Sterilization Services Market Size, Share and Trends 2024 to 2034

Sterilization Services Market Size and Forecast 2024 to 2034

The global sterilization services market size is estimated at USD 5.60 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach around USD 10.64 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 6.62% from 2024 to 2034. The increasing demand for sterilization services by several leading industries, such as healthcare, pharmaceutical, and other consumer industries, is accelerating the growth of the market.

Sterilization Services Market Key Takeaways

• North America dominated the sterilization services market with the highest market share of 43% in 2023.
• Asia Pacific expects the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period.
• By method, the gas modalities segment accounted for the biggest market share of 37% in 2023.
• By method, the radiation modalities segment is expected to have substantial growth in the market during the predicted period.
• By business type, the contract service sterilization segment contributed the largest market share of 79% in 2023.
• By business type, the sterilization validation services segment is predicted to witness significant growth in the market over the forecast period.
• By mode of delivery, the on-site segment led the sterilization services market in 2023.
• By mode of delivery, the off-site segment expects significant growth in the market during the forecast period.
• By end-user, the healthcare facilities segment dominated the market in 2023.
• By end-user, the medical device companies segment expected significant growth in the market during the predicted period.

U.S. Sterilization Services Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2034

The U.S. sterilization services market size accounted for USD 1.75 billion in 2024 and is predicted to be worth around USD 3.38 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 8.05% from 2024 to 2034.

North America dominated the sterilization services market in 2023. The growth of the market is attributed to the rising healthcare infrastructure and the continuous investment in the development of healthcare facilities, which are driving the demand for sterilization services for efficiently cleaning and sterilizing the medical devices, surgical equipment, and premises of the healthcare facilities. The rising spread of infectious diseases in the population creates the need for the sanitization and sterilization process, which further contributes to the growing demand for the sterilization services market in the region.

• In April 2023, the FDA announced the launch of the Radiation Sterilization Master File Pilot Program for companies that used single-use PMA-approved devices using radiation, such as ethylene oxide and gamma radiation.
• There are 25 hospitals conducting 500 da Vinci robotic-assisted surgeries per year in the United States, a relatively larger amount of healthcare institutes; nurses are majorly responsible for the cleaning process at 46%, disinfection at 66%, and low-temperature sterilization at 50%.
• In the surveyed hospitals, 62% of the medical institutes use fully manual methods of cleaning instruments, and 30% use ultrasonic cleaning equipment.

Asia Pacific expects the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period. The growth of the market is increasing owing to several factors, such as increasing population, rising industrialization, and healthcare facilities. The increasing demand for sterilization services by several industries such as healthcare, consumer, manufacturing, and others for cleaning and sterilization processes accelerates the growth of the sterilization services market across the region.

Market Overview

The sterilization services is the process in which it can clean the environment. It is the process that destroy or eliminates the different type of microbial life. The sterilization process is specially designed for the healthcare facilities and in other industrial usage. There are different methods are associated with the sterilization services including heat, chemical, filtration, and radiation sterilization.

How Can AI Impact the Sterilization Services Market?

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the healthcare system helps in revolutionizing the overall process. AI can used in several factors in hospital sterilization, such as digital twin for the sterilization process, smart monitoring, predictive maintenance and energy efficiency, assessment of AR solutions for reconditioning, Robot, Cobot, and AGV, and used in the operating room schedule optimizer. AI helps in making actionable insights, making data-driven decisions, increasing throughput, and achieving operational excellence.

Sterilization Services Market Growth Factors

• Rising awareness about infection: The rising awareness about the environmental conditions and the rising prevalence of disease by germs are driving the demand for sterilization services for cleaning and destroying infectious germs from the environment, boosting the growth of sterilization services.
• Rising industrialization: The increase in industrialization, the growing demand for a sterile environment for labor safety in the working environment, and the increasing spending on the manufacturing sector are collectively accelerating the expansion of the market.
• Healthcare demand: The rising healthcare infrastructure around the world and the burden of chronic disease in the population are increasing the risk of infections in the healthcare environment, causing the demand for sterilization in healthcare facilities and accelerating the demand for the sterilization services market.
• Technological advancements: The technological evaluation in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry and the ongoing research and development activities in the innovations and launch of sterilization technology are driving the expansion of the market.

Market Scope

Market Dynamics

Driver

Rising awareness about disinfection and sterilization

The increasing burden of chronic illness in the population and the infection-causing germs and infections in the environment and healthcare facilities are accelerating the demand for sterilization services by the healthcare industry. Sterilization plays an important role in disinfecting medical and surgical instruments, which prevents infectious pathogens and germs from spreading to patients. The sterilization process helps in destroying all types of diseases, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and awareness regarding hygiene and cleanliness are accelerating the demand for the sterilization services market.

Restraint

Lack of awareness

The lack of awareness of sterilization services in developing and underdeveloped countries and the high cost of operations of traditional sterilization services restrain the growth of the sterilization services market. 

Opportunity

Technological advancements in sterilization services

Technological advancements in the sterilization process, such as integration of automation, robotics, single-use sterilization technologies, low-temperature sterilization, and others, are driving opportunities for the expansion of the market. The expansion of technologies provides more cost efficiency, a safe sterilization process, and enhanced effectiveness. Additionally, the ongoing research and development process in sterilization technologies is driving the growth of the market.

Method Insights

The gas modalities segment accounted for the largest share of the sterilization services market in 2023. The increasing use of gas sterilization modalities in spaces like healthcare facilities such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other medical devices is driving the growth of the segment. The gas modalities further include hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, and others. It prevents the contamination of the medical devices. In the gas modalities, ethylene oxide sterilization is a widely used process that is highly beneficial to healthcare facilities.

The radiation modalities segment is expected to grow substantially in the market during the predicted period. The radiation modalities further include gamma radiation sterilization, X-ray sterilization, ultraviolet sterilization, electron beam sterilization, and others. Gamma radiation sterilization is a highly used process that kills bacteria. Radiation helps kill disease-causing germs and neutralizes other harmful organisms.

Business Type Insights

The contract service sterilization segment led the sterilization services market in 2023. Contract service sterilization is when companies provide sterilization services in several essential industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer industries, and others. Sterilization services can be done under the supervision of a knowledgeable person who meets all the regularity standards. There are various leading companies that provide contract sterilization services, such as STERIS, Sterigenics, PAMA MFG, and others.

• In October 2023, Datwyler, a leading player in high-quality, system-critical elastomer components, launched the ready-for-sterilization (RFS) combi-seals for cartridges for injecting devices like autoinjectors and pens.

The sterilization validation services segment is predicted to witness significant growth in the sterilization services market over the forecast period. The sterilization validation is the process of ensuring the desired sterility assurance levels. It includes the process or stages like testing, documentation, consulting, studies, and reports. All these stages ensure the sterilization of equipment, products, and surfaces free from all types of microorganisms.

Mode of Delivery Insights

The on-site segment led the sterilization services market in 2023. The on-site sterilization ensures the accuracy of the services, ensures instruments are available for procedures and reduces downtime. These types of sterilization are useful in emergency services. The rising demand for on-site sterilization by healthcare and consumer facilities is driving the demand for on-site sterilization services.

The off-site segment expects significant growth in the market during the forecast period. Off-site sterilization activities are mainly used by healthcare facilities to clean and sterilize medical devices or surgical instruments. The instruments are sent with the temperature-controlled truck to the Offsite Reprocessing Centers (ORCs), where technicians are used to process the instruments as per the manufacturing standards. They ensure the sterilization process of the medical or surgical equipment.

End-User Insights

The healthcare facilities segment dominated the sterilization services market in 2023. Sterilization services are in high demand from healthcare facilities due to the higher availability of microorganisms and diseases that cause germs in healthcare spaces. The sterilization process in healthcare facilities ensures the destruction and cleaning of the surface environment of the premises. The services are used to clean medical devices, surgical equipment, and other healthcare applications. The rising healthcare infrastructure all around the world creates the demand for a healthy and germ-free environment in the facilities, which is driving the growth of sterilization services in healthcare facilities.

• In March 2024, STERIS launched the Verafit Sterilization Bags and Covers, featuring a patent-pending viewing window to inspect and confirm dryness in the sterilized part. 

The medical device companies segment expected significant growth in the market during the predicted period. Sterilization is used to clean medical devices and prevent their contamination. It significantly reduces the risk of infection through the spread of disease. 

• In October 2024, Kanoike Transport, a Japanese Logistics Company, launched a service in India to sterilize and clean used healthcare equipment and devices from hospitals using its experience at home to increase the international market.

Sterilization Services Market Companies

• Steris Corporation
• Stryker Corporation
• 3m Company
• Ecolab Inc.
• Sterigenics International LLC
• Cretex Companies
• Noxilizer Inc.
• Beta-Gamma-Service Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Cosmed Group Inc.
• Medline Industries Inc.
• Anderson Products Inc.
• Doyen Medipharm 

Latest Announcement by Market Leaders

• In April 2024, Noxilizer Inc. extended the NO2 contract sterilization in the United States. The Noxilizer Inc. announced the expansion with its new facilities of NO2 contract sterilization at their Hanover, MD headquarters in the United States. 
• In September 2024, BGS Beta-Gamma-Service GmbH & Co. KG (BGS), trading as BGS US LLC, the company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, expanding its facilities in the United States market. The recently constructed facilities are scheduled to be active in mid-2025 and provide fully automated e-beam irradiation services to the Northeast United States.

Recent Development

• In May 2024, Crothall Healthcare (Crothall), a leading player in sterile processing and support services, got into a strategic partnership with Ascendco Health (Ascendco), a leading player in healthcare technology for bringing new era instrument tracking and overall sterile processing quality of the healthcare facilities in the world.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Method

• Gas Modalities
  • Ethylene Oxide Sterilization 
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Sterilization
  • Other Gas Modalities
• Radiation Modalities
  • Gamma Radiation Sterilization
  • X-Ray Sterilization
  • Ultraviolet Sterilization
  • Electron Beam Sterilization
  • Other Radiation Modalities
• Dry Heat Sterilization
• Other Methods

By Business Type

• Contract Sterilization Services
• Sterilization Validation Services

By Mode of Delivery

• On-Site
• Off-Site 

By End-Use

• Healthcare Facilities
• Medical Device Companies
• Pharmaceutical And Biotech Companies
• Other End-Users 

By Geography

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa