Medical Tubing Market, By Material (Polyethylene, Polyolefin, and Other), By Material Condition (Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, and Other), By Application, By End-User, By Region and Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends, and Forecast 2023-2032

Report Overview

In 2022, the global medical tubing market size was valued at USD 9.8 billion and is expected to reach around USD 20.4 billion in 2032. Between 2023 and 2032, this market is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.8%.

The global medical tubing market is composed of companies that manufacture and sell flexible tubes and hoses used in various medical applications. These tubes can be made from materials such as silicone, PVC, TPE, and polyurethane, among others, and found in a range of applications like drug delivery systems, catheters, respiratory equipment, and anesthesia equipment as well as diagnostic devices.

The demand for medical tubing is being driven by various factors, such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, aging populations, and advances in medical technology. The market for this product type is highly regulated; manufacturers must adhere to stringent quality standards and regulations to guarantee its safety and efficacy.

North America is the leading market for medical tubing, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. This region’s high demand is attributed to an aging population as well as an increasing preference for minimally invasive surgeries. The key players in the global medical tubing market include Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Freudenberg Medical LLC, Tekni-Plex Inc., Zeus Industrial Products Inc., Nordson Corporation, and Teleflex Incorporated, among others.

These companies are continually investing in R&D activities to develop cutting-edge products and expand their product portfolios for a competitive advantage in the market.

Key Takeaways

• In 2022, the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) segment was the leader in the market, holding a significant market share of 29.3% based on material composition.
• When analyzing material conditions, it becomes evident that the gastrointestinal segment held a dominant position in the market, accounting for 29% of the market share.
• With the application of these products, the disposable tubing segment emerged as the market leader, with a substantial 31% market share.
• Hospitals emerged as the primary end-users, significantly dominating the market with a commanding 43% market share.
• Throughout 2022, North America was the frontrunner in the market, capturing the highest revenue share, which amounted to 39%.
• Looking ahead, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is poised for rapid growth due to factors such as affordable pricing, the rise in medical tourism, and the increasing number of hospitals and clinics.

Drivers

Growing Demand for Minimally Invasive Surgery Procedures

With advances in medical technology, there has been an uptick in minimally invasive surgical procedures. These require the use of medical tubing products such as catheters and guidewires to access the affected area through small incisions. As a result, demand for these items is expected to grow significantly over the coming years.

Increased Prevalence of Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular issues are on the rise globally. To treat them effectively, medical tubing products like infusion sets and insulin pumps must be used for administering medications and fluids. With chronic diseases expected to rise further in prevalence over time, demand for these types of tubing products will also expand significantly.

Technological Advances in Medical Tubing Materials

Technological advances in medical tubing materials, such as the development of biocompatible and antimicrobial materials, have significantly enhanced the safety and efficacy of these products. As a result, medical tubing products have become more durable, flexible, and resistant to kinking or puncture. The increasing use of advanced materials is expected to fuel growth within the medical tubing market.

Increasing Geriatric Population

The global geriatric population is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, making them more vulnerable to chronic illnesses and necessitating higher levels of medical care – often involving medical tubing products. This demographic will likely drive demand for these items over the course of several years.

Growing Demand for Home Healthcare

Home healthcare, which involves the delivery of medical care directly to a patient’s home, is on the rise. This has resulted in an increased need for tubing products that can be utilized in these settings such as infusion sets, enteral feeding tubes, and urinary catheters. Forecasts anticipate that this growing demand will fuel growth in the medical tubing market over the coming years.

Restraints

Stringent Regulatory Requirements

Medical tubing products must adhere to stringent regulatory requirements, which can present significant obstacles for new market entrants. These requirements include complying with quality standards like ISO 13485 and following guidelines for product safety and efficacy. Complying with these regulations could increase the cost of producing and marketing medical tubing products.

Competition from Alternative Treatment Methods

In certain instances, non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures can replace surgery and reduce the need for medical tubing products.

Price Pressure

Buyers’ demands and fierce competition within the medical tubing market can put immense strain on medical tubing manufacturers to reduce prices. This may reduce profit margins and leave fewer funds for the research and development of new products.

Product Recalls

Medical tubing products may need to be recalled due to defects, potentially having a negative impact on the market. Recalls can incur expensive costs for manufacturers and damage their reputations as well.

Environmental Aspects

Disposing of medical tubing products, which are often made from plastic materials, can have negative impacts on the environment. This may lead to regulatory pressure to reduce waste and promote recycling – leading to higher manufacturing costs and reduced profit margins.

Material Analysis

By the material analysis, the global medical tubing market Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC) segment dominates the market with a 29.3% market share.

PVC-based medical equipment has seen a surge in demand due to the increasing use of pre-sterilized single-use medical devices. You can sterilize PVC using both ethylene oxide and radiation. Silicone tubing used in medical devices is typical of higher quality, produced through continuous vulcanization, extrusion, and other processes. This provides enhanced stability over a wider temperature range as well as chemical resistance and numerous sterilization options.

