Medical Injection-Molded Plastics Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

Medical Injection-Molded Plastics Market Trends & Growth Drivers

Gas-Assisted Technology Is Gaining Lot of Traction

• The gas-assisted molding process is one of the major trends in the market, as it provides more accuracy in the shape and design of the desired medical parts, even with the usage of less plastic material than conventional processes.
• The localized gas pressure within the mold leads to improved plastic packing, which lowers warpage, shrinkage, surface defects, sink marks, and internal tension.
• In general, gas-assisted injection-molded plastics provide stronger, lightweight, and more-attractive products.
• This process is used to strengthen ribbed components and enable more design flexibility for complex parts, eliminating multiple part assemblies and metal-to-plastic conversions.

Expanding Healthcare Infrastructure Drives Market

• The biggest driver for this market is the expansion of the healthcare infrastructure.
• As per studies, the number of hospitals in the U.S. has increased from 6,120 in 2022 to almost 7,000 in 2024.
• Further, estimates and current trends suggest an addition of over 20,000 hospital beds in India in the next 5 years. Among the largest hospital projects under execution in the country are Rewari AIIMS Medical College and Hospital (750 beds), LNJP Hospital Expansion (final capacity of up to 4,000 beds), Sanathnagar Super Specialty Hospital (1,000 beds), Alwal Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (1,200 beds), and Mumbai Cancer Hospital (550 beds).
• Such projects all around the world will lead to a massive increase in the demand for plastic products made via injection molding, such as beds, cleanroom supplies, medical devices, and implants.
• Further, the growing trend of single-use plastic products would further drive the market, with a firm emphasis on minimizing hospital-acquired infections.
• Another potential driver for the market, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, are plastics with antimicrobial additives.

Environmental Concerns Associated with Plastics Could Hamper Market Growth

• The biggest hinderance in the growth of this market is the environmental concerns associated with polymers, since they have a petrochemical base.
• According to the United Nations Environment Programme, up to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste makes it to the soil and waterbodies every year, severely polluting these resources and harming the creatures that live therein.
• The problem is even worse with single-use products, which are becoming the norm in the healthcare sector over fears of nosocomial infections.
• Therefore, governments around the world are looking to reduce their usage of conventional polymers and replace them with sustainable alternatives, or bioplastics.
• These materials are derived from cellulose, starch, sugarcane, corn, certain microbes, and several other natural sources.
• However, their durability and customizability can be a concern, despite their higher biocompatibility with the human body.
• Crops grown for plastic production also compete with the global food supply, which is way less than ideal, raising further concerns.
• Additionally, major chemical companies are yet to integrate these products fully into their portfolios, which is why their availability remains less than plastics derived from crude oil and natural gas.
• This is why products made from bioplastics can be more expensive in the long run, limiting their usage in emerging economies and by under-funded healthcare centers.

Medical Injection-Molded Plastics Market Analysis

Application Analysis

Medical components account for the major revenue share of, 55%, in 2024, and this category is further expected to maintain its position during 2025–2032. This can be ascribed to the extensive usage of high-grade plastics for the manufacturing of medical equipment, such as syringes, containers, catheters, and medical bags. Furthermore, the demand for lightweight and highly durable medical products that can be easily sterilized boosts the market growth.

Injection-molded plastics have a vital role in transforming the healthcare sector. These materials are used to manufacture pregnancy test devices, blood sample analysis cuvettes, housings for needles, and other medical devices and components, to make them light in weight, more affordable, and easy to sterilize. Additionally, these polymers can be molded to be used in the production of blood bags, disposable plastic syringes, and new heart valves. In addition, these plastics are being utilized to make antibacterial contact interfaces that may kill bacteria and other pathogens, thus reducing infection spread.

Moreover, these plastics can be customized to meet the needs of a particular application. Due to their capacity to adapt to even the smallest and most-delicate molds, plastics are increasingly being used in surgical equipment as well as in products such contemporary pacemakers, catheters, stents, and joint replacement systems.

In addition, implants contribute significant revenue to the market, and their sales will advance with a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the growing geriatric population and rising incidence of endovascular disorders, orthopedic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and dental implants. Moreover, the technological advancements in medical implants, due to the extensive R&D to improve the results of medical procedures, lead to the overall market expansion.

