The global chromatography instruments market is expected to reach USD 10.99 billion by 2022 from USD 7.85 billion in 2017, at a CAGR of 6.9%. The growth of this market is majorly driven by the rising food safety concerns, increasing use of chromatography tests in the drug approval process, and growing popularity of hyphenated chromatography techniques. However, the high cost of equipment is likely to restrain the growth of the chromatography instruments market during the forecast period.

By type, the systems segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2017

On the basis of type, the chromatography instruments market is broadly segmented into systems, detectors, auto-samplers, and fraction collectors. In 2017, the systems segment is expected to account for the largest share of this market and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is primarily attributed to the growing importance of chromatography tests in drug approvals.

By consumables and accessories, the consumables segment held the largest market share in 2017

The chromatography instruments market is further classified into consumables and accessories. In 2017, the consumables segment is expected to account for the largest share of the chromatography instruments market and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The high growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the rise in the food safety concerns.

By application, the life science industry held the largest market share in 2017

Based on application, the chromatography instruments market is further segmented into life science, environmental testing, food and beverage testing, and other applications. In 2017, the life science industry segment is expected to account for the largest share and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Chromatography tests in drug approvals and increasing popularity of hyphenated techniques are the major factors driving the growth of this segment.

North America dominated the market in 2017

North America accounted for the largest share of the chromatography instruments market in 2016, followed by Europe. The increase in funding for R&D activities and environmental testing in the U.S. are some of the major factors driving the growth of the market in the U.S. The growth of the Canadian food testing industry and the rising investment and initiatives by the government to improve laboratory infrastructure in Canada will also drive market growth during the forecast period.

Factors such as rising importance of food safety in the U.K., growth of the cosmetics industry in France, and the increase in R&D expenditure in the pharmaceutical industry in the RoE are expected to boost the adoption of chromatography instruments in European countries; generating a significant growth opportunity for the players competing in the global chromatography instruments market during the forecast period.

Market Dynamics

Driver: Growing importance of chromatography tests in the drug approval process

LC-MS and GC-MS are among the widely accepted analytical techniques in the drug approval processes for the separation, purification, and analysis of raw materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and excipients. The current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations mandate that all components (ingredients or raw materials) should be tested before they are released for use in the manufacturing or preparation of drug products. For the testing of drug products, chromatography procedures are selected based on parameters such as accuracy, detection limit, quantitation limit, linearity, precision, range, robustness, and specificity/selectivity.

Technological advancements have enabled the use of chromatography and chromatography/mass spectrometry instruments to test the identity, strength, purity, quality, and potency of a drug product. Such data is required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the approval of drugs. A large percentage of drug product applications submitted to the FDA is based on chromatography and GMP regulations. FDA accepts chromatography results as valid criteria for ascertaining the quality standard of drugs. Owing to this, chromatography instrument providers are focusing on launching products that fulfill regulatory as well as technological requirements.

Restraint: High cost of chromatography equipment

Chromatography instruments are equipped with advanced features and functionalities and thus are priced at a premium. The cost of a new instrument differs as per the applications. The cost of an HPLC system varies from USD 12,000 to USD 50,000. Additionally, a 90-L column for systems and packing station costs ~USD 200,000. If the column costs are amortized over 1,000 cycles, the equipment expense runs to about USD 200 per cycle. Thus, the estimated cost per batch for equipment, media, and labor is USD 3,800 for the membrane cartridge and USD 3,700 for the column (Source: BioPharm International). Similarly, AGILENT 6890N G1530N GC with dual inlets, detector, and auto-sampler costs approximately USD 24,000, while the Agilent/HP 6890 Series GC System with Wasson ECE-instrumentation special valve system costs USD 19,500.

Chromatography instruments used in the pharmaceutical industry are expensive as they use capillary columns to separate compounds like oxygen, hydrogen, and methane. Companies in the biotech & pharmaceutical industry, food & beverage industry, and environmental agencies require many such systems; this significantly increases the capital cost spent on these systems. In addition, the maintenance costs and other indirect expenses result in an overall increase in the total cost of ownership of these instruments. Academic research laboratories find it difficult to afford such expensive systems as they have controlled budgets.

Scope of the report

Report Metric Details Market size available for years 2015-2022 Base year considered 2016 Forecast period 2017-2022 Forecast units Value (USD) Segments covered Type, Consumables and Accessories, Application, and Region Geographies covered North America (US & Canada), Europe (Germany, UK, France, & RoE), APAC (Japan, China, India, & RoAPAC), RoW Companies covered Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.) and Waters Corporation (U.S.). Major 12 players covered.

This research report categorizes the chromatography instruments market by type of chromatography instruments, consumables and accessories, application, and region.

On the basis of type, the Chromatography Instruments market has been segmented as follows

Systems

Detectors

Auto-samplers

Fraction Collectors

On the basis of Consumables and Accessories, the Chromatography Instruments market has been segmented as follows

Consumables

Accessories

On the basis of Application, the Chromatography Instruments market has been segmented as follows

Life Science

Environment Testing

Food & Beverage Testing

Other Applications

On the basis of Region, the Chromatography Instruments market has been segmented as follows

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany France U.K. RoE

Asia-Pacific Japan China India RoAPAC

Rest of the World (RoW)

Key Market Players

In 2017, Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.) and Waters Corporation (U.S.) dominated the global chromatography instruments market. Some of the other players competing in the market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), PerkinElmer, Inc. (U.S.), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Bio-Rad Laboratories (U.S.), Restek Corporation (U.S.), Gilson, Inc. (U.S.), JASCO, Inc. (U.S.), and SCION Instruments (U.S.).

Recent Developments:

In 2017 Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.) launched Agilent 6495B Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System, to enhance its system portfolio.

In 2016, Waters Corporation (U.S.) strengthened its column portfolio with the addition of two new columns CORTECS T3 and CORTECS Shield RP18.

In 2016, Waters Corporation (U.S.) partnered with BioCity [a life science incubation company (U.K.)] to open a new analytical laboratory offering a suite of latest chromatography technologies

Key questions addressed by the report:

Which type segment will dominate the chromatography instruments market in the future?

Emerging countries have immense opportunities for the growth and adoption of chromatography instruments, will this scenario continue in the next five years?

Which application segment will dominate the market in the next five years?

To speak to our analyst for a discussion on the above findings, click Speak to Analyst