Polycarbonates are becoming more and more popular in medical tubing due to their versatility in sterilization methods such as irradiation, electron beam, ethylene dioxide, or steam autoclaving. This gives device manufacturers plenty of options when selecting the most economical way to produce a product.

Fluoropolymers are non-toxic and inert, making them the perfect material for next-generation medical devices such as sutures, needles, biocontainment vessels, and catheters.

Medical Condition Analysis

By the material condition analysis, the gastrointestinal segment dominates the market with a 29% market share.

Gastrointestinal medical tubing is commonly used in applications like feeding tubes, endoscopes, and colonic stents. Cardiovascular medical tubing can also be found in catheters, guidewires, and vascular grafts. Ophthalmic medical tubing is used in lacrimal duct tubes, intravitreal injection devices, and vitreoretinal surgery devices.

Urological medical tubing can also be found in catheters, drainage bags, and stents. Neurovascular medical tubing is commonly used for catheters, guidewires, and embolic coils. Additionally, it’s employed in other medical conditions like respiratory, dermatological, and orthopedic applications; the materials and conditions required depend on the specific application and condition.

Overall, medical tubing is essential in a variety of medical specialties and conditions; its materials and requirements differ depending on the application. Biocompatibility, sterilization resistance, and chemical resistance are all critical requirements for medical tubing in all applications. Additional requirements like kink resistance, transparency, or lubricity may be specific to certain medical specialties.

Application Analysis

By application analysis disposable tubing segment dominates the market with a 31% market share.

Bulk disposable devices such as urological products, surgical instruments, syringes, and needles are among the most common. With increased emphasis placed on preventing infection spread from patient to patient, the demand for bulk disposables is expected to fuel segment growth over the forecast period.

Catheters are narrow tubes made of medical-grade materials that can be inserted into patients to treat diseases or perform surgeries. The demand for catheters has been driven up due to an increasing number of chronic illnesses requiring hospitalization worldwide, coupled with COVID-19’s spread in biopharmaceutical laboratory equipment demand.

Furthermore, ongoing vaccination research into this virus globally has added fuel to this steady supply of laboratory supplies. All these factors combined are expected to have a beneficial effect on the global medical tubing market growth. The drug delivery systems segment is expected to experience the fastest compound annual growth rate of more than 6.8% from 2022-2030.

Drug delivery systems provide therapeutic drugs in a targeted and controlled manner through medical tubes; injectable, respiratory, and connected delivery systems all utilize medical tubes for drug distribution.

End-User Analysis

By end-user analysis, Hospitals dominate the market with 43% market share.

Hospitals are the largest users of medical tubing products. Hospitals require a range of devices that can be utilized during various medical procedures, which has driven up demand for this type of tubing.

Medical tubing is commonly utilized in hospitals for many purposes, such as delivering fluids and medications to patients, draining bodily wastes, and providing respiratory support. Medical tubing used in hospitals is composed of various materials such as PVC, polyurethane, silicone, and other specialized materials that can withstand high pressure and temperature.

Ambulatory surgical centers are specialized medical facilities that offer same-day surgical care to patients. The need for medical tubing in these settings is driven by the necessity of safe, dependable, and cost-effective devices that can be utilized across various surgical procedures. Medical tubing is commonly utilized in ambulatory surgical centers for fluid management, drainage, and irrigation during surgeries.

Common materials used for this purpose include PVC, polyurethane, and silicone. The medical tubing market also encompasses other end users such as clinics, nursing homes, and home healthcare settings. These clients usually have lower demand for tubing products compared to hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers.

However, medical tubing products are still necessary for a variety of medical procedures like wound care, catheterization, and enteral feeding. In these settings, the medical tubing usually consists of materials like PVC, polyurethane, or silicone.

Key Market Segments

Based on Product

• Polyethylene (PE)
• Silicone
• Engineering Plastics
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyolefin
• Other Materials

Based on Medical Condition

• Gastrointestinal
• Cardiovascular
• Ophthalmic
• Urological
• Neurovascular
• Other Conditions

Based on Application

• Drug Delivery Systems
• Catheters
• Special Applications
• Disposable Tubing
• Cannulas
• Other Applications

Based on End-User

• Ambulatory Surgical Centers
• Hospitals
• Other End-Users

Opportunity

Development of Innovative Products

There is great potential for the creation of groundbreaking medical tubing products that can enhance patient outcomes and lower healthcare expenses. For instance, tubing with advanced coatings to prevent infection or tubing equipped with sensors for monitoring patient health could open up new market opportunities.

Rising Demand in Emerging Markets

Emerging economies such as India, China, and Brazil are experiencing rapid economic development and an uptick in medical device demand. This presents manufacturers with significant growth prospects.

Growing Demand for Home Healthcare

As the population ages, there is an increasing trend towards in-home care. This demand has resulted in an increased need for medical tubing products that can be used at home, such as enteral feeding tubes and oxygen tubing.

Technological Advances in Manufacturing

Modern manufacturing technology, such as 3D printing and automation, has significantly enhanced the efficiency and speed of medical tubing production. These improvements can reduce costs while increasing product development speed.

