Medical Plastics Market Trends

  • Report ID: 2600
  • Published Date: Jun 10, 2025
  • Report Format: PDF, PPT

Medical Plastics Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges

Growth Drivers

  • Advancements in chemical recycling: Innovations in the field of chemical recycling are improving the sustainability of medical plastics. For example, advanced catalytic technologies have increased production efficiency by 21%, resulting in cost savings and fostering sustainable growth within the industry.

  • Sustainability initiatives and renewable chemicals: The global market for green chemicals is anticipated to attain a value of $123.1 billion by the year 2030, increasing from $123.1 billion in 2024, propelled by the growing demand for environmentally friendly chemicals and stringent government regulations.

1. Global Medical Plastics Market Trends: Unit Sales Growth, Pricing Dynamics, and Future Outlook (2020–2025)

The global market for medical plastics has seen consistent growth over the last five years, propelled by improvements in healthcare infrastructure and a heightened demand for medical devices. The volume of unit sales has increased, demonstrating the industry's adaptation to growing healthcare requirements. Factors influencing price trends include fluctuations in the costs of raw materials, alterations in regulatory frameworks, and geopolitical events. The table below presents the annual average prices of key medical plastics chemicals from 2018 to 2022. It highlights regional price fluctuations influenced by raw material costs, supply chain disruptions, and global demand trends.

Price History of Medical Plastics Chemicals (2018–2022)

Year

Region

Average Price (USD/MT)

Unit Sales Volume (K MT)

Key Factors Influencing Prices

2018

North America

$1,300

600

Stable raw material costs, moderate demand

2019

Europe

$1,350

550

Increased demand, slight rise in raw material costs

2020

Asia

$1,400

700

Supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19, increased demand

2021

North America

$1,450

650

Recovery post-pandemic, higher raw material costs

2022

Europe

$1,500

570

Ongoing supply chain issues, inflationary pressures

2. Medical Plastics Market Growth Analysis: Unit Sales Expansion, Price Trend Drivers, and Future Outlook

The global market for medical plastics has seen consistent growth over the last 5 years, propelled by improvements in healthcare infrastructure and a heightened demand for medical devices. The volume of unit sales has increased, demonstrating the industry's adaptation to growing healthcare requirements. Factors influencing price trends include fluctuations in the costs of raw materials, alterations in regulatory frameworks, and geopolitical events. The table below outlines global production capacity, demand by end-use sector, sales channel performance, and trade data, including China’s chemical exports (2022–2023) and top 10 specialty chemical buyers in Asia-Pacific. It offers insights into supply-demand dynamics and key regional trade flows.

Production Capacity Analysis

Company

Location(s)

Process Type

Annual Capacity (MT)

Key Products

Braskem

Brazil, USA, Mexico, Germany

Polyethylene, PVC

17 million

Polyethylene, Polypropylene, PVC, Biopolymers

Ensinger

Germany, USA, Asia

PEEK, PES, PAI

N/A

PEEK, PES, PAI, Carbon Fiber Composites

Celanese

USA, Singapore, China

VAM, Acetic Acid

N/A

Acetic Acid, Vinyl Acetate Monomer

Lotte Chemical

South Korea, Malaysia, USA

Synthetic Resins

N/A

Synthetic Resins, Petrochemicals

UFP Technologies

USA, Mexico

Thermoplastic, TPU

N/A

TPU-based Pouches, Medical Packaging

Demand Analysis by End-Use

End-Use Application

Material Type

Annual Growth Rate (2018–2023)

Key Drivers

Packaging

Polyethylene

6%

Increased demand for medical packaging solutions

Surgical Instruments

Polypropylene

5%

Rising number of surgeries globally

Diagnostic Devices

Polycarbonate

7%

Advancements in diagnostic technologies

Implants & Prosthetics

PEEK

9%

Growing adoption of PEEK in medical implants

Drug Delivery Systems

PES

8%

Demand for controlled drug release mechanisms

Sales Channel Performance

Sales Channel

Market Share (%)

Growth Trend (2018–2023)

Key Insights

Direct Sales

65

Stable

Preferred by large healthcare providers

Distributors

35

Growing

Expanding reach in emerging markets

E-commerce

15

Rapid Growth

Increased adoption due to convenience and access

Trade Data and Customer Insights

Port

Import Volume (MT)

Export Volume (MT)

Net Trade Balance (MT)

Key Trends

Port of Shanghai

1,300,000

1,600,000

+310,000

Major hub for medical plastics trade

Port of Rotterdam

810,000

610,000

-210,000

Increased imports due to EU regulations

Port of Los Angeles

1,100,000

920,000

-110,000

Balanced trade with focus on medical devices

China's Chemical Exports (2022–2023)

Year

Export Value (USD Billion)

