GLOBAL EMPTY IV BAGS MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2030)

The global empty IV bags market is valued at US$ 4.9 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 8.4 Bn by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% from 2023 to 2030.

Empty intravenous (IV) bags, also known as parenteral containers, are sterile containers used for administering fluids, nutrients, medications, and blood products intravenously. There are mainly two types of empty IV bags based on their material - plastic bags and glass bottles. Plastic bags are most commonly used as they are lightweight, flexible, and less prone to breakage. However, glass bottles are still used for photosensitive or acidic medications.

Plastic empty IV bags come in various sizes ranging from 50 ml to 2,000 ml based on the fluid requirement of patients. They are made up of medical grade plastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or ethylene vinyl acetate which are flexible and non-toxic in nature. These materials allow the transfer of fluids, nutrients, and medications in the bag to the patient with the help of an intravenous administration set. The big advantage of using empty IV bags is that it provides a convenient, non-invasive and sterile route of the administration of fluid therapy. However, plastic bags have a limitation of not being reusable and require proper disposal after single use. Glass bottles overcame this limitation of reusability but are heavier and can break on exposure to mechanical stress.

Global Empty IV Bags Market Regional Insights

• North America: North America is the largest market for empty IV bags, accounting for a share of over 5% in 2023. Strong research activities in medical devices and pharmaceuticals have created opportunities for the innovation and adoption of advanced products. Additionally, rising healthcare spending and the presence of domestic manufacturers have further aided the market growth. Leading Original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) have their manufacturing base and R&D centers located in the U.S., ensuring easy access to end users.
• Europe: Europe is the second-largest market for empty IV bags, accounting for a share of over 26.1% in 2023. European countries have been adopting innovative medical treatment options for the disease such as cancer, etc. The emphasis on the adoption of inorganic growth strategies, such as partnerships and focus on research and development activities in the region, are expected to drive the regional market growth over the forecast period.
• Asia Pacific: Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for empty IV bags, accounting for a share of over 20.3% in 2023. The empty IV bags market in the Asia Pacific region has been witnessing rapid growth supported by improving medical technologies and rising healthcare expenditures. In particular, countries like China, India, and Japan have turned into hotspots owing to their huge patient populations and increasing economic capabilities.

Figure 1. Global Empty IV Bags Market Share (%), by Region, 2023

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Analyst’s Views:

The global empty IV bags market is poised to grow significantly in the coming years. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and increasing number of surgical procedures being performed worldwide are the major drivers propelling the demand for empty IV bags. Additionally, the growing geriatric population who are more prone to chronic illnesses will further augment the market growth. Moreover, technological advancements in IV bags leading to enhanced functionality and user-safety are also supporting the market expansion.

However, stringent regulatory approvals for IV bags and high costs associated with them poses a major challenge to their wider adoption. The availability of alternative delivery methods for fluid administration can also restrain the market growth. Nevertheless, the growing demand from emerging countries of Asia Pacific due to improving healthcare infrastructures and increasing healthcare spending presents lucrative opportunities for players in the long run.

North America, being a developed region, dominates the global empty IV bags market currently. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period owing to rising medical tourism, rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure, and growing disposable income in developing Asian countries. Key players are focusing on expanding their presence in high growth Asian markets by introducing cost-effective products and establishing manufacturing facilities to gain a competitive edge.

Global Empty IV Bags Market Drivers:

