Market Trends of Ampoules Packaging Industry
Glass Ampoules are Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market
- Glass is one of the primary packaging materials for the pharmaceutical and personal care industry, as it limits the alkalinity and hydrolytic resistance of glass ampoules. It offers high transparency, enabling easy inspection of their contents, and higher protection because they are relatively impermeable to air and moisture and chemically resistant to most medicinal products. Players such as Schott launched the production of amber pharma glass in India to meet the increasing demand for pharmaceutical containers, such as ampoules, syringes or vials, and other drugs in Asia, in March 2023.
- Ampoules play a significant role in parenteral packaging. The growing geriatric population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and rising preference for injection-based treatments drive the global demand for parenteral packaging. Further, players operating in the glass ampoules market are launching high-speed filling lines to improve the functionalities of glass ampoules with highly stable dimensional qualities, increasing their manufacturing capabilities. Further, Nipro Pharma Packaging has pledged to invest substantially in a capacity extension in India in the coming three years. The first expansion will produce additional glass tubing quantities for the Indian and global markets.
- The rapidly growing pharmaceutical industry worldwide is driving the market's growth. The demand for pharmaceutical glass ampoules is emerging from densely populated economies such as India, Brazil, and China. Increasing medication production to offer patients greater comfort and autonomy in treating chronic inflammatory diseases propels the market's growth.
- For instance, in January 2023, South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion Healthcare, specializing in the development and production of biosimilars and new molecules, won a tender to supply the Ministry of Health in Brazil, with infliximab, used for the treatment of 8 autoimmune diseases, including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). As per the contract, Celltrion Healthcare intends to supply 342,000 ampoules to Brazil. The players collaborate in their efforts, enabling domestic drug makers to meet the rising demand for critical medicines globally. Players such as SGD Pharma and Corning Life Sciences have collaborated to support their continued global expansion as the companies localize manufacturing for their customers.
- Glass ampoules are extensively used in the pharmaceutical industry for packaging vaccines and injectable medications due to their airtight and tamper-evident properties, ensuring the sterility and integrity of the contents. The market's growth is supported by vaccination for diseases such as Hepatitis B, tuberculosis, Chicken Pox, and Polio, which require proper vaccine storage. Beyond pharmaceuticals, glass ampoules are also used in the cosmetics and chemical industries to package high-purity substances and sensitive formulations.
Asia-Pacific is Expected to Show a Significant Growth in the Long Term
- The growth of the Chinese pharmaceutical sector is expected to create growth opportunities for ampoules in the country. Chinese pharmaceutical packaging companies are encouraged to develop independent research and development teams to explore innovative, environmentally friendly, safe, functional, and sustainable packaging materials and products. The growing innovation, collaboration, acquisition, and production in drug manufacturing have boosted the market growth.
- Schott, a Germany-based specialty glass manufacturer, recently opened its first pharma glass tubing factory in Jinyun County, Zhejiang province, China. The company invested another EUR 70 million (USD 80.8 million) to expand its melting infrastructure, including additional melting tanks in Jinyun, to meet the rising demand for high-quality glass tubing for primary pharmaceutical packaging. The new tanks were operational in 2023.
- Increasing demand for skin care products is expected to boost the market's growth. Domestic and foreign brands invest in developing products with anti-aging, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, hydration, brightening collagen boosters with retinol, and de-puffing properties that deliver rapid results. Furthermore, the category of anti-aging cosmetics in the region will include creams, serums, ampoules, and eye creams.
- Moreover, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the retail sales of cosmetics by wholesale and retail companies in China totaled about USD 58.53 billion in 2023 from USD 43.30 billion in 2019. Ampoules in cosmetics provide highly concentrated, targeted skincare treatments that address concerns like hydration, anti-aging, or brightening. The growth in retail sales of cosmetics products in China can positively impact the demand for ampoules in the coming years.