Australia Medical Adhesive Market Size & Forecast 2025–2033

The Australia Medical Adhesive Market is entering a period of structural expansion, driven by the country’s rising surgical procedures, booming wearable medical device adoption, and sustained upgrades in healthcare infrastructure. According to Renub Research, the market is projected to grow from US$ 201.91 million in 2024 to US$ 370.58 million by 2033, expanding at a robust CAGR of 6.98% from 2025 to 2033.

Medical adhesives—once considered secondary clinical supplies—are today positioned as critical components in modern healthcare settings. They ensure secure bonding, reduce infection risk, promote faster healing, and enhance long-term medical device performance. As Australia faces an aging population, increasing chronic disease burden, and evolving patient-care models, the importance of advanced medical adhesive solutions is set to become even more pronounced.

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Understanding the Role of Medical Adhesives in Modern Australian Healthcare

Medical adhesives form the backbone of numerous clinical applications, from wound care and surgical closure to wearable device attachment and medical equipment repair. These adhesives—available as tapes, films, sprays, hydrocolloids, silicones, and liquid formulations—must adhere securely to biological surfaces while remaining non-toxic, biocompatible, and gentle on the skin.

In Australia, medical adhesives are widely used in the following care segments:

✔ Advanced wound care

Including chronic wound management, diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds, pressure sores, and injury-related wound closure.

✔ Surgical applications

Replacements for traditional sutures, minimizing scarring and reducing procedure times.

✔ Medical device fixation

Used in catheters, IV lines, insulin pumps, and wearable glucose monitors.

✔ Growing wearable-device ecosystem

ECG patches, remote monitoring devices, smart bandages, biosensors, and drug-delivery systems rely heavily on skin-friendly adhesive interfaces.

✔ Orthopedic, dental & cosmetic procedures

Where high adhesion strength and flexible performance are essential.

The Australian healthcare sector prioritizes patient comfort, hygiene, and faster recovery—factors that reinforce the need for next-generation medical adhesives with high permeability, flexibility, low toxicity, and advanced moisture-handling characteristics.

Market Outlook: Why Australia’s Medical Adhesive Market Is Accelerating

Australia’s healthcare transformation is driven by innovation, access reforms, and demographic changes. In this landscape, medical adhesives play an increasingly significant role.

Three core factors shape the market’s trajectory:

1. Rising Demand for Advanced Wound Care Solutions

Chronic wounds are a growing public health concern in Australia. Seniors, diabetics, and individuals with circulatory disorders require long-term wound care, often demanding superior adhesive solutions that reduce infection risk and enhance healing outcomes.

Key drivers:

Increase in surgical procedures, including orthopedic and cardiovascular surgeries.

Rising prevalence of diabetes, with wound-related complications becoming common.

Preference for minimally invasive and fast-healing solutions.

Demand for home-care wound management, particularly among older adults.

The Australian Government’s Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS)—active as of May 2025—subsidizes essential wound care consumables such as:

Advanced dressings

Adhesive patches

Bandages

Tapes

The scheme provides financial support for:

Older Australians (65+)

First Nations Australians aged 50+ with chronic wounds or diabetes

This initiative directly boosts national demand for high-quality, skin-safe medical adhesives—especially products offering breathability, moisture management, and long wear time.

2. Expansion of Wearable Medical Devices

Wearable medical devices are one of Australia’s fastest-growing healthcare segments. Adhesives in this category must balance durability with comfort, allowing long-term skin contact without irritation.

Wearable adhesives are essential for:

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)

Wearable ECG monitors

Cardiac patches

Drug-delivery pumps

Smart monitoring devices

In November 2023, RMIT University researchers unveiled a next-generation, lightweight, gel-free, waterproof ECG sensor designed for advanced cardiac monitoring. This innovation underscores a broader trend: adhesive-dependent wearables are moving toward high precision, user comfort, and minimal skin reactions.

As remote patient monitoring becomes mainstream—and healthcare shifts out of hospitals toward home and outpatient care—the need for dependable adhesive technology will increase significantly.

3. Growth of Australia’s Healthcare Infrastructure

The Australian Government continues to expand healthcare spending, medical facilities, and patient-care programs. Investments support new hospitals, aged-care centers, and diagnostic facilities—all of which require reliable medical adhesive solutions.

In its health-system overhaul, the Australian Government committed:

✔ AU$132 billion in 2022–23

✔ Growing to AU$140 billion by 2025–26

✔ A total four-year investment of AU$537 billion

Such massive infrastructure spending directly stimulates:

Procurement of wound care products

Surgical adhesives

Medical tapes and films

Wearable-device adhesives

Medical device & equipment bonding

With increasing rates of chronic diseases, particularly among older adults, medical adhesives are now central to maintaining high standards of patient care across Australia.

Key Challenges Facing the Australia Medical Adhesive Market

Despite strong growth outlook, several structural challenges persist:

1. Skin Sensitivity & Allergic Reactions

Many Australians—particularly seniors and chronic disease patients—experience:

Redness

Dermatitis

Irritation

Skin tearing

Sensitization after repeated adhesive use

This fuels demand for:

Hypoallergenic adhesives

Silicone-based solutions

Breathable materials

Hydrocolloid and hydrogel adhesives for sensitive skin

Manufacturers must continually invest in safer, biocompatible adhesive technologies to maintain market competitiveness.

2. Stringent Regulatory Framework

Approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requires:

Safety validation

Chemical testing

Efficacy data

Product performance documentation

For small and medium manufacturers, regulatory costs and timelines can be restrictive. While standards protect patients, they also slow market entry for emerging adhesive technologies.

Australia Medical Adhesive Market Segmentation

By Resin Type

Acrylic

Silicone

Polyurethane

Epoxy

Others

By Application

Dental

Medical Device & Equipment

External Use (tapes, wound dressings, patches)

Internal Use (surgical adhesives, sealants)

Others

By Technology

Water-Based

Solvent-Based

Hot-Melt

Reactive

Others

By State

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

Western Australia

South Australia

Australian Capital Territory

Tasmania

Northern Territory

Competitive Landscape: Key Companies and Their Strengths

Major companies covered in the market—each evaluated by:

Company Overview

Key Personnel

Recent Developments

SWOT Analysis

Revenue Analysis

Leading Players:

H.B. Fuller Company

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

Avery Dennison Corporation

Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

The Dow Chemical Company

3M Co

PPG Industries

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

These companies collectively dominate the Australian market through strong product portfolios in medical tapes, sealants, wound care adhesives, and medical-grade bonding solutions.

Market Forecast (2025–2033)

Renub Research projects strong double-digit gains across multiple segments supported by:

✔ Innovation in wearable adhesives

✔ Rising number of surgical procedures

✔ Growing elderly population

✔ Improved wound care awareness

✔ Expansion of healthcare facilities

By 2033, the Australia Medical Adhesive Market is projected to reach US$ 370.58 million, almost doubling its 2024 value, underscoring strong and persistent demand.

Final Thoughts

The Australia Medical Adhesive Market is undergoing a rapid evolution driven by clinical innovation, demographic needs, and modernization of hospitals and medical facilities. As chronic wounds, surgical interventions, and wearable health technologies become more prevalent, medical adhesives will continue to serve as essential components across the care continuum.

Companies that invest in skin-friendly, long-wear, hypoallergenic, and device-compatible adhesive technologies are set to gain a competitive advantage over the next decade.

For Australia, this growing market is not just about adhesives—it is about supporting a nation’s shift toward smarter, safer, and more patient-friendly healthcare solutions.