• Increasing Demand for IV Therapy Administration: The global empty IV bags market has been witnessing significant growth over the past few years mainly attributable to the increasing demand for intravenous (IV) therapy administration around the world. IV therapy involves injecting fluids, nutrients, and medications directly into a patient's bloodstream through a needle or catheter. It is employed in various clinical conditions such as gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, neurological diseases, hematological diseases, and several others where the oral administration of medicines may not be suitable or effective. With the rising prevalence of chronic and lifestyle diseases, intravenous administration has become an indispensable part of clinical management protocols nowadays.
• Rising Spending on Clinical Trials: Another key aspect accentuating the demand for empty IV bags in the global empty IV bags market is the surging expenditure on clinical drug trials. A vast number of novel medications today especially biologics and targeted therapies are tested for safety and efficacy through extensive clinical investigation involving human volunteers and patients. Intravenous administration remains a preferred dosing methodology across various phases of clinical studies as it allows for better control over drug delivery compared to oral administration. This ensures the accurate determination of correct therapeutic dosages, identification of side effects, and assessment of overall drug performance in the body.
• Increasing Product Launches: Increasing product launches by the key players in the market are expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, in June 2022, Gufic Biosciences, an India-based company that is engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, generic pharmaceuticals, and related services, announced the launch of a new drug delivery system: dual chamber bags in India.
• High prevalence of chronic diseases: The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, etc. is expected to drive the growth of the market overt the forecast period. For instance, according to data published on February 4, 2023, by the Pan American Health Organization, in the U.S. an estimated 4 million people were newly diagnosed and 1.4 million people died from the cancer in 2020.

Global Empty IV Bags Market Opportunities:

• Emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America: The emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America offer immense potential for growth in the global empty IV bags market. These regions are expected to experience high economic expansion in the coming years due to their large, young populations and improving healthcare infrastructure. Countries, such as India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico, specifically have a massive patient pool that will require IV treatment procedures in the future.
• Development of anti-counterfeiting technologies: The development of advanced anti-counterfeiting technologies presents a major opportunity for growth in the global empty IV bags market. According to the World Health Organization (Who), roughly one in 10 medical products in developing countries is either substandard or falsified. This poses risks to patient health and safety. By integrating technologies like security inks, holograms, taggants, and Blockchain into IV bags, manufacturers can securely authenticate their products and differentiate genuine bags from fakes. This gives hospitals and healthcare providers greater confidence in the integrity and quality of IV bags, increasing demand for authenticated products.
• Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies by the key players: Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies, such as partnerships, by the key players in the market are expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, in November 2022, Borouge Plc, a leading petrochemical company that provides innovative and differentiated polyolefin solutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which established a new strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Medical Devices Company (ADMD) to develop the medical device manufacturing industry in Abu Dhabi. ADMD is a leading local manufacturer of syringes, insulin syringes, fluids bags, tubes and catheters, administration devices, respiratory items, and PPE products.
• Increasing initiatives by the key players in the market: Increasing initiatives by the key players in the market are expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, in October 2022, B. Braun Medical Inc., a company focused on infusion therapy and pain management, announced that it has been awarded a state grant, secured by Pennsylvania Senator Pat Browne, to fund a medical plastics waste recycling pilot project in the Lehigh Valley, U.S. The project will investigate the use of advanced technology to recycle non-hazardous plastic waste from B. Braun SE’s medical device manufacturing plant in Hanover Township and Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Cedar Crest Hospital. The companies are working with PureCycle Technologies, which uses an innovative, patented technology to separate color, odor, and any other contaminants from certain non-hazardous plastic waste feedstock to transform it into virgin-like recycled polypropylene. High volume plastics, such as packaging materials, non-PVC IV bags, disposable gowns and masks, and irrigation bottles, used at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, and scrap materials generated at B. Braun’s medical device manufacturing plant in Hanover Township, PA will be targeted for collection and recycling.

Global Empty IV Bags Market Trends:

