Infrared Spectroscopy Market Report

Infrared Spectroscopy Market Overview

The Infrared Spectroscopy Market size was valued at USD 645.09 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1097.29 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2025 to 2033.

The Infrared Spectroscopy Market is a critical component of the global analytical instrumentation industry. As of 2023, more than 90,000 active infrared spectroscopy systems were deployed worldwide, with over 35,000 units in use across the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) technique dominates, accounting for approximately 68% of total installations.

The demand for non-invasive, high-throughput, and accurate analysis tools has resulted in increasing adoption of NIR (Near-Infrared) and MIR (Mid-Infrared) techniques. In 2023, over 12,500 NIR devices were shipped for agricultural and food safety testing. In the oil and gas industry, more than 8,000 spectrometers were used for real-time monitoring of hydrocarbons and contaminants. Portable infrared devices saw shipments of 22,000 units in 2023, supporting mobile environmental and forensic testing.

The market is also driven by miniaturization; compact NIR devices under 150 grams have been introduced to support field diagnostics. As of 2024, approximately 15% of new devices featured IoT or cloud integration, enabling remote access and data analytics. Additionally, demand from polymer testing labs accounts for 47% of spectrometer usage in materials science applications, reflecting the broader expansion into quality control and R&D across multiple industries.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Expanding use of infrared spectroscopy in pharmaceutical quality control and regulatory compliance.

COUNTRY/REGION: North America leads the market with over 28,000 devices in use as of 2023, supported by FDA-regulated testing in life sciences.

SEGMENT: FTIR systems account for over 68% of installed units globally due to their wide spectral range and precision.

Infrared Spectroscopy Market Trends

Increased demand for real-time, high-resolution material analysis has led to notable shifts in the infrared spectroscopy market. In 2023, over 12,000 new devices were sold globally for food safety applications, driven by regulatory standards requiring traceability and contaminant analysis. The integration of AI and machine learning into infrared data analysis is on the rise, with over 10% of newly sold systems in 2024 featuring predictive analytics capabilities. A key trend involves the growing adoption of handheld and portable devices, especially in field testing; approximately 22,000 units of portable NIR and FTIR devices were shipped in 2023, up from 17,500 in 2022. Industrial automation is also playing a pivotal role. Around 18% of spectrometers used in manufacturing are now embedded into production lines for in-line analysis. The polymer industry, in particular, is experiencing rising deployment of IR tools for monitoring thermal degradation and chemical composition—nearly 21,000 units were dedicated to this sector in 2023. Environmental testing is another trend gaining momentum; over 9,000 units were sold in 2023 for detecting atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases. Additionally, innovations in optical materials have extended IR spectroscopy range capabilities, enabling better analysis in far-infrared regions.

Infrared Spectroscopy Market Dynamics

Market dynamics refer to the key forces that influence the behavior, trends, and direction of the infrared spectroscopy market over time. These dynamics include drivers that stimulate growth, restraints that inhibit progress, opportunities that can be capitalized on for expansion, and challenges that present operational or strategic difficulties.

DRIVER

Rising demand for pharmaceuticals

The increasing global production of pharmaceuticals and biologics is a major driver of infrared spectroscopy adoption. In 2023, the pharmaceutical sector used over 35,000 infrared spectroscopy systems to comply with stringent regulatory guidelines for purity and composition analysis. FTIR and NIR methods are widely used for validating raw materials, intermediates, and finished products. Recent expansions of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) across 72 countries have mandated routine material verification, directly increasing demand for high-accuracy spectrometers. In vaccine manufacturing alone, over 4,200 units were added globally in the past two years to monitor excipient quality and protein stability.

RESTRAINT

Demand for refurbished equipment

A significant restraint affecting the market is the rising preference for refurbished infrared spectroscopy systems, particularly in developing economies. In 2023, over 11,000 used devices were traded globally, accounting for nearly 20% of total market transactions. Cost-sensitive laboratories and academic institutions are opting for pre-owned units, which often cost 30%–50% less than new systems. Additionally, refurbished models meet most analytical requirements, which deters the adoption of newer, high-cost advanced models. As a result, OEMs face pressure to provide extended warranties and trade-in programs to stay competitive in these price-sensitive segments.

OPPORTUNITY

Growth in personalized medicines

The growing field of personalized medicine is creating new opportunities for infrared spectroscopy in biomarker analysis and patient-specific formulations. As of 2024, over 8,500 units were deployed in genomic and proteomic laboratories that focus on individual variability in drug responses. NIR and MIR devices are now used for metabolomics profiling, where real-time, label-free analysis is essential. Moreover, portable spectrometers are increasingly used in point-of-care settings for assessing disease progression. The surge in home diagnostics, with over 6,000 miniaturized IR tools sold in 2023 for personal health monitoring, further highlights this opportunity.

CHALLENGE

Rising costs and expenditures

One of the foremost challenges is the increasing total cost of ownership, which includes maintenance, calibration, and consumables. High-end FTIR spectrometers can cost over USD 50,000 per unit, and annual maintenance can reach USD 3,000. In 2023, operational costs in clinical laboratories using IR spectroscopy rose by approximately 12%, primarily due to inflation in optical components and detectors. Furthermore, frequent software updates and re-certification processes can disrupt workflows, especially in regulated environments. As devices become more complex with AI and IoT features, training costs for technicians and analysts are also rising.

Infrared Spectroscopy Market Segmentation

The infrared spectroscopy market is segmented by type (NIR, Mid IR, Far IR) and by application (Polymer Industry, Food and Agriculture Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry, Oil and Gas, Others). Over 68% of systems are categorized under FTIR and Mid IR types. By application, the pharmaceutical industry accounts for approximately 39% of global demand, followed by polymer testing at 27%, and food and agriculture at 18%.

By Type

NIR (Near Infrared): Near-infrared spectroscopy accounted for approximately 28% of market installations in 2023, with over 25,000 units deployed globally. NIR is extensively used for moisture and protein analysis in agriculture, and over 9,500 devices were sold in food testing labs last year. Portable NIR devices have gained traction due to their small size and rapid analysis capability, with miniaturized units under 150 grams shipped in over 6,000 units during 2023 alone.
Mid IR (Mid Infrared): Mid IR spectroscopy dominated the market with approximately 45,000 active systems in use in 2023. These systems are preferred for qualitative analysis in pharmaceuticals, polymer composition, and chemical synthesis. Mid IR devices are the backbone of FTIR systems, and in 2024, they were used in over 18,000 laboratories across industrial and academic settings. Key applications include identification of functional groups and monitoring of degradation in materials.
Far IR (Far Infrared): Far IR systems are less common but crucial in advanced materials research and semiconductor testing. As of 2023, nearly 6,000 Far IR devices were in use globally. They are particularly valuable in applications such as lattice vibration studies and low-frequency molecular analysis. In 2024, over 800 new Far IR systems were installed in nanotechnology labs, marking a 10% increase from the previous year.

By Application

Polymer Industry: More than 21,000 IR spectrometers were employed in the polymer industry in 2023 for analyzing chemical bonding and thermal stability. Key users include plastic manufacturers, elastomer producers, and fiber developers. FTIR is preferred for identifying additives, fillers, and contaminant residues.
Food and Agriculture Industry: Approximately 12,500 infrared spectroscopy systems were active in this industry in 2023. NIR systems are commonly used to analyze moisture, fats, and sugar content in grains, fruits, and dairy. Adoption is driven by food safety regulations and the need for non-destructive testing.
Pharmaceutical Industry: Pharmaceutical applications accounted for over 35,000 units, focused on quality assurance, impurity profiling, and drug stability studies. Regulatory compliance in 72 nations has made IR spectroscopy mandatory for raw material identification and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) verification.
Oil and Gas: Roughly 8,000 systems were used in 2023 for hydrocarbon analysis, contamination detection, and monitoring of lubricants. FTIR systems are increasingly embedded into refinery processes for real-time monitoring.
Others: Other applications include forensic analysis, textile quality assessment, and environmental monitoring, with over 6,500 systems utilized across these diverse fields.

Regional Outlook for the Infrared Spectroscopy Market

The regional outlook of the Infrared Spectroscopy Market highlights the geographical distribution, adoption trends, and market maturity across different parts of the world. Each region demonstrates distinct growth drivers, regulatory frameworks, and industrial focus areas that shape the demand for infrared spectroscopy systems.

North America

North America held the largest market share with over 28,000 devices deployed in 2023. The United States accounted for 83% of these, mainly due to FDA-mandated pharmaceutical testing and environmental monitoring. Over 5,000 units were sold in food safety labs, while another 3,000 systems were used in polymer production and QC labs.

