Fermenters Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Mode Of Operation, By Process, By Microorganisms, By Application (Food & Beverage, Healthcare, & Cosmetics), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Fermenters Market Size & Trends

The global fermenters market size was estimated at USD 1.69 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2024 to 2030. The rapidly growing fermented beverage industry is expected to significantly drive the demand for fermenter systems and solutions during the forecast period, owing to the growing popularity of a variety of beers and wines in the emerging economies worldwide.

Fermenters are used for creating proper environment for the growth of microorganisms or driving biochemically active substances derived from such organisms. They are basically utilized for the growth and maintenance of a population of bacterial or fungal cells in a controlled mode.

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiac disease, diabetes, and hypertension, has led to more focus on the development of innovative biological therapies. Similarly, the demand for monoclonal antibodies and personalized medicines has increased bioproduction, accelerating the demand for fermenters. Furthermore, the rising usage of high-end technologies to simplify complex manufacturing will enhance product demand during the forecast period. In addition, the high investments in research and development activities by key biopharmaceutical companies are expected to drive industry growth.

The growing consumer awareness regarding health and wellness has led to a surge in demand for fermenters that are perceived as healthier and more natural alternatives. Furthermore, rising technological advancements have led to an emergence of more efficient and sustainable production methods, thus, enhancing market growth.

Industry Dynamics

The market can be characterized as moderately consolidated, with a mix of major players and smaller manufacturers. The competitive landscape is influenced by several factors, including the presence of key players, market share, and product offerings. Some key players in the global market are Eppendorf AG, Sartorius, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Pierre Guerin SAS, and Applikon Biotechnology BV, among others.

The global industry is competitive, with key players accounting for a majority of the market space. Companies are adopting various strategies, such as the launch of innovative products, partnerships & collaborations, and mergers & acquisitions to establish their industry presence. For instance, in October 2021, Thermo Fisher Scientific collaborated with 3M to improve process effectiveness and versatility in commercial therapeutic manufacturing, by combining Thermo Scientific’s HyPerforma Single-Use Bioreactor Systems with 3M’s Harvest RC Chromatographic Clarifier.

Mode of Operation Insights

Automatic mode of operation dominated the market and accounted for a share of more than 40% in 2023. This high share of this segment can be attributed to its efficiency, control, and consistency over the fermentation process. It ensures that fermentation conditions remain consistent, leading to consistent product quality batch after batch. It can monitor and adjust various parameters such as pH, agitation, and nutrient supply more rapidly and accurately than manual operation, leading to high productivity and reduced production time.

A semi-automatic mode of operation for fermenters is utilized in various scenarios where a balance between control and automation is preferred. It allows operations to intervene and make adjustments manually when needed. Furthermore, it may be more cost-effective to implement and maintain compared to fully automatic systems, especially in smaller-scale operations having limited access to advanced automation technologies.

Microorganisms Insights

The bacteria source dominated the market and accounted for a share of more than 34% in 2023. This high share of this segment can be attributed to their ability to perform specific metabolic activities and produce various compounds, including enzymes, organic acids, vitamins, antibiotics, biofuels, etc. These products have applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, bioenergy, and agriculture, among others.

Certain fungi, such as molds, are used in fermenting foods like cheese and soy sauce, contributing to flavor development and preservation. Their versatility, efficiency, and ability to thrive through various environmental conditions lead to a positive impact on the market growth of fungi for fermenters. It is used to produce antibiotics and other pharmaceutical compounds through fermentation. It is also used in the production of various fermented food & beverages such as bread, cheese, soy sauce, sake, and tempeh etc.

Process Insights

The fed-batch process dominated the market in 2023 with the largest revenue share. This high share of this segment can be attributed to the increasing utilization of fermenters in the production of microbial cultures for various applications and the production of mammalian cell culture systems. Fed-batch allows for precise control over the addition of nutrients, such as sugars, salts, and other essential components. This helps maintain optimal conditions for microbial growth and product formation throughout the fermentation process.

By continuously feeding nutrients into the fermenter while simultaneously removing waste products, fed-batch processes can sustain higher cell densities and productivity over extended periods compared to batch processes. It offers greater flexibility in managing fermentation kinetics and optimizing product quality by adjusting feed rates and compositions in response to changing requirements.

Batch processes are straightforward to set up and operate compared to continuous or fed-batch processes. They involve adding all the necessary ingredients at the beginning of fermentation and allowing the microorganisms to grow and produce the desired product until the process is complete.

Application Insights

Food and beverage applications dominated the market with a revenue share of more than 37% in 2023. This is attributable to its increasing utilization in the brewing process to ferment wort into beer. Fermenters are also used in wineries to ferment grape juice into wine. Fermenters are used in the production of bread and other baked goods to ferment dough and enhance flavor, texture, and rise. Commercial bakeries often utilize fermentation tanks to ferment dough before shaping and baking. Yeast or sourdough cultures are commonly used as fermentation agents.

Fermenters are extensively used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of various therapeutic compounds, vaccines, and other biopharmaceutical products. They are used to produce antibiotics such as penicillin, streptomycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. They also play a crucial role in the large-scale production of vaccines against viral and bacterial diseases.

