Sterilization Services Market Size, Share and Trends 2025 to 2034

What is the Sterilization Services Market Size?

The global sterilization services market size is accounted at USD 5.98 billion in 2025 and predicted to increase from USD 6.37 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 10.64 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 6.63% from 2025 to 2034. The increasing demand for sterilization services by several leading industries, such as healthcare, pharmaceutical, and other consumer industries, is accelerating the growth of the market.

Sterilization Services Market Key Takeaways

• North America dominated the sterilization services market with the highest market share of 43% in 2024.
• Asia Pacific expects the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period.
• By method, the gas modalities segment accounted for the biggest market share of 37% in 2024.
• By method, the radiation modalities segment is expected to have substantial growth in the market during the predicted period.
• By business type, the contract service sterilization segment contributed the largest market share of 79% in 2024.
• By business type, the sterilization validation services segment is predicted to witness significant growth in the market over the forecast period.
• By mode of delivery, the on-site segment led the sterilization services market in 2024.
• By mode of delivery, the off-site segment expects significant growth in the market during the forecast period.
• By end-user, the healthcare facilities segment dominated the market in 2024.
• By end-user, the medical device companies segment expected significant growth in the market during the predicted period.

How Can AI Impact the Sterilization Services Market?

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the healthcare system helps in revolutionizing the overall process. AI can used in several factors in hospital sterilization, such as digital twin for the sterilization process, smart monitoring, predictive maintenance and energy efficiency, assessment of AR solutions for reconditioning, Robot, Cobot, and AGV, and used in the operating room schedule optimizer. AI helps in making actionable insights, making data-driven decisions, increasing throughput, and achieving operational excellence.

What are Sterilization Services?

The sterilization services is the process in which it can clean the environment. It is the process that destroy or eliminates the different type of microbial life. The sterilization process is specially designed for the healthcare facilities and in other industrial usage. There are different methods are associated with the sterilization services including heat, chemical, filtration, and radiation sterilization.

The sterilization market is rapidly evolving, driven by the increasing global demand for infection prevention in medical, pharmaceutical, and food processing sectors. A significant trend shaping this market is the shift towards contract-based sterilization outsourcing, allowing healthcare and manufacturing companies to focus on core operations while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Additionally, non-toxic, eco-friendly sterilization methods such as hydrogen peroxide vapor and ozone gas are gaining prominence, replacing conventional ethylene oxide and gamma radiation techniques. The rise of single-use medical devices, particularly post-COVID-19, has further spurred the adoption of rapid-cycle sterilization processes to meet the surging healthcare demand.

What are the Growth Factors in the Sterilization Services Market?

• Rising awareness about infection: The rising awareness about the environmental conditions and the rising prevalence of disease by germs are driving the demand for sterilization services for cleaning and destroying infectious germs from the environment, boosting the growth of sterilization services.
• Rising industrialization: The increase in industrialization, the growing demand for a sterile environment for labor safety in the working environment, and the increasing spending on the manufacturing sector are collectively accelerating the expansion of the market.
• Healthcare demand: The rising healthcare infrastructure around the world and the burden of chronic disease in the population are increasing the risk of infections in the healthcare environment, causing the demand for sterilization in healthcare facilities and accelerating the demand for the sterilization services market.
• Technological advancements: The technological evaluation in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry and the ongoing research and development activities in the innovations and launch of sterilization technology are driving the expansion of the market.