• Customized and specialized IV bags: The growing demand for customized and specialized IV bags from healthcare facilities and patients is having a significant impact on the global empty IV bags market. With advancement in medical technologies, there is an increasing need for tailoring IV therapy to individual patient requirements. This has prompted empty IV bag manufacturers to offer a wide range of customizable options for attributes like size, additives, components, flow rates, etc. They are working closely with healthcare organizations to develop specialized IV formulations for diseases with high volume such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. This is enabling doctors to more effectively manage patients with complex conditions through precise medication delivery.
• Rise of single-use empty IV bags: The rise of single-use empty IV bags is having a significant impact on the global empty IV bags market. With advancements in medical technology and focus on hygiene, more hospitals and healthcare facilities are preferring single-use empty IV bags over multi-use bags. Single-use bags reduce the risk of contamination and infections related to reuse of bags. They assure greater sterility as each bag is used only once for one patient. This improves patient safety and outcomes. Several developed countries have implemented strict regulations mandating the use of single-use disposable medical devices and supplies. For instance, the US FDA has guidelines that require labelling bags clearly as single-use if intended for one-time use only. This prevents accidental reuse and associated safety issues. Such regulatory push is driving the increased demand for single-use empty IV bags from medical facilities across the U.S. Additionally, with rising healthcare costs, providers are under pressure to reduce hospital stay and turnaround times. Single-use bags allow for quicker set-up and administration of intravenous therapies without the need for additional sterilization steps. This supports faster patient throughput.
• Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as collaborations: Increasing adoption of organic growth strategies, such as collaborations, by the key players in the market are expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, on December 15, 2023, Baxter, a global pharmaceutical company, in collaboration with Northwestern Medicine, a non-profit healthcare system based in the U.S., concluded the first phase of its pilot programme for recycling intravenous (IV) bags for U.S. hospitals
• Growing demand for large-volume IV bags: The growing demand for large-volume IV bags is having a significant impact on the global empty IV bags market. With the rising number of complex surgeries and chronic diseases that require intravenous medication and fluid therapy, there is an increasing need for IV bags with larger volumes. Earlier, the standard size for IV bags was up to 1,000 ml but now hospitals and healthcare providers are preferring bags with volumes ranging from 1,000 ml to 3,000 ml. This shift towards larger IV bags is driven by the need for fewer bag replacements during long procedures and therapy cycles. Frequent bag changes can disrupt the IV line and increase the risk of infection. Larger bags allow for continuous infusion of medications and fluids over extended periods without the need for multiple bag replacements. This is more convenient for both medical staff and patients undergoing lengthy treatments. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, several new drugs approved in recent years require administration over 24 hours or more using an IV bag, thus generating higher demand for IV bags in the 1,000-3,000 ml category.

Global Empty IV Bags Market Restraints:

• Stringent regulatory policies: Stringent regulatory policies from governments across the globe are putting brakes on the growth of the global empty IV bags market. Health regulations surrounding medical devices and products used for intravenous therapy have been tightened in the recent years. Regulatory bodies are being more vigilant about compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) during the production of IV bags and quality certifications.
• Alternatives to IV bags: Alternatives to IV bags such as oral medication, topical ointments, and implanted drug delivery devices are posing a significant challenge to the growth of the global empty IV bags market. With technological advancements, many drugs which were traditionally delivered via IV methods can now be effectively administered through alternative routes. This has reduced the dependency on IV bags for certain therapeutic areas.

Recent Developments

New product launches

• In April 2022, Fresenius Kabi, a global pharmaceutical company, announced the launch of Calcium Gluconate in Sodium Chloride Injection in ready to administer freeflex bags in the U.S. The freeflex packs are comprised of polyolefin, which is Di-ethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP) plasticizer-free and non-PVC.
• In May 2019, Sihuan Pharmaceutical, a pharmaceutical company, secured drug registration approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its non-PVC solid-liquid double chamber bag for ceftazidime/sodium chloride injection.

Figure 2. Global Empty IV Bags Market Share (%), by Product, 2023

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Top Companies in the Global Empty IV Bags Market

• POLYCINE GmbH
• BAUSCH Advanced Technology Group
• BD
• Baxter
• B. Braun Medical Inc.
• ICU MEDICAL, INC.
• Wipak
• RENOLIT SE
• TECHNOFLEX
• Sippex IV bags
• JW Life science Corp
• Fresenius Kabi AG

Definition: Empty IV Bag is a vital medical tool used for administering intravenous fluids and medications.