A 5.5% annual growth through 2014 is forecast for medical disposable products worldwide, with sales predicted to reach US$169 bln, as per Freedonia. Based on the advanced nature of medical delivery systems and the widespread insurance coverage of residents for primary health care procedures, the developed countries combined will absorb more than 70% of this total. Demand in the developing countries, as a whole, will expand faster as the availability and accessibility of basic health care services improve. Wound management supplies will remain the top-selling group of medical disposables, with demand forecast to increase 4.6% annually to US$30 bln in 2014. Wound dressings based on alginate, foam, collagen and growth factor substances will post the best growth based on expanding applications in the treatment of moderate-to-severe lacerations. Tissue sealants composed of cyanoacrylates and bioengineered fibrins will also fare well in the marketplace based on superior binding traits and fast healing advantages. Demand for bandages will expand at a below average pace due to limited pricing flexibility and the general lack of proprietary products. Trends toward less invasive surgery will weaken the overall market for wound closures. World demand for nonwoven medical disposables will increase 4.4% pa to US$25 bln in 2014. The strengthening of health care infection prevention standards will drive growth by promoting the substitution of higher value-added single-use textiles and garments for lower cost products during surgery and general patient care. Additionally, a rising prevalence of incontinence conditions will boost sales of adult diapers and related goods. Diagnostic and laboratory disposables are projected to register global demand of nearly US$23 bln in 2014, up 7% pa from 2009. Blood glucose test strips and other diabetic-related testing supplies will see the fastest gains as recommendations of medical organizations throughout the world encourage diabetic patients to broaden self-testing activities. Other diagnostic and laboratory disposables will provide mixed growth opportunities. Products for the self testing and professional diagnosis of widely prevalent chronic conditions will fare the best in the marketplace. Drug delivery devices, catheters and accessories, dialysis supplies and inhalation therapy products are among other medical disposables forecast to generate above average growth in world demand. The market for drug delivery devices will benefit from the widening availability of parenteral and inhalation pharmaceuticals as well as from increasing preferences for high value-added ready-to-use and safety-enhanced products. Expanding use in cardiovascular, urological, general surgical and inpatient drug administration procedures will boost demand for catheters and accessories. Growth opportunities for dialysis disposables will be driven by a rise in the number of chronic renal disorders and the frequency of treatment requirements. Similarly, upward trends in the prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions will impact favorably on global sales of oxygen therapy and other inhalation devices.

As per Strategyr.com, nonwoven disposables are rapidly making inroads into the medical sector, principally driven by growing consumer awareness against spread of infectious diseases. Diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS continue to further fuel demand from hospitals for clean, sanitary and disposable products for safeguarding patients and doctors from such infectious diseases. The stringent standards being imposed by various regulatory agencies globally are also impacting the use of nonwovens positively. Though the healthcare sector is increasingly moving towards non-invasive surgeries, overall impact on the nonwoven disposables market remains miniscule. With hospitals looking at disposables as necessity, rather than luxury, nonwovens industry is witnessing developments in new manufacturing, compound and finishing processes. The US represents the leading regional market in terms of consumption. With volume of sophisticated hi-tech surgical intervention growing rapidly, Europe is likely to experience high growth in medical nonwovens sector in the coming years. Growth in developed markets is expected to be sustained by growing proportion of ageing population and product innovations. Asia-Pacific represents the fastest growing market for nonwoven disposables. The market for medical nonwovens disposables in China is likely to be upbeat in coming years, as the country moves towards overhauling its healthcare system, buoyed by its expanding economy.

Global disposable medical gloves market to reach US$4 bln by 2017, according to Global Industry Analysts, Inc., driven primarily by rising emphasis on health, occupational safety, and hygiene among end-users in the healthcare market. Despite the challenging economic conditions worldwide, the disposable medical gloves market continues to post positive growth primarily attributed to the inherent intrinsic indispensability of the product among surgeons, practitioners, and healthcare workers. Currently, there exists immense opportunities for growth in the disposable medical gloves market given the fact that dozens of pairs of medical gloves are used in a single day in hospitals and laboratory settings, Further, a vast portion of the global market still remains untapped with Asia and Latin America holding the highest potential for disposable medical gloves. Over the years, regulatory frameworks and concerns such as worker safety and welfare have contributed to market growth across the globe. Increase in global population and rise in personal and occupational hygiene standards amid outbreak of various infections such as avian flu, SARS and HIV continue to sustain market growth. The US continues to remain the largest regional market. Asia-Pacific constitutes the fastest growing market for medical gloves. The Asian medical glove industry is beginning to witness major changes in end-user preferences, brand positioning, and competition. With growing demand for powder-free and synthetic gloves in domestic and foreign markets, Asian manufacturers are beginning to diversify their product portfolio to incorporate powder free medical gloves. Rising awareness regarding latex caused allergens, and increased innovation, and technology breakthroughs in synthetic variants together are expected to sustain growth of the surgical gloves market. Major players in the marketplace include Ansell Healthcare, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Cardinal Health, Inc., Cypress Medical Products, Dynarex Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Medline Industries, Molnlycke Health Care, Microflex Medical Corp., Paul Hartmann AG, Siam Sempermed Corporation Ltd., Semperit AG Holding, Supermax Corporation Berhad, among others.