Microplates Market By Type (96 Well Microplates, 384 Well Microplates, 1536 Well Microplates), By Application (Cell Culture, Screening and UV/VIS Spectroscopy, Immunology, Storage), By Base Material (Polystyrene, Polypropylene, Cycloolefin), By Pigmentation (Black, White, Clear), By Well Design (F Bottom, C Bottom, U Bottom, V Bottom, HA Microplate, Hybrid Microplate)- Growth, Future Prospects, Competitive Analysis, 2016 - 2028

Microplate is also widely known as Microtiter which is a registered trademark in United State. Microplates are miniature version of test tubes that is widely being used to carry out analytical research and diagnostic testing in healthcare laboratories. Microplate is a standard tool used to undertake analytical work using microplate readers. ELISA test is typical example of application of microplates.  

There are certain standard types of microplates are being used with microplate readers include 96 wells microplate, 384 wells microplate, 1536 wells microplate and others.

Global Microplates market is expected to witness CAGR of 4.42% during the forecast period. The revenue generated by the global Microplates market in 2021 was over USD 803.89 million and expected to generate revenue worth USD 1,085.94 million in 2028. The incremental growth opportunity offered by the global Microplates is estimated to be USD 6.68 billion between 2022 and 2028.     

Interesting Facts about Microplates Industry

• Global Microplate’s consumption has crossed 225 million units’ market in 2021
• Global Immunoassay market has generated revenue of over USD 21 billion in 2021
• Global Cell Culture Industry has reached to over USD 20 billion in 2021
• S., Germany, UK, France and China are top five consumers of microplate
• India, Brazil, South Korea and Japan are most prominent economies and poised to play major role in future growth of microplates
• Microplates cost vary between USD 1.25 to USD 10 per unit based on capacity, pigmentation and material

Demand for Microplates is Fuelled by Strong Growth of R&D Activities

Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies are largest end-users of microplates. Microplates are very crucial in carrying out large number of tests at rapid pace and high level of accuracy. Modern day research & development activities are flourishing because of increased speed of testing using tools such as microplates. Drug discovery, clinical testing, cell culture and genomic & proteomic research are major areas wherein microplates are used at large scale. Use of microplates helps researcher to save their time on carrying out testing and thus reducing the overall cost of conducting research activities. Ever increasing investment and government funding for pharmaceutical & biotech research activities is in turn driving the demand for microplates.

Strong Demand from North America and Europe

According to research carried out by PhRMA, the expenditure on R&D activities in by its member companies stood at USD 26 billion in 2000, which has been reached to over USD 75 billion by the end of 2020. While, in Europe, it was USD 16.5 billion in 2000 and USD 50 billion in 2020.

North America and Europe collectively accounted for the largest share of just under 64% in terms of revenue in 2021. Huge growth of microplates industry in these regions is explained by the augmented R&D activities in the region. Government initiatives for cell-based research, the increasing acceptance of personalized medicine, increasing academic and government investments in diagnostic research, and increasing focus on drug discovery and development in Europe and North America ae playing major role in development of microplates industry. Similarly, Europe also hosts the large number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, the regions also have large number of research institutes and hospitals which in turn fuelling the demand for microplates.    

Frequent Ups and Downs in Raw Materials Prices is Major Concern for the Industry Participants

Polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) are major raw materials for manufacturing of microplates with over 70% share in total microplates production and consumption. Any fluctuation in prices of PS and PP affects the production cost of microplates and profit margins accordingly. Global average Polystyrene price was USD 995 per ton in 2020, which is expected to cross USD 1,200 per ton in 2020. While it was as high as USD 1,500 per ton in 2018. On the other hand, the global price of polypropylene was reported to be USD 945 per ton in 2020, which was 24% less as compare to that of year 2018. But it is likely to reach USD 1,269 per ton in 2022. This signifies the constant fluctuations in the prices of polystyrene and polypropylene which in turn eroding margins of microplate manufacturers.  

Polystyrene Based Microplates to Rule

Polystyrene, Polypropylene, Others (Polycarbonate, Cyclo-olefins, glass and quartz) are major types of base materials used in the manufacturing of microplates. Polystyrene based microplates are most widely used microplates based on materials. Polystyrene microplates are preferred choice for optical detection purpose. Polystyrene microplates are available in all three white, black and clear pigmentation. Polystyrene microplates held just under 50% share in 2021. While, others microplates segment is expected to exhibit fastest CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. Incremental revenue of global polycarbonate microplates is valued at around USD 117.06 million between 2022 and 2028. Injection moulding is most preferred and widely used manufacturing process for the microplates. Polypropylene microplates are most suitable for the storage applications owing to its novel properties for long terms storage of sample or specimen. Polycarbonate microplates are offer economic alternative while cyclo-olefins based microplates are primarily used for newly developed assays.

Incremental Revenue by Base Material, Between 2022 – 2028 (USD Million)

Asia Pacific to Open New Growth Window for the Industry Participants

Although Asia Pacific is lacking in demand for microplates currently, there is huge growth potential in the region over the forecast period. Table given below signify the per capita expenditure in microplate in to different region. North America leads the table closely followed by Europe with almost half a dollar expenditure per capita as of 2020.

While, Asia Pacific and other regions are trailing behind by far margin. Backed by its huge population and growing Research & development activities in the field of cell culture, Screening & UV/VIS Spectroscopy and Immunology the demand for microplates is expected to go up in the years to come. Per capita expenditure on microplates is just around 0.04 dollar per head in Asia Pacific and rest of the emerging economies. Going forward there is huge potential for growth in research activities and thus for microplates especially in Brazil, China, India, South Africa, etc.

Cell Culture Industry to Dominate the Global Microplates Industry

Cell Culture, Screening and UV/VIS Spectroscopy, Immunology, Storage and Others are major application of microplates. Cell culture industry is largest application market for microplates with over 40% share in total revenue generation in 2021. Microplates are of prime importance in cell culture industry. Microplates facilitate, growth, attachment as well as distinguishing of cells in cell culture either ongoing of before. As cell culture is growing at a rapid pace across the world, the demand for microplates will grow in tandem with cell culture industry. However, Screening and UV/VIS Spectroscopy and Immunology application is growing at a rapid pace. Increasing investment by governments and private companies in R&D for the development and commercialization of new drugs is fuelling the growth of microplates market.    

Global Microplates Market Share by Application, 2021

384 Well Microplates to Grow at Rapid Pace

96 Well Microplates, 384 Well Microplates, 1536 Well Microplates and Others are major types of microplates. 384 Well Microplates are expected to grow at a rapid pace over the forecast period. While, 96 Well Microplates are widely preferred by researchers across the world in most of the applications owing their suitability with most of the microplate readers.  

Clear Microplates to Keep it Major Share

Black, White and Clear are major types of microplates based in pigmentation. Clear microplates are widely being in all major applications followed by white and black respectively. Clear microplates held over 50% share in total revenue generation in 2021 while white being at second place with just under on third share in the same year.

Highly Concentrated Market

Greiner Bio One International GmbH, Corning Incorporated, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eppendorf AG, PerkinElmer Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, QIAGEN N.V., VWR (Avantor) and SPL Life Sciences are some of the leading players involved in the global microplates industry. The global microplates industry is highly concentrated with top six players holding just under 50% share of the total revenue generated in 2021. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corning and BDC are most dominating players and occupied around 30% share in 2021. Key players have established their brands in the global market with wide reaching distribution channels, huge investments in R&D, pricing power and advanced manufacturing technology. Key players are heavily focused in Research & development to stay competitive and gain edge over their competitors. In the wake of growing demand from emerging economies, many players are shifting their focus on expansion into China, India, Brazil, South Korea and South Africa.

Frequently asked questions about global Microplates industry