The global feeding tubes market size is expected to reach US$ 9.69 billion by 2030, from US$ 6.34 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. Feeding tubes are medical devices used to provide nutrition or medicines directly into the stomach or intestines of patients who cannot swallow food normally. The tubes allow nutrients, fluids, and medications to be delivered directly into the gastrointestinal tract. Feeding tubes are inserted through the nose, mouth, or directly through the abdomen. They are commonly used in hospitals, nursing homes, and for home care patients.

The key advantages of feeding tubes are that they can provide complete balanced nutrition, ensure patients receive required medications, and prevent aspiration in patients with swallowing difficulties. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer, neurological disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders is driving the demand for feeding tubes globally.

The global feeding tubes market is segmented by product type, age group, application, end user, material type, and region. By product type, the market is segmented into nasogastric tubes, gastrostomy tubes, jejunostomy tubes, and others. Nasogastric tubes held the largest share in 2022 due to their common use for short-term feeding in hospitals.

Global Feeding Tubes Market Drivers:

Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and conditions: The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and conditions leading to dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing is a major factor driving the feeding tubes market growth. Chronic diseases like stroke, cancer, neurological disorders, trauma, and injuries can impair the swallowing process, increasing risks of aspiration and malnutrition. Feeding tubes provide an alternate route for providing nutrition in such patients. Feeding tubes play a crucial role in providing nutrition in post-stroke dysphagia patients. Their use has increased in conditions like head-neck cancers and dementia as well where impaired swallowing can lead to unwanted weight loss. For instance, according to an article published by the World Health Organization (WHO), 2022, worldwide risk of cancer is increasing. The most common cancers in 2020 were:

• Breast (2.26 Million Cases)
• Lung (2.21 Million Cases)
• Colon And Rectum (1.93 Million Cases)
• Prostate (1.41 Million Cases)
• Skin (Non-Melanoma) (1.20 Million Cases)
• Stomach (1.09 Million Cases)

Strong focus on Technological Advancements: Technological advancements in feeding tubes by the market players is expected to fuel the growth of the global feeding tubes market over the forecast period. For instance, in July 2023, Cook, a medical devices manufacturing company, launched its new Entuit Thrive Balloon Retention Gastrostomy Feeding Tube in the U.S. The new Entuit enteral feeding product line, which includes a full range of items for both gastrostomy and gastropexy procedures, includes a feeding tube.

Global Feeding Tubes Market Opportunities:

• Increasing launch of new products: Key market players are focusing on launching new products, which is expected to drive the growth of the global feeding tubes market over the forecast period. For instance, in June 2021, Applied Medical Technology, Inc., a manufacturer of healthcare devices, announced the launch of a mobile app, AMT ONE Source. AMT ONE Source provides parents, caregivers, and patients with quick and easy access to training resources. The app offers up-to-date product information and fun activities for the enteral nutrition and bowel management communities.
• Market Players engaged in inorganic activities such as partnership: Market players are indulged into inorganic activities such as partnership which is expected to fuel the growth of the global feeding tubes market over the forecast period. For instance, in 2020, Baxter International Inc., a manufacturer in clinical nutrition, and VIPUN Medical, a company developing technology solutions to help improve medical nutrition, entered into an agreement in order to commercialize VIPUN Gastric Monitoring System. This system is an enteral feeding tube, which is designed to measure stomach motility in order to help clinicians identify enteral feeding intolerance and make better-informed nutrition therapy decisions in the intensive care unit (ICU) and other settings. As part of the agreement, Baxter will support clinical studies required to achieve regulatory approval in key markets worldwide and gain global distribution rights. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Global Feeding Tubes Market Restraints:

• Lack of awareness among the medical society about enteral feeding devices: It is expected that the lack of awareness among the medical society about enteral feeding devices can hamper the growth of the global enteral feeding devices market over the forecast period. Medical professionals must prescribe enteral feeding devices and oversee them. Although these products are becoming more popular, consumers, doctors, and pharmacists still don't fully understand them. Dieticians are typically aware of these items, but the majority of doctors and experts are not. This barrier stops physicians from recommending or implementing enteral nutrition, which may limit the market expansion. Key players are focusing on spreading awareness about enteral feeding devices, and this is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.
• High costs of enteral feeding equipment and procedures: High costs associated with enteral feeding equipment and procedures is one of the major factors restraining the growth of the feeding tubes market. Feeding tubes require frequent replacement and associated procedures like insertion and removal also have significant costs. Enteral feeding, which provides nutrition through feeding tubes, involves costs of different feeding tubes, feeding solutions, and syringes on a daily or weekly basis. These recurrent costs for lifelong care of patients dependent on enteral nutrition pile up substantially over time. For example, according to the 2020 study published by the U.K.'s National Health Service, the average annual cost of home enteral tube feeding per patient was estimated to be around US$ 7,000- US$ 8,000. The preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2022 estimated that in the U.S., around 3 million people receiving enteral nutrition at home and in long-term care facilities incur a total annual cost of over US$ 25 billion. These high recurrent equipment and procedure costs for enteral feeding pose a significant financial burden, especially on patients and families with low socioeconomic status or without adequate health insurance. This acts as a major restricting factor for the broader adoption of enteral feeding tubes and adversely impacts the market's growth trajectory over the long term.