Sterilization Services Market Outlook

• Industry Growth Overview: The market for sterilization services was expected to post strong growth between 2025 and 2030, spurred by demand from hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device/ supply manufacturers. Growth was assisted by increased vigilance towards infection control standards and an increase in outsourcing of sterilization in North America and the Asia Pacific.
• Sustainability Trends: As the sector shifted towards lower temperature methods, with factories powered by renewable energy, and reduced emissions for ethylene oxide sterilization, this trend also reshaped the sector. Firms also invested heavily in safer alternatives to ethylene oxide sterilization to adhere to tighter international regulations on worker and environmental safety.
• Global Expansion: As regional healthcare manufacturing bases grow, major companies move into Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and LATAM. Multiple companies announced new irradiation and steam sterilization facilities that are expected to increase turnaround times and support improved regulatory compliance in the region.
• Major Investors: Private equity and strategic buyers demonstrated enthusiasm for the industry, driven by the need for stable demand, elevated regulatory barriers, and recurring service revenue. Many investors purchased local sterilization laboratories and specialty irradiation facilities to create scalable global portfolios.
• Startup Ecosystem: The startup ecosystem also improved as companies began developing plasma-based, chemical-free, and connected sterilization technologies. Exciting innovations such as automation of biological indicators, energy-efficient sterilization chambers, and AI-enabled validation solutions attracted significant VC investments.

Market Scope

Market Dynamics

Driver

Rising awareness about disinfection and sterilization

The increasing burden of chronic illness in the population and the infection-causing germs and infections in the environment and healthcare facilities are accelerating the demand for sterilization services by the healthcare industry. Sterilization plays an important role in disinfecting medical and surgical instruments, which prevents infectious pathogens and germs from spreading to patients. The sterilization process helps in destroying all types of diseases, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and awareness regarding hygiene and cleanliness are accelerating the demand for the sterilization services market.

Restraint

Lack of awareness

The lack of awareness of sterilization services in developing and underdeveloped countries and the high cost of operations of traditional sterilization services restrain the growth of the sterilization services market.

Opportunity

Technological advancements in sterilization services

Technological advancements in the sterilization process, such as integration of automation, robotics, single-use sterilization technologies, low-temperature sterilization, and others, are driving opportunities for the expansion of the market. The expansion of technologies provides more cost efficiency, a safe sterilization process, and enhanced effectiveness. Additionally, the ongoing research and development process in sterilization technologies is driving the growth of the market.

Method Insights

The gas modalities segment accounted for the largest share of the sterilization services market in 2024. The increasing use of gas sterilization modalities in spaces like healthcare facilities such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other medical devices is driving the growth of the segment. The gas modalities further include hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, and others. It prevents the contamination of the medical devices. In the gas modalities, ethylene oxide sterilization is a widely used process that is highly beneficial to healthcare facilities.

The radiation modalities segment is expected to grow substantially in the market during the predicted period. The radiation modalities further include gamma radiation sterilization, X-ray sterilization, ultraviolet sterilization, electron beam sterilization, and others. Gamma radiation sterilization is a highly used process that kills bacteria. Radiation helps kill disease-causing germs and neutralizes other harmful organisms.

Business Type Insights

The contract service sterilization segment led the sterilization services market in 2024. Contract service sterilization is when companies provide sterilization services in several essential industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer industries, and others. Sterilization services can be done under the supervision of a knowledgeable person who meets all the regularity standards. There are various leading companies that provide contract sterilization services, such as STERIS, Sterigenics, PAMA MFG, and others.

• In October 2023, Datwyler, a leading player in high-quality, system-critical elastomer components, launched the ready-for-sterilization (RFS) combi-seals for cartridges for injecting devices like autoinjectors and pens.

The sterilization validation services segment is predicted to witness significant growth in the sterilization services market over the forecast period. The sterilization validation is the process of ensuring the desired sterility assurance levels. It includes the process or stages like testing, documentation, consulting, studies, and reports. All these stages ensure the sterilization of equipment, products, and surfaces free from all types of microorganisms.

Mode of Delivery Insights

The on-site segment led the sterilization services market in 2024. The on-site sterilization ensures the accuracy of the services, ensures instruments are available for procedures and reduces downtime. These types of sterilization are useful in emergency services. The rising demand for on-site sterilization by healthcare and consumer facilities is driving the demand for on-site sterilization services.

The off-site segment expects significant growth in the market during the forecast period. Off-site sterilization activities are mainly used by healthcare facilities to clean and sterilize medical devices or surgical instruments. The instruments are sent with the temperature-controlled truck to the Offsite Reprocessing Centers (ORCs), where technicians are used to process the instruments as per the manufacturing standards. They ensure the sterilization process of the medical or surgical equipment.