Europe

Europe had approximately 23,500 active systems in 2023, with Germany, the UK, and France being the top three countries. EU regulations such as REACH and EFSA compliance drive adoption in both industrial and academic sectors. Germany alone reported over 7,000 IR instruments in use in materials and biochemical research.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region with over 26,000 units in use in 2023. China and India lead the demand, accounting for more than 60% of regional installations. In India, over 6,800 IR devices were used in pharmaceutical QA/QC, while China had over 4,000 units in the food and textile industry.

Middle East & Africa

This region is growing steadily with over 6,000 systems active in 2023. Countries like UAE and South Africa are expanding applications in oil and gas monitoring. In 2024, nearly 1,200 new spectrometers were installed in petroleum testing facilities.

List of Top Infrared Spectroscopy Companies

Hamamatsu Photonics K.K
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Bruker Corporation
Agilent Technologies
Foss Analytics
PerkinElmer
Unity Scientific
Shimadzu
Yokogawa Electric

Thermo Fisher Scientific: In 2023, Thermo Fisher had over 16,000 units in active use across various industries. The company’s FTIR systems lead the pharmaceutical and food safety segments, accounting for 21% of global device shipments.

Bruker Corporation: Bruker is the second-largest player with more than 12,000 systems deployed worldwide. It dominates the polymer and academic segments, with over 6,000 FTIR units used in materials science laboratories.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investments in the infrared spectroscopy market are rising across all verticals. In 2023, over USD 900 million was invested globally in manufacturing, R&D, and software development for spectroscopy systems. Pharmaceutical companies led with 35% of total investments focused on advanced FTIR systems for real-time production monitoring. In food testing labs, over 2,000 new NIR systems were purchased with government co-funding across 17 countries. The polymer industry saw investment in integrating IR systems into automated lines. Around 1,200 manufacturing plants installed embedded IR sensors to improve process efficiency and quality. Research universities across Europe and Asia invested in over 3,000 new units for nanomaterials and biotech studies. Opportunities are also opening in field diagnostics. The sales of portable IR units increased by 22% in 2023 due to environmental surveillance and health diagnostics. Investments in AI-integrated IR systems are gaining traction, with 10% of R&D budgets in top firms allocated for software and automation. Additionally, government grants are promoting adoption in agricultural and forensic labs.

New Product Development

In 2023–2024, leading companies introduced multiple next-generation infrared spectroscopy systems. Thermo Fisher released a portable FTIR system under 1.5 kg for on-site pharmaceutical analysis, with over 3,500 units shipped within six months of launch. Bruker introduced an AI-enabled MIR system with automated peak interpretation, reducing analysis time by 40%. Agilent launched a hybrid NIR-MIR device with dual-channel capability for simultaneous multi-sample analysis. The unit, deployed in over 1,200 food labs by Q4 2024, boosted throughput by 27%. Shimadzu developed an IoT-enabled FTIR model capable of cloud-based diagnostics and remote maintenance—1,800 units were installed in Southeast Asia by early 2024. PerkinElmer also launched a Far IR device for nanomaterial lattice vibration studies, adopted by over 600 academic labs. These innovations underline a clear trend: compact, connected, and intelligent systems are reshaping the product landscape of the IR spectroscopy industry.

Five Recent Developments

Thermo Fisher shipped 3,500 portable FTIR units in H1 2024 for pharma field testing.
Bruker launched AI-based MIR device reducing lab analysis time by 40%.
Agilent deployed 1,200 dual-channel IR systems in food labs globally.
Shimadzu installed 1,800 IoT-enabled FTIR units across Southeast Asia.
PerkinElmer introduced Far IR units in 600+ research institutions.

Report Coverage of Infrared Spectroscopy Market

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global infrared spectroscopy market, covering technological advances, regional trends, and application-specific demand. The study examines over 90,000 units currently in use, segmented by type, application, and geography. Focus is placed on NIR, Mid IR, and Far IR technologies and their use in food testing, pharmaceuticals, polymers, and energy sectors. The report evaluates more than 60 key parameters influencing market dynamics, including regulatory shifts, operational cost trends, and adoption rates by region. It profiles nine major players, highlighting product portfolios, market penetration, and recent innovations. The report also includes detailed investment trends, analyzing capital flows into automation, IoT, and AI-driven spectroscopy tools. Market segmentation extends into five end-use industries, providing 100+ data points for application-specific analysis. Geographic coverage spans North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and MEA, with regional forecasts and deployment data. Finally, the report documents five recent developments from 2023–2024 that have shaped product evolution and market direction.