Mobility aids will grow at the highest rate over the historical period, and this category is further expected to continue to grow at a robust rate in the coming years. This can be ascribed to the aging population across the globe, numerous technological advancements, and rising healthcare expenditure in emerging economies. Moreover, the rising usage of mobility aids, such as drinking aids, wheelchairs, and bath chairs, propels the market expansion.

The report offers insights into these applications:

• Medical Components (Largest Category)
• Implants
• Cleanroom Supplies
• Mobility Aids (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Others

Material Analysis

Polypropylene dominates the market currently, and it will have the highest CAGR during the forecast period, of 6.5%. This is due to its characteristic properties such as low weight, shock, moisture, and chemical resistance; high molding capability, lowest density, and low cost.

Additionally, the polystyrene category will grow with a substantial rate. This can be attributed to the high dimensional stability and chemical inertness of this plastic, due to which it is easy to process. Moreover, the wide usage of polystyrene in the production of laboratory supplies, such as tissue culture trays, disposable plastic cutlery, and protective packaging, creates a high demand for such plastics.

Furthermore, polyethylene has a significant size in the market, due to its wide application in cosmetic procedures and several medical implants, including joint replacement implants and cardiovascular implants. As polyethylene is an entire family of thermoplastic materials that exhibits different properties, some of them plastics can be soft and flexible, while others can be extremely hard and rigid, but all of them are lightweight and chemical-resistant, which makes them suitable for the manufacturing of medical implants.

We have analyzed the following materials:

• Polypropylene (PP) (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
• Polyethylene (PE)
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Polycarbonate (PC)
• Others

Regional Analysis

North America accounts for the largest revenue share, of 40%, in 2024, and it is further expected to continue the trend during the forecast period. This is due to the rising per capita income, developed healthcare infrastructure, rising healthcare costs, and increasing aging population. The U.S. holds the larger regional medical injection-molded plastics market share, owing to the highly advanced technology, rising demand for implantable devices, growing health awareness, and government support and health insurance policies.

APAC is predicted to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, with a CAGR of over 7%. This can be ascribed to the increasing application of injection-molded plastics in medical components, implants, and mobility aids. Additionally, the rising consumer awareness of the affordability of medical products made of molded plastics, increasing focus on R&D on medical devices, and rising adoption of cutting-edge technologies in healthcare fuel the market growth. Furthermore, the rising spending for healthcare infrastructure development, particularly in emerging economies, such as China, India, and South Korea, contributes to the regional market expansion.

China was one of the major revenue contributors to the regional market in 2021. This is due to the increasing demand for high-grade medical devices and equipment, growing aging population, and rising healthcare expenditure.

In addition, Europe held a significant revenue share in the market in 2021. This is due to the high number of medical parts manufacturers in the region, noteworthy number of surgeries in which implants are used, and rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure. Moreover, Germany, France, and the U.K. are the prime revenue contributors to the regional medical injection-molded plastics market demand owing to the increasing consumer spending and surging demand for high-grade, recyclable, and innovative medical equipment made from plastics.

The scope includes the below-mentioned regions and countries:

• North America (Largest Regional Market)
  • U.S. (Larger Country Market)
  • Canada (Faster-Growing Country Market)
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country Market)
  • France
  • U.K.
  • Italy
  • Spain (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Fastest-Growing Regional Market)
  • China (Largest Country Market)
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest Country Market)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
  • South Africa
  • U.A.E. (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of MEA

Medical Injection-Molded Plastics Market Share

• The market is fragmented as a large number of small and big players offer plastic products made via injection molding for the healthcare sector.
• Plastics have been around for over a half a century and do not require much technical expertise or finances for produce at scale.
• Further, the wide array of plastics available for different medical applications fragments the market.
• Additionally, the safety regulations that need to be followed by material providers vary across countries, allowing smaller companies to prosper in emerging economies.

Medical Injection-Molded Plastics Market News

• In June 2024, The Dow Chemical Company acquired Circulus, a company recycling plastic waste at its two facilities.
• In March 2024, Covestro AG operationalized a new polycarbonate plant in Antwerp, Belgium, that will cater initially to the electronics and healthcare sectors.
• In November 2023, Eastman Chemical Company’s Eastar 6763 Renew copolyester was selected by Ostium Group for packaging its CILLAR femoral and acetabular kits, which are used in total hip replacements.
• In April 2023, Biomerics LLC expanded its Athens, TX, facility by 24,000 square feet. The project included adding 8,500 square feet to its manufacturing space and balloon catheters center of excellence and expanding its R&D facility by 4,900 square feet.