Process Automation & Instrumentation Market Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Field Instruments,Control Valves,AnalyzersS), By Application (Oil & Gas,Chemical,Pharmaceuticals,Paper & Pulp,Water and Waste Water Treatment,Metals & Mining,Power,Food & Beverage,Others), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2033

SKU ID : 14716667

No. of pages : 107

Last Updated : 30 June 2025

Base Year : 2024

"

Process Automation & Instrumentation Market Overview

The Process Automation & Instrumentation Market size was valued at USD 71276 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 105923.618 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2025 to 2033.

The global market for process automation and instrumentation is experiencing strong growth due to the increasing demand for operational efficiency, quality control, and safety in manufacturing and process industries. Industries such as oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and water & wastewater treatment are increasingly adopting advanced automation systems and instrumentation tools to streamline production processes and ensure regulatory compliance.

The deployment of smart field instruments, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and distributed control systems (DCS) is driving digital transformation across industrial sectors. Manufacturers globally have already integrated some level of automation into their processes, and sensor shipments surpassed billion units globally in 2023. In addition, government regulations and industrial safety standards are boosting the need for real-time monitoring and diagnostics, further pushing the integration of sensors and advanced control technologies.

Companies are now increasingly focusing on predictive maintenance, real-time data acquisition, and remote monitoring. As of 2023, more than of automation upgrades globally were targeted at reducing unplanned downtimes and improving energy efficiency. The proliferation of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and digital twins has contributed to the modernization of manufacturing environments, with over plants adopting advanced analytics tools in combination with process instrumentation. These changes are fostering a robust environment for innovation and market expansion in process automation and instrumentation technologies.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Rising demand for operational efficiency and precision in manufacturing is significantly boosting automation deployment.

COUNTRY/REGION: Asia-Pacific dominates the market owing to rapid industrialization and widespread adoption of smart manufacturing.

SEGMENT: Field instruments are the leading segment due to their critical role in real-time process monitoring.

Process Automation & Instrumentation Market Trends

The Process Automation & Instrumentation Market is witnessing a notable shift toward digitalization and connectivity. With over 65% of industrial systems now connected to centralized monitoring platforms, industries are increasingly adopting smart sensors and real-time analytics. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into automation processes is enabling predictive insights and anomaly detection in industries such as oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. The market is also seeing a rise in demand for modular automation solutions, especially in sectors requiring flexible production lines like food and beverages. Cloud-based control systems are gaining momentum, with over 25% of new automation systems deployed on hybrid-cloud or full-cloud infrastructures by 2024. The transition from legacy systems to open architecture platforms is reducing system downtimes and improving maintenance procedures. As cybersecurity concerns mount with industrial digitalization, investments in secure communication protocols and authentication mechanisms for process control networks have increased by more than 30% over the past two years. Additionally, wireless instrumentation is gradually replacing wired systems in hazardous or hard-to-access environments, especially in offshore oil rigs and remote mining operations. These evolving trends are shaping a more connected, flexible, and intelligent automation ecosystem worldwide.

Process Automation & Instrumentation Market Dynamics

The market for process automation and instrumentation is driven by a strong push for enhanced operational productivity, real-time process control, and adherence to industrial safety standards. Increasing automation in oil & gas, power generation, and chemical processing is expanding the adoption of integrated control systems. The rise of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing is prompting companies to modernize their automation frameworks. However, high installation and maintenance costs of advanced instrumentation remain a constraint. Meanwhile, growing investments in renewable energy and water treatment projects are opening up new avenues for automation solutions. Challenges include the integration of legacy infrastructure with modern technologies and the lack of skilled personnel for advanced automation systems. Nonetheless, emerging economies are offering lucrative opportunities through large-scale manufacturing upgrades and policy-driven incentives for smart factory deployments.

DRIVER

The primary driver is the growing need to improve process efficiency,

Reduce operational costs, and maintain consistent product quality, especially in energy-intensive and safety-critical sectors such as petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.

RESTRAINT

The high cost associated with installing and maintaining

Advanced automation systems, coupled with complex integration with existing legacy systems, often limits adoption among small and medium enterprises.

OPPORTUNITY

Expanding industrial infrastructure in emerging

 Economies and increased government investments in smart manufacturing and clean energy projects are offering substantial growth opportunities for automation providers.