End-User Insights

The healthcare facilities segment dominated the sterilization services market in 2024. Sterilization services are in high demand from healthcare facilities due to the higher availability of microorganisms and diseases that cause germs in healthcare spaces. The sterilization process in healthcare facilities ensures the destruction and cleaning of the surface environment of the premises. The services are used to clean medical devices, surgical equipment, and other healthcare applications. The rising healthcare infrastructure all around the world creates the demand for a healthy and germ-free environment in the facilities, which is driving the growth of sterilization services in healthcare facilities.

• In March 2024, STERIS launched the Verafit Sterilization Bags and Covers, featuring a patent-pending viewing window to inspect and confirm dryness in the sterilized part.

The medical device companies segment expected significant growth in the market during the predicted period. Sterilization is used to clean medical devices and prevent their contamination. It significantly reduces the risk of infection through the spread of disease.

• In October 2024, Kanoike Transport, a Japanese Logistics Company, launched a service in India to sterilize and clean used healthcare equipment and devices from hospitals using its experience at home to increase the international market.

Regional Insights

U.S. Sterilization Services Market Size and Growth 2025 to 2034

The U.S. sterilization services market size accounted for USD 1.87 billion in 2025 and is predicted to be worth around USD 3.38 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 6.68% from 2025 to 2034.

North America dominated the sterilization services market in 2024. The growth of the market is attributed to the rising healthcare infrastructure and the continuous investment in the development of healthcare facilities, which are driving the demand for sterilization services for efficiently cleaning and sterilizing the medical devices, surgical equipment, and premises of the healthcare facilities. The rising spread of infectious diseases in the population creates the need for the sanitization and sterilization process, which further contributes to the growing demand for the sterilization services market in the region.

Thanks to its highly advanced healthcare system, North America continues to dominate the global sterilization service infrastructure, as well as the stringent regulatory frameworks imposed by agencies like the FDA and EPA. The presence of specialized players offering ethylene oxide, gamma, and steam sterilization solutions further ensures a comprehensive services ecosystem.

The United States holds a major share due to its strong presence in global sterilization providers and medical device manufacturers. As a leader in contract sterilization, supported by robust funding from the government-backed infection control initiatives. Government initiatives such as medical device reprocessing standards, sterilization facility upgradation grants, and pandemic preparedness programs have accelerated the market in this region.

• In April 2023, the FDA announced the launch of the Radiation Sterilization Master File Pilot Program for companies that used single-use PMA-approved devices using radiation, such as ethylene oxide and gamma radiation.
• There are 25 hospitals conducting 500 da Vinci robotic-assisted surgeries per year in the United States, a relatively larger amount of healthcare institutes; nurses are majorly responsible for the cleaning process at 46%, disinfection at 66%, and low-temperature sterilization at 50%.
• In the surveyed hospitals, 62% of the medical institutes use fully manual methods of cleaning instruments, and 30% use ultrasonic cleaning equipment.

Asia Pacific expects the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period. The growth of the market is increasing owing to several factors, such as increasing population, rising industrialization, and healthcare facilities. The increasing demand for sterilization services by several industries such as healthcare, consumer, manufacturing, and others for cleaning and sterilization processes accelerates the growth of the sterilization services market across the region.

In recent years, the Asia-Pacific region has emerged as the fastest-growing sterilization service market, backed by the boom in medical tourism, pharmaceutical production, and government-driven hygiene standards. Countries like China, India, South Korea, and Japan are scaling up industrial sterilization capabilities with automated, decentralized systems.

Asia Pacific: China Sterilization Services Market Trends

In China, the market is expanding rapidly as hospitals, medical device firms, and pharmaceutical manufacturers increasingly outsource sterilization to specialized providers to comply with stricter infection control and quality regulations. There is a rising demand for advanced, low temperature sterilization technologies such as vaporized hydrogen peroxide and gas plasma, driven by the proliferation of heat-sensitive medical instruments.

Why did Europe grow Consistently in the Global Sterilization Services Market?