Key Products Exported

2022

55

Polyethylene, PVC, Polypropylene

2023

60

Polyethylene, PVC, Polypropylene

Top 10 Buyers of Specialty Chemicals in Asia-Pacific

Country

Estimated Annual Import Value (USD Billion)

China

25

Japan

20

India

15

South Korea

12

Australia

10

Thailand

8

Malaysia

7

Singapore

6

Indonesia

5

Vietnam

3

3. Composition of Medical Plastics Chemical-Based Products Shipped (Japan)

Japan's chemical sector has shown steady growth in the field of medical plastics over the last five years, propelled by improvements in healthcare infrastructure and a heightened demand for medical devices. The volume of unit sales has increased, indicating the industry's adaptation to growing healthcare requirements. Price trends are influenced by various factors, including changes in raw material costs, regulatory developments, and geopolitical occurrences. The table below presents the composition of medical plastics chemical shipments by product category, shipment values across manufacturing industries, R&D and capital investment trends, and financial performance of the top 30 medical plastics chemical companies, highlighting key industry metrics and investment patterns.

Composition of Medical Plastics Chemical-Based Products Shipped

Year

Category

Shipment Value (¥ Trillions)

Percentage of Total Shipments

2018

Petrochemicals

10.6

43%

2019

Petrochemicals

11.1

44%

2020

Petrochemicals

11.6

45%

2021

Petrochemicals

12.1

46%

2022

Petrochemicals

12.6

47%

Value of Medical Plastics Chemical Shipments by Manufacturing Industry

Year

Automotive Sector (¥ Trillions)

Electronics Sector (¥ Trillions)

Pharmaceuticals Sector (¥ Trillions)

2018

2.6

3.1

1.3

2019

2.8

3.3

1.4

2020

3.0

3.5

1.5

2021

3.2

3.7

1.6

2022

3.4

3.9

1.7

R&D Expenses and Capital Investment Trends in Medical Plastics Industry

Year

Company

R&D Expenses (¥ Billion)

Capital Investments (¥ Billion)

Focus Areas

2018

Mitsubishi Chemical

130

110

Bioplastics, Sustainability

2019

Mitsubishi Chemical

140

120

Bioplastics, Sustainability

2020

Mitsubishi Chemical

150

130

Bioplastics, Sustainability

2021

Mitsubishi Chemical

160

140

Bioplastics, Sustainability

2022

Mitsubishi Chemical

170

150

Bioplastics, Sustainability

Top Chemical Companies for Medical Plastics Financial Performance

Company

Sales (¥ Trillions)

Profit (¥ Trillions)

YoY Growth (%)

Profit Margin (%)

Shin-Etsu Chemical

2.9

0.8

13

26

Mitsubishi Chemical

2.6

0.6

11

21

Sumitomo Chemical

2.3

0.5

9

19

Asahi Kasei

2.1

0.4

7

16

Toray Industries

1.9

0.4

6

15

Mitsui Chemicals

1.8

0.3

5

13

Showa Denko

1.7

0.3

4

12

Ube Industries

1.6

0.3

3

11

Daicel Corporation

1.5

0.2

2

10

Kuraray Co., Ltd.

1.4

0.2

1

9

Challenges

  • Environmental compliance costs: In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposes rigorous regulations concerning chemical emissions and waste management. Adhering to these standards necessitates considerable investment in cleaner technologies and waste treatment systems. For example, a mid-sized manufacturer of medical plastics indicated a 22% rise in operational expenses as a result of implementing EPA’s strict environmental guidelines, which in turn impacted their pricing strategies and market competitiveness.

  • Import tariffs and trade barriers: The World Trade Organization (WTO) has emphasized that tariffs imposed on medical goods can lead to inflated prices and decreased accessibility. In nations such as India and Brazil, tariffs on medical plastics can raise the final product costs by as much as 85% of the ex-factory price. These trade barriers restrict market access for suppliers and elevate healthcare expenses for both governments and consumers.


Base Year

2024

Forecast Year

2025-2037

CAGR

7.4%

Base Year Market Size (2024)

USD 40.1 billion

Forecast Year Market Size (2037)

USD 87.5 billion

Regional Scope

  • North America (U.S., and Canada)
  • Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea, Rest of Asia Pacific)
  • Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, NORDIC, Rest of Europe)
  • Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Rest of Latin America)
  • Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC North Africa, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East and Africa)

Browse key industry insights with market data tables & charts from the report:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In the year 2024, the industry size of medical plastics was over USD 40.1 billion.

The market size for medical plastics is projected to cross USD 87.5 billion by the end of 2037, expanding at a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period, i.e., between 2025 and 2037.

The major players in the market are Eastman Chemical Company, BASF SE, Celanese Corporation, Evonik Industries AG, SABIC, Dow Inc., and others.

The medical disposal segment is predicted to gain the largest market share of 40% during the projected period.

The Asia Pacific medical plastics sector is poised to hold a 37% share by the end of 2037.
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