pursue scale, advanced material R&D, and integrated drug-delivery capabilities, illustrated by Amcor-Berry and Novo Holdings-Catalent deals.
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