CHALLENGE

One of the major challenges is the lack of skilled

technicians and engineers proficient in modern automation and instrumentation tools, which hampers the effective implementation and utilization of these technologies.

Process Automation & Instrumentation Market Segmentation

The process automation and instrumentation market is segmented by type and application. By type, the market includes field instruments, control systems, and analytical instruments. Field instruments accounted for over 42% of total installations globally in 2023, being essential in pressure, temperature, and level monitoring. Control systems such as SCADA and DCS are widely used across chemical and energy sectors, with more than 35,000 SCADA installations reported in 2023. Analytical instruments like gas chromatographs are increasingly used in food processing and pharmaceuticals for quality assurance. By application, the market is segmented into oil & gas, chemical, power, food & beverages, and pharmaceuticals. The oil & gas sector continues to dominate with over 28% share due to the deployment of process control systems in upstream and downstream operations. The food & beverages sector, which saw a 21% rise in automation investment in 2023, is rapidly catching up owing to demand for hygiene, consistency, and efficiency in production processes.

By Type

  • Field Instruments: Field instruments include sensors, transmitters, and analyzers used to measure variables like pressure, temperature, flow, and level in industrial processes. They provide accurate, real-time data essential for automation and system control. Widely used across industries, these instruments enhance efficiency, safety, and decision-making in process operations.
  • Control Valves: Control valves regulate the flow of fluids by varying the size of the flow passage based on control signals. Integral to automated systems, they help maintain process variables within desired limits. Used extensively in industries such as oil & gas, chemical, and water treatment, they ensure process reliability and stability.

By Application

  • Oil & Gas: In the oil & gas industry, process automation and instrumentation ensure optimal production, safety, and regulatory compliance. Systems monitor and control operations like drilling, refining, and pipeline transport. Automation reduces manual intervention, improves operational efficiency, and minimizes environmental and safety risks in upstream, midstream, and downstream activities.
  • Chemical: The chemical industry leverages process automation for precise control of complex reactions and hazardous materials. Instrumentation enhances safety, product consistency, and regulatory adherence. Automation systems manage mixing, temperature, and pressure, improving productivity and minimizing human error in both batch and continuous chemical processing environments.

Regional Outlook of the Process Automation & Instrumentation Market

The regional landscape of the process automation and instrumentation market varies significantly based on industrial development, regulatory environments, and investment trends. Rapid industrial growth and manufacturing digitization in Asia-Pacific have made it the leading region for market adoption. Meanwhile, North America and Europe are driven by modernization of legacy systems and technological innovation in process optimization. Middle East & Africa is also gaining traction, supported by energy sector automation and increasing infrastructure projects.

  • North America

North America accounts for a significant portion of the market, driven by technological innovation, regulatory mandates for workplace safety, and modernization of aging industrial infrastructure. The U.S. and Canada together reported more than  field instruments deployed in 2023 alone.

  • Europe

Europe’s emphasis on environmental sustainability and process safety has fostered widespread adoption of automation systems. Countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have been key markets, with Germany deploying over 25,000 smart process control systems in 2023.

  • Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific leads the global market due to large-scale industrialization in countries like China, India, and Japan. In 2023, China alone commissioned over 85,000 new automation installations, while India reported increase in smart instrumentation investment compared to the previous year.

  • Middle East & Africa

The Middle East, particularly countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is experiencing growth in process automation due to increased investments in oil & gas automation projects. Africa is gradually adopting automation in mining and water treatment, with over 1,500 new installations in 2023.

List of Top Process Automation & Instrumentation Companies

  • ABB
  • Emerson Electric
  • Honeywell International
  • Siemens
  • Schneider Electric
  • Rockwell Automation
  • Mitsubishi Electric
  • Yokogawa Electric Corporation
  • General Electric
  • Endress+Hauser
  • Omron Corporation
  • Danaher Corporation
  • Eaton Corporation
  • Metso Corporation

ABB: ABB is a Swiss-based multinational company specializing in electrification, robotics, automation, and motion. In the process automation domain, ABB offers a comprehensive portfolio that includes distributed control systems (DCS), instrumentation, and analytics solutions. Their technologies are widely used across industries such as oil and gas, power generation, and chemicals.