Europe consistently grew in the sterilization services market because of stringent regulatory requirements, large-scale manufacturing of medical devices, and increasing utilization of low-temperature technologies. Several countries began outsourcing sterilization services to alleviate hospital workloads. The region also made strides to invest in and utilize greener forms of sterilization in attempts to comply with strict environmental laws. Increased surgical procedures, aging populations, and a surge in the number of biotech companies created many market opportunities, particularly in radiation-based and hydrogen peroxide sterilization services.

Germany Sterilization Services Market Trends

Germany was the leading country in Europe because of its advanced hospital practices, strong device manufacturing, and stringent sterilization regulations. The country was also utilizing high-end technologies and maintaining stringent quality programs. There were many large sterilization facilities within Germany to support the domestic market and to export services.

Why did Latin America Experience Steady Growth in the Global Sterilization Services Market?

Latin America experienced steady growth, as hospitals improved infection-control systems and medical device imports grew. Many healthcare centers outsource sterilization services because they lack these services in-house. Countries were investing in new technologies for sterilization and strengthening regulations. The market was also experiencing growth with increasing surgeries, rapid pharma production, and the rising awareness of hygiene.

Brazil Sterilization Services Market Trends

Brazil led Latin America, given that it had the largest healthcare system in the region. Hospitals, clinics, and pharma companies tended to have a high reliance on contract sterilization in Brazil. The government continued to strengthen regulations to improve patient safety. The increased number of medical device imports and local production created demand and additional development opportunities in Brazil. Global sterilization providers have also expanded existing irradiation and EO services in Brazil.

Why did the Middle East & Africa Grow Consistently in the Global Sterilization Services Market?

The Middle East and Africa experienced high growth from increased investment in healthcare and new facilities. The growth of hospitals and awareness of infection-control standards in the region also helped fuel growth. Despite the investment in infrastructure, many countries have relied on outsourcing because they do not have facilities with advanced in-house sterilization capabilities. Additionally, medical tourism and an increased number of surgeries and expanded pharmaceutical production drove demand in the region.

Saudi Arabia Sterilization Services Market Trends

Saudi Arabia was the leading country for sterilization growth in the region. The country invested heavily in modern hospitals and advanced facilities. Furthermore, the government also had successful programs to improve sterilization standards. The country has expanded its pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, so they have an increasing number of services needed. The presence of international sterilization companies opening centers in the country is also a result of the growing demand for those services, positioning Saudi Arabia as the leading market in the region.

Sterilization Services Market Companies

• Steris Corporation
• Stryker Corporation
• 3m Company
• Ecolab Inc.
• Sterigenics International LLC
• Cretex Companies
• Noxilizer Inc.
• Beta-Gamma-Service Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Cosmed Group Inc.
• Medline Industries Inc.
• Anderson Products Inc.
• Doyen Medipharm

Latest Announcement by Market Leaders

• In April 2024, Noxilizer Inc. extended the NO2 contract sterilization in the United States. The Noxilizer Inc. announced the expansion with its new facilities of NO2 contract sterilization at their Hanover, MD headquarters in the United States.
• In September 2024, BGS Beta-Gamma-Service GmbH & Co. KG (BGS), trading as BGS US LLC, the company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, expanding its facilities in the United States market. The recently constructed facilities are scheduled to be active in mid-2025 and provide fully automated e-beam irradiation services to the Northeast United States.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Method

• Gas Modalities
  • Ethylene Oxide Sterilization
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Sterilization
  • Other Gas Modalities
• Radiation Modalities
  • Gamma Radiation Sterilization
  • X-Ray Sterilization
  • Ultraviolet Sterilization
  • Electron Beam Sterilization
  • Other Radiation Modalities
• Dry Heat Sterilization
• Other Methods

By Business Type

• Contract Sterilization Services
• Sterilization Validation Services

By Mode of Delivery

• On-Site
• Off-Site

By End-Use

• Healthcare Facilities
• Medical Device Companies
• Pharmaceutical And Biotech Companies
• Other End-Users

By Geography

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa