Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Analysis: Key Manufacturers & Growth Drivers

According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, global pharmaceutical packaging market size reached USD 147.8 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 302.5 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2% during 2025–2033.

How AI is Reshaping the Future of Pharmaceutical Packaging Market

• Predictive Quality Control and Defect Detection: AI-powered machine vision systems now scan packaging lines at speeds exceeding 20,000 units per hour, catching seal failures, foreign objects, and label misalignments that manual checks simply can't match — slashing recall risks across the board.
• AI-Driven Anti-Counterfeiting and Authentication: Systech's UniSecure artAI platform uses machine learning to create digital blueprints of packaging artwork, enabling real-time product authentication. This cloud-based tool directly combats the estimated $83 billion global counterfeit drug trade.

• Supply Chain Visibility and Traceability: AI combined with RFID and blockchain technology enables end-to-end tracking from manufacturing to pharmacy shelves. These systems flag unauthorized suppliers and quality deviations instantly, keeping supply chains transparent and compliant.

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Pharmaceutical Packaging Industry Overview

The pharmaceutical packaging industry is being shaped by tightening global regulations and a growing race to fight counterfeit drugs — the WHO estimates roughly 10% of medicines in circulation worldwide are falsified, with around one million deaths linked annually. In response, the FDA consolidated its container closure guidance in mid-2024, while the EU's revised GMP Annex 1 raised the bar on sterility assurance for primary packaging.

Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Trends & Drivers

The surge in biologics and specialty drug development is one of the strongest tailwinds hitting pharmaceutical packaging right now. The biopharmaceuticals packaging segment alone is on track to nearly double, and with over 4,000 new injectable drug products currently in development worldwide, demand for cold-chain-ready, sterile containment solutions is surging.

Major consolidation is reshaping who controls this market and how fast it can innovate. Amcor completed its all-stock acquisition of Berry Global in April 2025 an $8.4 billion deal that created a packaging powerhouse with combined annual revenues of $24 billion and identified $650 million in synergies.

Sustainability and serialization are no longer optional they're table stakes. The EU's PPWR is mandating recyclability and reduced waste across virtually all packaging, and North America's DSCSA rules are pushing serialization from lot-level to individual unit tracking, meaning every smallest saleable package now carries a unique identifier.

Leading Companies Operating in the Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Industry

• Amcor plc
• AptarGroup Inc.
• Berry Global Inc.
• CCL Industries Inc.
• Comar LLC
• Drug Plastics Group
• Gerresheimer AG
• Schott AG
• SGD Pharma
• West Pharmaceutical Services Inc.
• WestRock Company

Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Report Segmentation

By Material:

Plastics and Polymers (Polyvinyl Chloride, Polypropylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polyethylene, Polystyrene, Others)

• Paper and Paperboard
• Glass
• Aluminium Foil
• Others

Plastics and polymers represent the largest segment, accounting for roughly 46% of market share, thanks to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and strong barrier properties against moisture and contamination.

By Product:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary

Primary packaging holds the dominant share, making up over 60% of the market, as it forms the direct protective layer around the drug product and must meet the strictest safety and sterility standards.

By End User:

• Pharma Manufacturing
• Contract Packaging
• Retail Pharmacy
• Institutional Pharmacy

Pharma manufacturing represents the leading segment, driven by the sheer volume of drug production worldwide and the need for packaging solutions that meet rigorous regulatory and quality benchmarks at scale.

Regional Insights:

• North America (United States, Canada)
• Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Others)
• Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Others)
• Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Others)
• Middle East and Africa

North America leads the market with over 35% share, backed by advanced healthcare infrastructure, heavy investment in biologics manufacturing, and strict serialization mandates like DSCSA that drive demand for high-performance packaging.

Recent News and Developments in Pharmaceutical Packaging Market

• April 2025: Amcor completed its all-stock combination with Berry Global, creating one of the world's largest packaging companies with combined annual revenues of $24 billion. The deal, worth an estimated $8.4 billion, is expected to deliver $650 million in synergies and strengthens the merged entity's position across healthcare and consumer packaging.
• February 2025: Systech, a division of Markem-Imaje, launched UniSecure artAI — a fully cloud-based AI authentication system for pharmaceutical packaging. Using machine vision and machine learning on existing packaging artwork, it provides real-time brand protection and forensic investigation capabilities for pharma and life science companies.
• Late 2024: Gerresheimer closed its acquisition of Bormioli Pharma, bolstering its borosilicate vial and cartridge manufacturing capacity across Europe. The deal positions Gerresheimer to better serve biologics exporters, particularly those targeting the Indian and EU markets.

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