Emerson Electric: Emerson Electric is a U.S.-based company providing advanced automation solutions for various industries, including oil and gas, power, and water treatment. Their offerings include the DeltaV and Ovation control systems, as well as a range of measurement and analytical instruments under brands like Rosemount and Micro Motion.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The process automation and instrumentation market presents substantial investment potential due to the surge in smart manufacturing, energy transition, and regulatory compliance requirements. Capital expenditures on industrial automation rose by over 18% globally in 2023, with companies focusing on optimizing operational costs and boosting productivity. Governments in developing nations such as India, Indonesia, and Brazil have launched incentives for Industry 4.0 implementation, prompting higher uptake of automation equipment. Water treatment projects across North America and Asia are integrating instrumentation systems for flow and pressure control, offering new revenue streams for suppliers. The demand for automation is also expanding in the renewable energy sector, with over 12% of solar and wind energy plants adopting process control systems in the past year. As cybersecurity becomes more vital, vendors offering integrated secure control solutions are seeing greater market traction. Mergers and acquisitions, such as those in the control system integration space, indicate a consolidating market ripe for strategic partnerships and joint ventures. Overall, investments in automation technologies are forecast to shift toward intelligent, scalable, and modular platforms offering operational flexibility.

New Product Development

In recent years, companies have significantly ramped up new product development to address changing industrial needs. More than 400 new instrumentation devices and control systems were launched globally in 2023. Emerson introduced modular wireless transmitters with longer battery life designed for remote pipeline monitoring. Honeywell released a new generation of programmable controllers compatible with IIoT platforms for chemical and pharmaceutical plants. Schneider Electric launched AI-enhanced SCADA systems with adaptive analytics for predictive maintenance. ABB debuted hybrid field devices that combine temperature, pressure, and vibration sensing in a single unit, reducing hardware footprint by 40%. Yokogawa introduced cloud-native DCS solutions enabling real-time collaboration and control from any location, catering to multi-site operations. These innovations reflect a trend toward compact, energy-efficient, and interoperable automation solutions that meet evolving industry demands. With the ongoing expansion of smart factories and digital plants, manufacturers are focusing on devices that offer plug-and-play capabilities, enhanced diagnostics, and reduced calibration efforts, aiming to minimize downtime and enhance process visibility across sectors.

Five Recent Developments

  • Emerson launched its AMS Wireless Vibration Monitor for critical rotating equipment in chemical plants.
  • ABB expanded its Ability Smart Sensor portfolio with predictive maintenance capabilities.
  • Siemens upgraded its SIMATIC PCS neo DCS platform for broader cloud integration.
  • Honeywell partnered with Repsol to deploy remote-controlled production monitoring systems.
  • Yokogawa introduced a new generation of integrated field instruments optimized for hydrogen applications.

Report Coverage of Process Automation & Instrumentation Market

The Process Automation & Instrumentation Market report includes detailed coverage of various components, solutions, and end-use industries. It encompasses system types like SCADA, DCS, PLCs, field instruments, and analytical tools. The report assesses applications across sectors including oil & gas, chemicals, power, food & beverages, and pharmaceuticals. It highlights market trends such as the rise of IIoT, AI-based control platforms, and the shift toward cloud-based process control systems. Regional insights span North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa, focusing on industrial investments, automation penetration, and regulatory influences. The study also outlines competitive analysis featuring key companies, product launches, strategic partnerships, and investment trends. In addition, it evaluates the impact of technological advancements, infrastructure upgrades, and digital transformation initiatives on automation demand. The report provides segmentation by type and application, includes qualitative and quantitative analysis, and discusses growth restraints, opportunities, and challenges shaping the market. Investment outlook, innovation trends, and integration of legacy systems with modern technologies are thoroughly examined to offer comprehensive understanding.

"

Frequently Asked Questions



The global Process Automation & Instrumentation Market is expected to reach USD 105923.61 Million by 2033.
The Process Automation & Instrumentation Market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.5% by 2033.
ABB Ltd,Emerson Electric Company,Endress+Hauser,HollySys Automation Technologies,Honeywell International,Mitsubishi Electric,Pepperl+Fuchs,R Stahl,Rockwell Automation,Schneider Electric,Siemens,Yokogawa Electric are top companes of Process Automation & Instrumentation Market.
In 2024, the Process Automation & Instrumentation Market value stood at USD 71276.47 Million.
market Reports market Reports