Increasing innovations in the Feeding Tubes by the Market Players

• On September 28, 2023, Cardinal Health, an American multinational health care services company, announced the U. launch of its Kangaroo OMNI Enteral Feeding Pump which is designed to help provide enteral feeding patients with more options to meet their personalized needs throughout their enteral feeding journey. Kangaroo OMNI is the first and only attitude-independent enteral feeding system in the U.S. designed to deliver thick, homogenized, and blended formulas. With a compact size for portability, the versatility to feed, flush and hydrate, and transmit a 30-day feeding history, Kangaroo OMNI is one pump to help meet the enteral feeding needs of patients and caregivers—from hospital to home
• In 2022, Vonco Products LLC, a manufacturer of custom medical devices and components, flexible packaging, and contract-manufacture- solutions, announced that EnteraLoc was honored to receive a Highest Achievement award and four additional Gold Achievement awards at the annual Flexible Packaging Awards Ceremony in Bonita Springs, Florida. EnteraLoc is a patented, FDA-approved 510(k) medical fluid device intended for tube-fed enteral patients. It is the first seamless, closed-loop solution that combines nutritious meals with a flexible pouch, leak-proof seal, custom-designed spout, and direct-connect ENFit device in one complete enteral feeding system

Feeding Tubes Market Regional Insights:

• North America is expected to be the largest market for feeding tubes during the forecast period, accounting for over 40.32% of the market share in 2023. The growth of the market in North America is attributed to the high prevalence of chronic diseases, advanced healthcare infrastructure, presence of key players, and favorable reimbursement policies in the region.
• Europe is expected to be the second-largest market for feeding tubes, accounting for over 32.45% of the market share in 2023. The growth of the market in Europe is attributed to the rising geriatric population, increasing incidence of chronic diseases, and investments by market players in the region.
• Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for feeding tubes, with a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. The growth of the market in Asia Pacific is attributed to the expanding patient pool, improving healthcare infrastructure, rising healthcare expenditure, and growing awareness about enteral nutrition in the region.

Figure 1. Global Feeding Tubes Market Share (%), by Region, 2023

Major Players operating in the Global Feeding Tubes Market include Boston Scientific Corporation, Vygon, BD, Cardinal Health, Amsino International, Inc., Fidmi Medical, Vesco Medical, McKesson Medical-Surgical, Medela AG, ALCOR Scientific, Nutricia, Medline Industries, Inc., Mead Johnson & Company, LLC., Abbott, Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd., Fresenius Kabi AG, B. Braun SE, Trovita Health Science, Victus Inc., Avanos Medical Inc., Cardinal Health, Moog Inc, Conmed Corporation, and Cook Medical.

New product launches:

• In January 2022, Vygon, manufacturer & supplier of high quality #medical & #surgical devices launched NOVODGA, the first dual gastric decompression and feeding tube made of polyurethane. It allows gastric decompression and early enteral feeding in ICU patients.
• In October 2021, Applied Medical Technology, provider of design and manufacturing of innovative enteral feeding devices and surgical products launched On-Q Enteral Feeding Pump System for automated and precise delivery of enteral feeding formulations. It provides safe and accurate enteral feeding.
• In June 2020, Fresenius Kabi, a global healthcare company launched ENFit enteral feeding connector helping transition to a global enteral device connector standard and improve patient safety

Acquisition and partnerships:

• In September 2022, Becton, Dickinson and Company, medical technology company acquired Medikabazaar to expand presence in India and deliver greater value to customers
• In January 2022, Cardinal Health an American multinational health care services company, acquired Bendcare, provides services and technology solutions for specialty providers and patients on journey, to expand at-home care offerings for patients relying on enteral feeding
• In June 2021, Cook Medical, a family-owned medical device company acquired ReCor Medical, a medical device company to expand in renal denervation for hypertension treatment

• By Product Type:
• • Nasogastric Tubes
  • Gastrostomy Tubes
  • Jejunostomy Tubes
  • Gastrojejunostomy Tubes
  • Low Profile Tubes
• By Age Group:
• • Adults
  • Pediatrics
  • Neonates
• By Application:
• • Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Diabetes
  • Hypermetabolism
  • Others (Neurological Disorders and Others)
• By Material Type:
• • Polyurethane
  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
  • Silicon
  • Others (Polyethylene, Teflon, etc.)
•  By End User:
• • Hospitals
  • Home Care Settings
  • Ambulatory Surgical Centers
  • Nursing Facilities
  • Others (Long-term Care Facilities and Others)
• By Region:
• • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • Africa