Contract Sterilization Market Report 2024

This Contract Sterilization market report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The contract sterilization market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.84 billion in 2023 to $5.28 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth during the historical period can be credited to the expansion of the medical device reprocessing industry, a growing elderly population, a rise in the number of surgical procedures, increased healthcare investments, and a higher incidence of chronic diseases.

The contract sterilization market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.6 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The anticipated growth during the forecast period can be attributed to the increasing adoption of single-use medical devices, a greater emphasis on patient safety and infection control, the expanded use of ethylene oxide sterilization for medical devices, and the growing demand for contract sterilization services from pharmaceutical companies. Key trends expected during this period include advancements in low-temperature sterilization technologies, innovations in eco-friendly sterilization methods, the integration of automation in sterilization equipment, the use of electron beam sterilization in healthcare, and the development of mobile sterilization units.

The rising incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is expected to drive the growth of the contract sterilization market. HAIs are infections that patients acquire during their stay in healthcare facilities, leading to an increased demand for sterilization services to minimize infection risks. This rise in HAIs can be attributed to factors such as growing antibiotic resistance and the widespread use of invasive devices such as catheters and ventilators, which provide direct pathways for bacteria. Contract sterilization plays a crucial role in reducing HAIs by thoroughly sterilizing medical devices, surgical instruments, and equipment using advanced, standardized processes. For example, according to a May 2024 report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 4.3 million patients in hospitals across the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) contract at least one healthcare-associated infection annually. As a result, the rising incidence of HAIs is fueling the expansion of the contract sterilization market.

Leading companies in the contract sterilization sector are increasingly focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as medical device contract sterilization, to meet the growing demand for safer, more efficient, and effective sterilization techniques. Medical device contract sterilization involves outsourcing sterilization tasks to specialized third-party service providers. For instance, in April 2021, ClorDiSys Solutions, Inc., a US-based provider of decontamination equipment and services, received FDA approval to use chlorine dioxide gas for contract sterilization of medical devices. This method offers a safer alternative to traditional ethylene oxide sterilization and is particularly beneficial for sterilizing complex devices, including those with embedded batteries such as handheld injection pumps, infusion equipment, surgical lights, pacemakers, and defibrillators. The entire sterilization cycle, including aeration to remove the gas, can be completed within two to eight hours, depending on the device.

In December 2023, Allentown LLC, a US-based provider of life science solutions, acquired ClorDiSys for an undisclosed sum. Through this acquisition, Allentown aims to enhance its service offerings by incorporating advanced decontamination and sterilization technologies, including environmentally friendly solutions, into its portfolio. This move is expected to advance scientific research and improve safety standards. ClorDiSys Solutions, Inc. specializes in sterilization manufacturing and provides contract sterilization for both FDA-regulated and non-FDA-regulated medical devices.

Major companies operating in the contract sterilization market are 3M Company, Medline Industries LP, Steris Corporation, Serial System Ltd., Sterigenics International LLC, Nelson Labs & Sterigenics, Steripak Limited, Rocialle Healthcare, Midwest Sterilization Corporation (MSC), Trinity Sterile Inc., Pacific BioLabs Inc., PureLine, Steritek, E-Beam Services Inc., Andersen Sterilizers Inc., PAMA Manufacturing and Sterilization, Transcoject, Infinity Laboratories Pvt Limited, Blue Line Sterilization Services, Medistri SA, NovaSterilis, Noxilizer inc, Prince Sterilization Services LLC.

North America was the largest region in the contract sterilization market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the contract sterilization market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the contract sterilization market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Contract sterilization is a service arrangement in which a company or organization outsources its sterilization needs to a specialized third-party provider. This approach is commonly adopted by businesses that need to sterilize medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or other products but lack the in-house capabilities to carry out these processes themselves.

The primary types of contract sterilization include ethylene oxide, gamma irradiation, electron beam, plasma sterilization, and vaporized hydrogen peroxide. Ethylene oxide is a gas utilized in sterilization processes to disinfect medical equipment and materials that cannot endure heat. This category encompasses products that utilize physical, chemical, and mechanical methods, and it is applicable across various sectors, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and cosmetics.

The contract sterilization market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides contract sterilization market statistics, including contract sterilization industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a contract sterilization market share, detailed contract sterilization market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the contract sterilization industry. This contract sterilization market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The contract sterilization market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as sterility assurance and monitoring, steam sterilization, gamma radiation sterilization, and consulting and custom solutions. These services are offered on behalf of manufacturers to ensure product sterility. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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