Polymers are increasingly replacing glass and metal in the medical sector

According to a study conducted by the American company Grand View Research, the world market of polymers for medical use should reach a value of 17 billion dollars by 2020, which as compared to the figure of 9.7 billion in 2013, works out as an annual growth rate of 8.4%.

The sector being driven by two main factors: the ongoing expansion of health services in  Asia, especially China, together with the general increase in the use of plastic materials  replacing glass and metal in the medical field.

As regards the materials  the resins and fibres used in this field generated a turnover of equivalent to 7 billion US dollars in 2013. PVC is set to grow at an average annual rate of 8.8%; while the trend is also highly positive for the medical grade PP, PE, PS, latex, TPO and TPU, thanks to their ever greater use for bags and tubing and pharmaceutical packaging.

Medical equipment and appliances account for 47% of the market volume, while in  monetary terms, packaging accounts for a significant share of the turnover.  North America with its business turnover of over 4 billion dollars is the main outlet market for medical polymers while the countries in the NAFTA area are also set to increase their demand by an average annual rate of 8.1% up to 2020.