Terminal Sterilization Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Ethylene Oxide, Irradiation, Others), By End Use (Hospital & Clinics, Pharma & Nutraceuticals), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global terminal sterilization services market size was valued at USD 9.80 billion in 2021 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.63% from 2022 to 2030. Increasing growing number of surgical procedures, increasing incidence of hospital-acquired infections, rise in prevalence of chronic diseases, and rapid technological advancement are the major factors anticipated to drive the market growth globally.

There has been an increase in the number of surgical procedures performed globally. For instance, according to a research article published in NCBI in 2020, around 310 million surgeries are performed annually worldwide. Similarly, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), in 2018, over 17.7 million surgeries and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures took place in the U.S. Moreover, as per Molnlycke Health Care AB, around 70 million surgical procedures are performed in Europe, growing by 3% to 4% annually. Most of the surgeries involve at least one device that has been sterilized by using EtO. For instance, surgical kits, gowns, heart valves, pacemakers, drapes, syringes, catheters, and ventilators are among the medical devices that require EtO sterilization. Thus, the rising number of surgeries is expected to boost the market growth

The increasing incidence of HAIs is expected to positively impact the market during the forecast period. For instance, according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), around 300,000 patients in England suffer from HAIs every year. Similarly, as per Patient Care Link, in American hospitals alone, an estimated population of 1.7 million people  is infected with HAIs, which accounts for the approximately 99,000 associated deaths annually. Thus, with an increase in HAIs, the demand for terminal sterilization is anticipated to grow, thereby impelling the market during the forecast period.

Moreover, an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to increase the demand for terminal sterilization. For instance, as per WHO, more than 40% of people aged 65+ in the UK have reported at least one chronic disease, whereas, 15% of people have at least two chronic diseases. Similarly, according to European Commission, cardiovascular disease is the biggest cause of death in the UK. Furthermore, the rate of stroke in U.K. is increasing. For instance, as per Stroke Association, a stroke strikes every 5 minutes in U.K., whereas there are 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK. Thus, many people are opting for invasive surgery, which is indirectly contributing to the growth of the terminal sterilization services market.

Additionally, rapid technological advancements have led to the launch of various innovative products in the market, which is expected to impel the market growth.

Low-temperature hydrogen peroxide sterilization has emerged as one of the promising sterilization techniques. This technique does not comprise any highly hazardous chemicals, and also has a shorter cycle time. Therefore, the use of the plasma sterilization technique is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period.

Furthermore, in April 2020, the U.S. FDA approved the use of Steris V-PRO 1 Plus, maX2, and maX low-temperature sterilization systems for decontamination of N95 respirators and similar masks each day in hospitals used for treating COVID-19 patients. Apart from H2O2 sterilization, pulsed light sterilization has also gained significant popularity in the market over the past few years. As this process is also chemical-free and involves the use of high-intensity pulsed light for short durations, thereby, safe for disinfection of foods. Thus, the aforementioned factors are expected to boost market growth during the forecast period.

In addition to this, the upsurge in the number of geriatric populations may increase the demand for terminal sterilization services. For instance, as per the Administration for Community Living, 16% of the total U.S. population i.e., about 54.1 million people in 2019 were aged 65 and above. Similarly, according to Ageing Asia, as of 2020, 139 million people in India were aged 60+ which contributes to 10% of the country’s population. Geriatric people are more susceptible to acquire HAIs, thus, to restrict the spread of HAIs among the geriatric population, the use of terminal sterilization services may increase, which may further propel the market growth. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased global demand for advanced healthcare facilities and services to treat the infected. As one of the crucial parts of healthcare, terminal sterilization services & related products are experiencing high demand across the globe, as they can help control the transmission of COVID-19. Moreover, with the development of vaccine, countries around the globe have opened their international borders as a result the supply chain is expected to normalize during the post-pandemic period.

Additionally, as a result of COVID-19, many companies were involved in strategies such as mergers, acquisitions & product launches so as to fulfill the demand. For instance, in January 2021, Steris signed an agreement to acquire Cantel Medical for USD 4.66 billion. The acquisition was done to diversify the infection prevention segment. Thus, due to the above-mentioned factors, the terminal sterilization services market is predicted to grow during the forecast period.

Product Insights

On the basis of product the market is segmented into ethylene oxide, irradiation, moist heat terminal sterilization, and others. Among these, the ethylene oxide segment held the largest market share of 41.06% in 2021 and is expected to expand at a significant growth rate during the forecast period. EtO is currently expected to be the most extensively & frequently used sterilization technique, owing to its compatible nature and low cost. Moreover, there are custom health kits that contain devices and drugs that are not compatible with radiation and other sterilization techniques. Therefore, with growth in development of health kits, along with the compatibility of EtO with most of the products, the use of EtO is anticipated to increase, thereby, impelling the segment growth during the forecast period.

Irradiation is a process in which an object is exposed to various rays for the process of sterilization. It has been further segmented into X-rays, gamma (Co 60), e beam & others, and is estimated to witness the fastest CAGR of 11.02% during the forecast period. This can be attributed to a wide range of polymer compatibility of gamma rays, electron beams, and X-rays. Sterilization with radiation inactivates & destroys microorganisms effectively and ensures that healthcare products are safe & reliable. It is cost-effective and safe for sterilizing disposable medical products, such as surgical gloves, sutures, gowns, face masks, and syringes.

One of its key benefits is that it allows sterilization of already-packaged products. These rays produce high penetrating electromagnetic radiations and kill contaminating microbes. The irradiation technique offers several benefits such as better penetration, and high sterility, which is equally effective irrespective of pressure & temperature. Thus, due to the above-mentioned factors, irradiation is expected to grow at a rapid rate, thereby propelling the segment growth over the forecast period.

End-Use Insights

On the basis of end-use, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, pharma & nutraceuticals, medical device manufacturing/packaging, other manufacturing sectors, academic research institutes, and others. Hospitals & clinics segment held the largest market share of 26.87% in 2021 and is expected to witness a high growth rate of 11.33% during the forecast period. The increasing burden of HAIs is primarily boosting the demand for sterilization in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Additionally, the growing number of surgical procedures and stringent safety guidelines for staff & patients in terms of medical waste disposal is likely to drive the adoption of terminal sterilization services in hospitals. For instance, according to WHO, at any time, the prevalence of HAI falls between 3.5% and 12% in developed countries. Whereas every 10th person out of 100 in a hospital will suffer from HAI. Usage of suitable disinfectants and sterilization methods is essential, as they can help prevent the transmission of infections. Therefore, with the increase in the number of HAIs, the use of terminal sterilization is expected to increase, thereby, propelling the market during the forecast period.

Furthermore, an increase in the number of surgical procedures in clinics is a major factor contributing to segment growth. Maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation is necessary to maintain a healthy environment in the clinic. In addition, the spread of COVID-19 requires the adoption of preventive measures for containing the spread of the disease. These factors are expected to drive the adoption of terminal sterilization services in clinics, thereby boosting the segment during the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with a share of 35.55% in 2021 and is expected to witness a significant growth rate during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the factors such as advanced healthcare infrastructures, and favorable reimbursement policies. Moreover, the high prevalence of hospital-acquired infections is further contributing to market growth. For instance, as per Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, each day, one out of 25 patients in the U.S. are affected with HAI.

Moreover, strict regulatory policies to deliver safe and quality healthcare services are anticipated to fuel market growth during the forecast period. For instance, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandates the usage of terminal sterilization processes in healthcare facilities in this region. In addition, the rising number of surgeries and expanding workers in the healthcare sector may boost the demand for such services. Hence, these factors are expected to propel the growth of the market for terminal sterilization services over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a growth rate of 10.93% during the forecast period owing to the presence of a large population base and growing medical tourism from several emerging economies. In addition, the growing demand for reusable medical devices is also anticipated to propel the growth of the market for terminal sterilization services. Moreover, major market players are also making efforts to enter untapped markets such as India, China, and Korea, thereby expanding the market scope.

Furthermore, the increasing number of surgeries and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases are among the factors boosting the number of hospital admissions, leading to increased demand for terminal sterilization of medical devices, equipment, and other products. For instance, as per the Australian Medical Association report 2019, in 2017-2018, there were around 8,017,492 people admitted to public hospital emergency departments in Australia. Similarly, as per the same source, the number of emergency admissions increased by 2.7% per year on average over 4 years, from 2013-2014 to 2017-2018. Thus, due to the increase in number of hospitalizations, the incidence rate of HAIs may increase, which is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global market is fragmented in nature with the presence of and large and small manufacturers. Competitive rivalry in this market is expected to increase during the forecast period due to the presence of many local and key players in the market. Additionally, leading players are involved in collaborations, product launches, mergers & acquisitions to strengthen their product portfolios. For instance, in January 2021, STERIS plc signed an agreement to acquire Cantel Medical, a provider of infection prevention services & products, through its U.S. subsidiary in a transaction valued at approximately USD 4.6 billion in cash. Through this acquisition, the company was expected to offer a diversified range of infection prevention and procedural products & service. Thus, the above-mentioned strategies will help the firm to strengthen its global presence. Some prominent players in the terminal sterilization services market include:

• Steris PLC

• 3M

• Getinge AB

• ASP (Fortive)

• Belimed, Inc. (Metal Zug Group)

• Sterigenics U.S., LLC- A Sotera Health Company

• Fedegari Group

• Olympus Corporation

• Andersen Sterilizers

• Steelco S.P.A

Terminal Sterilization Services Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis on the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global terminal sterilization services market report on the basis of product, end use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Ethylene Oxide

  • Irradiation

    • X-ray

    • Gamma (Co-60)

    • E-beam

    • Others

  • Moist Heat Terminal Sterilization

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Hospital & Clinics

  • Pharma & Nutraceuticals

  • Medical Device Manufacturing/Packaging

  • Other Manufacturing Sectors (Semiconductor, Food/confectionaries, Chemical/Materials)

  • Academic Research Institutes

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Colombia

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE