Medical tubing is an integral component used in various medical devices and is essential for fluid and gas transfer. Medical tubing is designed to transfer gases, fluids, slurries and powders within medical equipment and devices. Medical tubing is commonly used for applications including drug delivery, peristaltic pumping, ventilators, drainage, biopsy/aspiration, breathing circuits and component of disposables. It helps connect and delivers medical fluids, blood, IV fluids, oxygen, anesthetic gases, and other gases to patients. Medical tubing plays an integral role in healthcare sector and demand for tubing is projected to grow with increasing use of medical devices worldwide.

The global medical tubing market is estimated to be valued at US$ 9,550.5 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.6% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.

Rising demand for minimally invasive medical procedures and growing aging population are fueling the market growth.

Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the medical tubing market are Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., Teleflex Incorporated, Optinova Holding AB, Zeus Industrial Products, Inc., The Lubrizol Corporation, Nordson Corporation, Putnam Plastics Corporation, Raumedic AG, Tekni-Plex, Inc., and Smith Group plc. Teleflex Incorporated specializes in specialty medical devices used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. produces and distributes tubing materials for medical, pharmaceutical, transportation, and industrial applications.

The demand for medical tubing is anticipated to increase due to rise in number of surgical procedures performed worldwide. Growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and rising geriatric population are major factors boosting surgical volumes. According to World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.

Technological advancements in the field of polymer science have led to development of novel biomaterials for medical tubing with enhanced mechanical properties, flexibility and biocompatibility. For instance, new generation TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) based tubing offer superior abrasion resistance, kink resistance and permeation barrier properties ideal for drug delivery applications.

Market Trends
Single use technologies and disposable medical devices are gaining increasing acceptance driven by benefits such as prevention of infection/contamination and convenience. This is positively impacting the demand for single use medical tubing. Manufacturers are developing novel single use tubing incorporating advanced technologies and biomaterials.
Emergence of minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) is a major trend transforming healthcare industry. MIS procedures reduce treatment cost, duration of hospital stay and post-operative complications. This drives the adoption of MIS compatible specialty medical tubing.

Market Opportunities
Rising healthcare expenditure in emerging nations offers significant opportunities for medical tubing market players. There is a scope for developing customized tubing as per requirements of niche applications. Biocompatible tubing for advanced therapies including bioimplants, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine present attractive opportunities. Collaboration with device manufacturers for development of innovative total fluid management systems integrated with tubing also provides new growth prospects.

Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Tubing Market Growth
The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly impacted the growth of the medical tubing market. During the initial months of the pandemic in 2020, the demand for medical tubing fell sharply as hospitals focused most of their resources on treating COVID-19 patients. Non-essential surgeries and procedures were postponed which reduced the need for medical tubing. Supply chains were disrupted globally which created shortages. However, as the pandemic progressed, the demand started increasing rapidly. Manufacturers scaled up production of tubing for ventilators, respiratory devices, diagnostic equipment and other medical products used in COVID-19 treatment. New opportunities also emerged for tubing used in nasopharyngeal swabs, specimen collection kits and vaccine delivery systems. Governments increased funding for medical equipment and supplies. Though the short-term impact was negative, the long-term prospects look positive as healthcare systems aim to strengthen their preparedness for future pandemics.

Geographical Regions with Highest Concentration of Medical Tubing Market
North America accounts for the largest share of the global medical tubing market in terms of value. This is attributed to factors such as high healthcare spending, presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure and major industry players. The United States dominates the North American market due to the large patient pool undergoing treatments. Europe follows North America in terms of market size due to growing elderly population and rising chronic diseases. Rapid expansion of healthcare facilities and increasing medical tourism are driving market growth in Asia Pacific region especially in China, India and Japan. Rising disposable incomes and developing economies are attracting multinational companies to invest in new manufacturing plants in Asia Pacific region.

Fastest Growing Region for Medical Tubing Market
The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period in the global medical tubing market. This is due to rising GDP, healthcare expenditure and growing demand for advanced medical treatments. Growing incidence of lifestyle diseases and aging demographics are increasing the burden on healthcare systems across Asia Pacific countries. Increasing operations in manufacturing tubing for medical devices, rising investments by worldwide players and favorable governmental policies are fueling the market growth. Rapid development of healthcare infrastructure, widespread health insurance coverage and improving access to care are propelling the usage of diverse range of tubing for various medical applications.