Market Profile: The Analytical and Life Science Instrumentation Industry

The last five years were somewhat tumultuous times for instrument companies. From 2006 through 2008, the market grew rapidly, fueled by proteomics, metabolomics, biomarker research, and other life science applications. The market also benefited from major technological innovations, such as ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and advancements in mass spectrometry technologies, in addition to increased activity in the agriculture and food, environmental, and oil and gas industries. Demand from emerging markets such as China and India were also significant driving forces in the industry.

2011 analytical and life science instrumentation demand

However, the market could not sustain such rapid growth and experienced a sharp decline in 2009. With the growing uncertainty, many industry participants and their customers were cutting back on their workforce. Currency fluctuations greatly impacted the market as well with the weakening dollar against the euro and yen. Nevertheless, the government stimulus funding helped to combat the negative forces, and in 2010 and 2011 the market experienced positive growth.

According to SDI’s recently published Global Assessment Report, 12th Edition, the market for analytical and life science instrumentation accounted for nearly $44 billion in 2011. The report provides detailed data on every major life science and analytical instrument technology, which includes 254 product types and 79 instrument techniques in ten technology categories. In addition to the 2011 market size, the Global Assessment Report includes growth rates, as well as market forecasts from 2012 thru 2016.The separations market, in particular, which includes high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography, ion chromatography, low-pressure liquid chromatography, flash chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis, accounted for 17% of the market.

The foregoing data were extracted and adapted from SDi's recently published Global Assessment Report, 12th Edition. For more information, contact Glenn Cudiamat, VP of Research Services, Strategic Directions International, Inc., 6242 Westchester Parkway, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (310) 641-4982, fax: (310) 641-8851, e-mail: cudiamat@strategic-directions.com