Gas Sensor Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis By Product, By Technology, By End Use (Medical, Environmental, Petrochemical, Automotive, Industrial, Agriculture, Others), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The gas sensor market was valued at USD 1,936.5 million in 2017 and is estimated to grow significantly over the next seven years. Gas sensors are used to measure the concentration of various gases in their vicinity, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. These sensors are equipped with a high sensitive sensing element that is powered through connecting leads, which are connected to the circuits. Gas sensors are adopted across various end uses such as industrial, petrochemical, and automotive industries. Moreover, process and manufacturing industries find extensive applications of various toxic and combustible gases, including hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen dioxide. Monitoring the concentration of these gases with the help of gas sensors helps in detecting and avoiding gas leaks.

Semiconductor gas sensors are monitored on a real-time basis and offer benefits such as low cost, compact size, and high accuracy. Regulations laid down by governments in the developed regions such as North America and Europe have mandated the use of these sensors in potentially hazardous environments. The adoption of electrochemical gas sensors is significantly high in end-use industries such as medical, industrial, environmental, and automotive owing to features such as accuracy and efficiency.

The ability of wireless gas sensors to detect explosive or toxic gases from a safe distance is expected to boost their demand over the forecast period. These sensors also offer advantages such as easy installation at lower cost compared to wired sensors and ability to create a network of sensors. Gas sensors are expected to witness a high demand in HVAC control systems as they facilitate intelligent ventilation control.

A variety of sensors are used to detect flammable gases and have different flammable conditions, hence each gases require a specific type of sensor in order to be accurately measured. New sensor technologies, such as miniaturized photo ionization detectors (PIDs) for measurement, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensors for CO2 or combustible gas, and additional types of substance-specific electrochemical sensors, are available for incorporation into multi-sensor portable instruments.

Currently, indoor and outdoor air quality concerns are driving the use of gas sensors in commercial building automation as well as in personal environmental monitoring. The costs of most gas sensors used in industrial applications are expensive, and package size is too large. Thus, the need for less expensive and compact size gas sensors is a critical driver of current consumer sensor market.

Gas sensor companies tend to focus on proven sensor technologies, and are more focused on improving current monitoring systems with more accuracy and can be easily accessed. The desire for continuous and real-time monitoring is driving the market in miniaturization, networking/communication, power management, and reliability.

Trends toward miniaturized systems, printed sensor manufacturing, and flexible electronics for consumer markets boost the gas sensor market. However, increasing in the adoption of wireless sensors with Internet of Things (IoT) hamper the wired gas sensor market in the coming seven years.

Product Insights

The Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) segment is expected to witness growth over the forecast period owing to stringent regulatory initiatives for curbing exhaust emission levels. Moreover, the installation of these sensors helps in reducing the air pollution. As a result, the demand for accurate, real-time NOx sensors in control systems is expected to continue increasing over the forecast period.

CO₂ sensing is particularly useful in indoor air quality monitoring as well as industrial processes. These sensors are capable of detecting spoilage in the food storage sector. Companies such as Honeywell, Digital Control Systems, and Johnson Controls develop carbon dioxide gas sensors.

Technology Insights

Electrochemical gas sensors facilitate the detection of toxic gas concentration by oxidizing the target gas at the electrode and measuring the resultant current. The amount of gas present is directly proportional to the current generated. The high demand for electrochemical sensors can be attributed to their ability to improve indoor air quality, control emission of harmful gases, and detect landfill gases, among others. However, they are not suitable for low temperature or high-pressure conditions.

The infrared gas sensing technology is capable of measuring a wide variety of gases, including methane, carbon dioxide, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), such as acetylene, benzene, and butane, among others. However, the cost of these sensors is significantly higher as compared to electrochemical sensors.

End Use Insights

In 2017, the industrial segment dominated the market owing to strict regulations by the government to ensure occupational health and safety of workers.

The gas sensors in the medical sector are primarily used for measuring VOCs, which may have adverse short-term as well as long-term health effects. They are used for monitoring the concentration of oxygen in anesthesia gas in incubators and ventilators.

Regional Insights

The European region dominated the market in 2017. This can be attributed to the increased IT investments and advancements in sensor technologies in the region. The growing demand for sensors that can be integrated into handheld devices has encouraged advancements in the technology.

The increased focus of the government on energy efficiency and emission control standards have resulted in the proliferation of gas sensors in the automotive sector in Europe. The growth in end-use industries and increasing avenues for the use of gas sensors are also expected to be the major drivers for the market growth in this region.

Gas Sensor Market Share Insights

Prominent players dominating the market includeAlphaSense, City Technology Ltd.,Dynament Ltd., Figaro Engineering, Membrapor AG, Nemoto & Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch LLC., ABB Ltd., Siemens AG, and GfG Europe Ltd.

Sensor manufacturers focus on investing in R&D facilities with an aim to boost technology development.Key players have employed innovative concepts and ideas, improved manufacturing techniques, and enhanced their products and profitability to gain a competitive edge. They adopted product launch as their key developmental strategy to cater to the demand of end users. Furthermore, they have also undertaken acquisitions and expansion to improve their product offerings and boost the production process as well as to expand their sales into different geographies.

Report Scope 

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global and regional levels and analyzes the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global gas sensor market report based on product, technology, end use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Oxygen/Lambda Sensors

  • Carbon Dioxide Sensors

  • Carbon Monoxide Sensors

  • NOx Sensors

  • Methyl Mercaptan Sensor

  • Others

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Electrochemical

  • Semiconductor

  • Solid State/MOS

  • PID

  • Catalytic

  • Infrared (IR)

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Medical

  • Building Automation & Domestic Appliances

  • Environmental

  • Petrochemical

  • Automotive

  • Industrial

  • Agriculture

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

  • South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa