Global Prepared Culture Media Market: Expected to Grow at 5.1% CAGR from 2024 to 2030

IndexBox has just published a new report: World - Prepared Culture Media For Development Of Micro-Organisms - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights.

The article discusses the increasing demand for prepared culture media for the development of micro-organisms worldwide, projecting a CAGR of +5.1% in market volume and +5.7% in market value from 2024 to 2030. By the end of 2030, the market is expected to reach 841K tons in volume and $29.7 billion in value (in nominal wholesale prices).

Market Forecast

Driven by increasing demand for prepared culture media for development of micro-organisms worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next six years. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +5.1% for the period from 2024 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 841K tons by the end of 2030.

In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +5.7% for the period from 2024 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market value to $29.7B (in nominal wholesale prices) by the end of 2030.

Consumption

World Consumption of Prepared Culture Media For Development Of Micro-Organisms

Global prepared culture media consumption expanded rapidly to 625K tons in 2024, increasing by 9.3% against the year before. Over the period under review, consumption continues to indicate a remarkable increase. Over the period under review, global consumption attained the peak volume at 681K tons in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2024, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

The global prepared culture media market value surged to $21.3B in 2024, with an increase of 21% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Overall, consumption recorded a significant increase. Global consumption peaked at $21.3B in 2020; afterwards, it flattened through to 2024.

Consumption By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of consumption in 2024 were China (100K tons), the United States (87K tons) and Ireland (80K tons), with a combined 43% share of global consumption.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of consumption, amongst the leading consuming countries, was attained by Ireland (with a CAGR of +58.0%), while consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest prepared culture media markets worldwide were the United States ($4.9B), Ireland ($4.4B) and India ($1.5B), together accounting for 51% of the global market.

Among the main consuming countries, Ireland, with a CAGR of +56.5%, recorded the highest growth rate of market size over the period under review, while market for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2024, the highest levels of prepared culture media per capita consumption was registered in Ireland (16 kg per person), followed by Germany (0.5 kg per person), the UK (0.3 kg per person) and the United States (0.3 kg per person), while the world average per capita consumption of prepared culture media was estimated at 0.1 kg per person.

In Ireland, prepared culture media per capita consumption expanded at an average annual rate of +56.6% over the period from 2013-2024. The remaining consuming countries recorded the following average annual rates of per capita consumption growth: Germany (+16.0% per year) and the UK (+17.2% per year).

Production

World Production of Prepared Culture Media For Development Of Micro-Organisms

In 2024, production of prepared culture media for development of micro-organisms increased by 0.1% to 546K tons, rising for the second consecutive year after two years of decline. Overall, production saw a buoyant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when the production volume increased by 118%. Over the period under review, global production attained the peak volume at 660K tons in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2024, production remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, prepared culture media production rose slightly to $16.4B in 2024 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production recorded a buoyant increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 when the production volume increased by 116% against the previous year. Global production peaked at $21.6B in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2024, production remained at a lower figure.

Production By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2024 were China (113K tons), the United States (92K tons) and Germany (46K tons), with a combined 46% share of global production. India, Japan, the UK, France, Ethiopia, Mexico and Turkey lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 28%.

From 2013 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for Turkey (with a CAGR of +26.0%), while production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports

World Imports of Prepared Culture Media For Development Of Micro-Organisms

In 2024, global imports of prepared culture media for development of micro-organisms skyrocketed to 183K tons, with an increase of 34% against the previous year. Overall, imports posted a remarkable increase. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, prepared culture media imports fell modestly to $3.6B in 2024. In general, imports posted resilient growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when imports increased by 39%. Global imports peaked at $4.3B in 2021; however, from 2022 to 2024, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports By Country

Ireland was the largest importer of prepared culture media for development of micro-organisms in the world, with the volume of imports finishing at 80K tons, which was approx. 44% of total imports in 2024. It was distantly followed by Austria (13K tons), constituting a 6.9% share of total imports. France (8.2K tons), the Netherlands (6.3K tons), the UK (5.8K tons), the United States (5.6K tons), Germany (5.5K tons), Belgium (5.3K tons), China (4.7K tons) and Spain (4K tons) took a relatively small share of total imports.

Ireland was also the fastest-growing in terms of the prepared culture media for development of micro-organisms imports, with a CAGR of +57.6% from 2013 to 2024. At the same time, Austria (+22.2%), Belgium (+11.0%), China (+10.9%), the United States (+6.9%), France (+2.8%), the UK (+2.3%) and Spain (+2.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, the Netherlands (-2.4%) and Germany (-3.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Ireland (+43 p.p.) and Austria (+4.7 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the global imports from 2013-2024, the share of Spain (-2.9 p.p.), the UK (-4.1 p.p.), France (-5.2 p.p.), the Netherlands (-9.9 p.p.) and Germany (-10.2 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($362M), the United States ($293M) and the Netherlands ($288M) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2024, together accounting for 26% of global imports. Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the UK and Spain lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 26%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Ireland, with a CAGR of +20.5%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices By Country

In 2024, the average prepared culture media import price amounted to $19,505 per ton, with a decrease of -26.8% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price recorded a mild slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when the average import price increased by 20%. Over the period under review, average import prices hit record highs at $34,292 per ton in 2021; however, from 2022 to 2024, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2024, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was China ($77,130 per ton), while Ireland ($2,498 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Netherlands (+11.5%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports

World Exports of Prepared Culture Media For Development Of Micro-Organisms

In 2024, overseas shipments of prepared culture media for development of micro-organisms decreased by -5.9% to 104K tons, falling for the third consecutive year after three years of growth. In general, total exports indicated tangible growth from 2013 to 2024: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.7% over the last eleven years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2024 figures, exports decreased by -14.4% against 2021 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 with an increase of 27% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of 122K tons. From 2022 to 2024, the growth of the global exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, prepared culture media exports dropped to $3.1B in 2024. Over the period under review, exports, however, recorded a buoyant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when exports increased by 30% against the previous year. The global exports peaked at $3.9B in 2021; however, from 2022 to 2024, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports By Country

China (18K tons), France (14K tons), Germany (11K tons), the United States (11K tons), the Netherlands (9K tons), the UK (7K tons), Spain (4.8K tons), Belgium (3.8K tons) and South Korea (3.5K tons) represented roughly 79% of total exports in 2024. Italy (2.9K tons) took a little share of total exports.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by South Korea (with a CAGR of +31.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the United States ($804M), the UK ($422M) and France ($350M) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2024, together comprising 51% of global exports. The Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Belgium, Spain, Italy and China lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 29%.

Among the main exporting countries, South Korea, with a CAGR of +36.1%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices By Country

In 2024, the average prepared culture media export price amounted to $29,672 per ton, which is down by -2% against the previous year. Over the last eleven-year period, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.2%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 when the average export price increased by 25% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices reached the maximum at $33,415 per ton in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2024, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2024, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the United States ($75,876 per ton), while China ($2,702 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United States (+10.0%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform