Domestic Medical Device Films Set to Account for 51% Globally by 2030: Key Factors Behind Their Remarkable Rise

The plastic film forming industry for medical devices in China is entering a period of rapid development. According to the latest market data, the industry's market size reached 45 billion RMB in 2023, representing a year-on-year growth of 12%. It is expected to surpass 55 billion RMB by 2025, with a stable compound annual growth rate of approximately 10%.

The core driver of growth stems from the accelerating aging population and the trend of chronic diseases affecting younger people, which is fueling a surge in demand for disposable medical consumables. These now account for over 60% of the total market share, and this figure is expected to rise to 65% by 2025.

The policy environment simultaneously empowers industry development. The 14th Five-Year Plan explicitly proposes promoting the high-quality development of medical equipment, encouraging enterprises to upgrade to environmentally friendly materials (such as degradable PETG) and intelligent production processes through tax incentives, subsidies, and the "Green Packaging Materials Development Action Plan." The regional distribution of production capacity is highly concentrated, with Jiangsu occupying 55% of the national PETG film production capacity due to its industrial chain advantages. Henan (29%), Zhejiang (7%), and Guangdong (5%) focus on high-end applications and foreign trade markets.

Technological innovation is reshaping the industry landscape. Precision injection molding technology and intelligent production systems are driving improvements in product yield and reducing equipment downtime. Breakthroughs in materials science are particularly critical: bio-based plastics (such as PEEK cranial repair materials) and functional films (high-barrier, anti-static) are widely used in high-end devices. The market share of biomedical materials has reached 20%, becoming central to artificial joints and drug delivery systems.

Green transformation and international expansion have become key directions for enterprises to break through. The EU REACH regulation and China’s “dual carbon” policy are forcing companies to adopt biodegradable materials, with demand for eco-friendly packaging growing at an annual rate of over 20%. Leading companies such as Yuwell Medical and Mindray Medical are accelerating their penetration into the European and American markets through technological differentiation (such as upgraded enzyme technology for blood glucose test strips) and industrial chain integration (extending upstream to resin polymerization). The proportion of exported domestic equipment continues to rise and is expected to account for 51% of global demand by 2030. In the future, minimally invasive surgical instruments, in vitro diagnostic (IVD) consumables, and smart drug delivery devices will become new growth drivers in markets worth hundreds of billions of yuan.