Consolidation of the Market

The medical tubing market is highly fragmented, with many small and mid-sized players. Consolidating it through mergers and acquisitions can create economies of scale for larger companies and increase their share in the marketplace. This results in improved efficiencies and cost savings which can be passed on to customers.

Trends

Increased Demand for Custom Medical Tubing

There is an increasing trend toward using custom medical tubing that meets patients’ individual needs. Modern manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing, enable manufacturers to craft products tailored to each patient’s anatomy.

Growth in the Use of Biocompatible Materials

Biocompatible materials, such as silicone, are increasingly being employed in medical tubing products due to their non-toxicity and lack of reaction with body fluids. This reduces the risk of adverse reactions and enhances patient safety by eliminating potential hazards.

Advances in Antimicrobial Tubing

Antimicrobial tubing products are being developed that can reduce the risk of infection and enhance patient outcomes. These items prevent bacteria from growing on the surface of the tubing, thus decreasing exposure to infection.

Increase in Miniature Invasive Procedures

Miniature invasive surgeries such as endoscopy and laparoscopy are becoming increasingly popular. To access the affected area through small incisions, medical tubing products like catheters and guidewires must be used. The growing demand for these minimally invasive operations is expected to drive demand for these tubing products.

Growing Demand for Home Healthcare

Home healthcare, which involves the delivery of medical care directly to patients’ homes, is on the rise. This demand has resulted in increased sales of tubing products designed specifically for this purpose, such as infusion sets, enteral feeding tubes, and urinary catheters.

Regional Analysis

According to the regional analysis, North America dominates the market with a 39 % market share.

The healthcare industry in North America and Canada is driven by a large geriatric population, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and relatively higher disposable income levels among patients. Countries like the U.S. and Canada boast significant geriatric populations which combine to form one of the biggest drivers of demand within this region.

Europe’s developed medical infrastructure and rising healthcare expenditures are expected to drive product demand. Minimally invasive surgical devices and diagnostic tubes used in healthcare procedures are expected to experience steady growth throughout the forecast period. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region due to rising demands for better healthcare products which have spurred medical equipment manufacturers to develop inventive ways of reaching a wider range of people.

Furthermore, an aging geriatric population will drive up demand for healthcare services even further. The demand for healthcare services in Central & South America is increasing due to several factors, such as an aging population with longer life expectancies and lower birth rates combined with an increased incidence of chronic diseases.

Furthermore, public-private partnerships are growing within this sector. Therefore, improved infrastructure coupled with an expanding healthcare industry should drive regional market growth.

Key Regions

• North America
  • The US
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Western Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Portugal
  • Ireland
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
  • Benelux
  • Nordic
  • Rest of Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
  • Russia
  • Poland
  • The Czech Republic
  • Greece
  • Rest of Eastern Europe
• APAC
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • India
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Argentina
  • Costa Rica
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Kuwait
  • Nigeria
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Turkey
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Rest of MEA

Key Players Analysis

Manufacturers employ various strategies, such as acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, new product developments, and geographical expansions to increase market share and meet the evolving technological demands of various end-use industries.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical tubing manufacturers have been spurring on online marketplaces for services and spare part availability. For example, Nordson Corporation acquired NDC Technologies in August 2021 with the purpose of expanding the former’s test and inspection platform into new end markets and adjacent technologies. Notable players in this global medical tubing market include:

Market Key Players

• Asahi Tec Corp.
• MDC Industries
• Nordson Corp.
• ZARYS International Group
• Hitachi Cable America Inc.
• NewAge Industries, Inc.
• TE Connectivity
• Freudenberg & Co. KG
• Spectrum Plastics Group
• ATAG SpA
• Vanguard Products Corp.
• Other key players

Recent Developments

• In June 2024: Nordson entered a significant transaction to acquire Atrion Corporation for approximately $800 million. This acquisition is intended to strengthen Nordson’s position in the healthcare sector by expanding its reach in medical infusion fluid delivery and cardiovascular solutions. The deal reflects a valuation of approximately 15 times the EBITDA of Atrion Corporation.
• In May 2024: TE Connectivity is considering selling its medical contract manufacturing business, which includes specialty needles and metal tubing for the medical industry. The potential sale could value the business at over $2 billion. This unit is part of TE Connectivity’s broader strategy to optimize its operations and portfolio.
• In November 2023: ZARYS International Group participated in MEDICA 2023 in Düsseldorf, which is a significant annual event in the medical sector. This marked the 10th consecutive year of their participation, showcasing their commitment to staying connected with current partners and engaging with new key players in the health industry.
• In October 2023: Freudenberg Medical expanded its manufacturing facility in Galway, Ireland, significantly enhancing its production capacity. This expansion has resulted in the creation of 100 new jobs and increased the facility’s footprint by 50%. The expansion is aimed at meeting the rising global demand for metal components used in minimally invasive surgery catheters, enhancing the company’s capability to develop complex products for its international customer base.

Report Scope