World demand for pharmaceutical packaging will reach $22.2 billion in 2007, after increasing 4.3 percent annually, according to a recent report by the Freedonia Group (Cleveland, Ohio). Nearly 80 percent of demand will come from the U.S., Japan, China, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy and Switzerland. However, among these nations, Freedonia Group analysts predict, China will generate the fastest growth, based on its expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and the phase-in of a government program to upgrade the quality of its medicines. The U.S. will remain the largest consumer of pharmaceutical packaging, as its manufacturers introduce new, sophisticated preparations with specialized storage requirements, the study says. Demand for blister packaging will grow by 6.6 percent per year, to reach $4.9 billion by 2007, according to Freedonia. Accounting for its growth will be its broad use in unit dose, clinical trial and sterile applications. Western Europe will provide a strong regional market for blister packaging, because most prescription drugs dispensed directly to patients in EU countries must be provided in unit dose packages. Demand for plastic bottles, meanwhile, will increase by 4.1 percent annually to over $4.5 billion by 2007. World Pharmaceutical Packaging Demand (in millions of U.S. dollars)
1997 2002 2007 %/yr
Plastic Bottles 2941 3660 4485 4.5
Blister Packaging 2501 3545 4890 7.2
Pouches, Strip Packs 987 1235 1535 4.6
Other Primary Containers 3246 3950 4765 4.0
Closures, Accessories 4710 5590 6495 3.5
TOTAL 14385 17980 22170 4.6