Fermenters are used to produce fermented extracts and active ingredients for use in skincare and haircare products. Fermentation processes can extract the bioactivity and stability of botanical extracts, peptides, vitamins, and other active ingredients, leading to product performance and efficacy.

Regional Insights

U.S. Fermenters Market Trends

The rising investments in biopharmaceutical research, owing to the growing incidences of chronic disease & increased demand for biologic drugs as well as advanced equipment, including small-scale bioreactors, will drive the industry growth. For instance, in January 2022, Erbi Biosystems, a developer of cutting-edge, compact, automatic, and high-performance cell culture systems, completed a $4 million private funding. With this funding, the company increased its operations to keep up with the increased sales for its Breez perfusion bioreactor and develop modifications to improve cell therapy applications.

Europe Fermenters Market Trends

Europe dominated the market and accounted for a share of approximately 36% in 2023. The high share of this segment can be attributed to the new technological innovations in fermenter design, coupled with rising advancements in the food and beverage industry, such as the advent of cultural and plant-based meat. Furthermore, the rising consumption of beer among consumers is expected to increase the demand for fermented beverages, leading to a rise in the market growth of fermenters over the forecast period.

Germany has a significant demand for fermenters due to its strong biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. The market growth is attributable to its advanced research and development in bioprocessing, including the production of pharmaceuticals, enzymes, biofuels, and other bioproducts.

The demand for fermenters is growing across the country as it is home to some of the world’s most rapidly expanding biotechnological industries. To assist in rising biotech and pharmaceutical markets, some of the leading players are also expanding their operations in developing countries like India. For instance, in January 2022, H.E.L Group, an international developer & manufacturer of cutting-edge laboratory tools for safety, process optimization, & scale-up, expanded its operations in India with a stronger emphasis on the biotech industries’ rapid development. H.E.L. will establish a specialized regional hub to offer local assistance to clients to support the country’s biotech and pharmaceutical markets. These factors are expected to boost product adoption, thereby supporting market growth.

Brazil has been witnessing significant growth in its biotechnology sector, driven by investments in research and development and government initiatives to promote innovation and industrial development. This growth has led to an increased demand for fermenters, which are essential for bioprocessing in industries such as healthcare, food and beverage, environmental biotechnology, and agriculture, among others.

Brazil is a major producer of biofuels, particularly ethanol derived from sugarcane. Fermenters are used in the ethanol production process to ferment sugars extracted from sugarcane juice into ethanol using yeast or bacterial strains. The expansion of the biofuel industry in the country has contributed to the growing demand for fermenters.

Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing economic diversification away from its reliance on oil revenue. As part of its Vision 2030 plan, the country is investing in various industries, including biotechnology and life sciences. This strategy shift has led to increased demand for fermenters, which are essential for bioprocessing in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. The investments are made to meet domestic healthcare needs and reduce dependence on imported pharmaceutical products. The growth of the biopharmaceutical sector is anticipated to boost the demand for the market over the forecast period.

Key Fermenters Company Insights

Some of the key players operating in the market include Eppendorf AG, Sartorius AG, Pierre Guerin SAS, Applikon Biotechnology BV., GEA Group, and Cercell APS, among others:

• Eppendorf AG is a manufacturer of laboratory equipment and consumables, including centrifuges, pipettes, thermal cyclers, and bioprocess equipment such as fermenters and bioreactors. Eppendorf products are used in academic and industrial research laboratories, e.g., in companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, and food industries.

• Sartorius AG is an international pharmaceutical company and supplier of laboratory equipment, covering the segments of Bioprocess Solutions as well as Lab Products & Services. It operates globally with manufacturing and sales locations in more than 110 countries. The company provides a wide range of products and solutions for laboratory instruments, consumables, bioprocess solutions, lab water purification systems, and weighing and dispensing solutions, among others.

Cercell APS, ElectroLab Biotech Ltd., and Zeta Holding GmbH, among others, are some of the emerging market participants:

• Cercell APS is a biotech company specializing in providing bioreactor systems and solutions for cell culture applications in industries such as biopharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and academics. Its product range is used for research, development, and production purposes in areas such as cell therapy, vaccine production, and protein expression.

• Zeta Holding GmbH specializes in providing process solutions and equipment for the biopharmaceutical and food industries. They offer innovative technologies for bioprocessing including systems for the production of vaccines, antibodies, and other biologics. The company focuses on improving efficiency, quality, and scalability in bio-production processes.

Recent Developments

• In December 2023, Eppendorf AG collaborated with Nester to develop lab products made from renewable raw materials under the brand name “Eppendorf consumables BioBased.” The launch of these products of the new line will significantly contribute to the life science industry’s transition towards a more sustainable future.

Fermenters Market Report Scope

Global Fermenters Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global fermenters market report based on mode of operation, process, microorganisms, application, and region:

• Mode of Operation Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Semi-automatic

  • Automatic

• Process Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Batch

  • Fed-Batch

  • Continuous

• Microorganisms Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Bacteria

  • Fungi

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Food & Beverage

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Personal Care & Cosmetics

  • Other Applications

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East and Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia