Single Use Bioreactors Market Report

Market Insights

“The single-use bioreactors market size was US$ 0.8 billion in 2024 and is likely to grow at a robust CAGR of 16.6% in the long run to reach US$ 2.4 billion in 2031”.

Market Dynamics

Introduction

Single-use bioreactors are disposable bioprocess vessels designed for the cultivation of cells or microorganisms used in the production of biopharmaceuticals, such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, recombinant proteins, and advanced therapies. Unlike traditional stainless-steel bioreactors, single-use bioreactors feature a pre-sterilized, replaceable plastic bag as the culture chamber, which is disposed of after each batch. This eliminates the need for time-consuming cleaning and sterilization steps, significantly reducing turnaround time, operational costs, and contamination risks. They are used extensively across the bioprocessing value chain, particularly in upstream processing, from early-stage R&D to clinical trials and small- to mid-scale commercial production.

Cost savings, operational flexibility, faster facility setup, reduced time-to-market, compatibility with closed-system operations, reduced cleaning and validation requirements, lower cross-contamination risk, and ideal for CDMOS and small biotechs are among the key advantages driving the adoption of single-use bioreactors in modern biomanufacturing.

Market Drivers:

The single-use bioreactors market is propelled by the rising demand for biologics, including monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and cell & gene therapies. These systems enable faster and more cost-effective manufacturing by minimizing the need for cleaning, setup, and validation. Their disposable, pre-sterilized components reduce the risk of cross-contamination, making them ideal for multi-product facilities. Additionally, the growing adoption by CDMOs and biotech firms is driven by the flexibility, scalability, and efficiency that single-use technologies offer. Ongoing technological advancements, such as integration with automation, single-use sensors, and smart control systems, further enhance their appeal across the bioprocessing industry.

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions:

A considerable number of strategic alliances, including M&As, JVs, etc., have been performed over the past few years:

• In July 2023, Sartorius AG completed the acquisition of the French company Polyplus, a leading provider of innovative technologies for cell and gene therapies.
• In January 2020, Getinge acquired Applikon Biotechnology B.V. from Applikon Biotechnology Holding B.V., strengthening its capabilities in delivering efficient, safe, and contamination-free research and production solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry.
• In March 2020, Danaher Corporation completed the acquisition of the GE biopharma business.

Recent Product Development:

• In April 2023, Merck KGaA announced the launch of its Ultimus single-use process container film, designed to provide extreme durability and leak resistance for single-use assemblies used for bioprocessing liquid applications.
• In March 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. invested over US$ 475 million to enhance biologics development, manufacturing, and cell and gene therapy capabilities at its St. Louis site in Missouri. In addition, the site completed its expansion, doubling its single-use production capacity for biological drug substance development and commercial manufacturing.

Market Segments' Analysis

“Stirred-tank bioreactors are expected to maintain their lead as the largest and fastest-growing segment in the single-use bioreactors market over the coming years.”

The market is segmented into stirred-tank, rocking, and fixed-bed. Key advantages of stirred-tank bioreactors are their proven scalability, efficient mixing, and widespread familiarity among bioprocessing professionals. Their compatibility with a wide range of cell cultures and processes, especially for monoclonal antibody and vaccine production, makes them highly preferred. Additionally, continuous improvements in impeller design, oxygen transfer, and sensor integration have enhanced their performance, making stirred-tank systems the industry standard in both clinical and commercial manufacturing settings.

By Cell Type

“Mammalian cells will likely remain the most widely used cell type, experiencing the highest growth rate in the market in the coming years.”

The single-use bioreactors market is segmented into mammalian cells, microbial cells, and other cells. Mammalian cells dominate the market as they are widely used to produce complex biologics like monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. Their ability to perform human-like protein modifications makes them essential for many therapies. The ease of scaling and integration with single-use systems, along with growing demand for biologics, supports their continued dominance and fast growth in the market.

By Capacity Type

“The 50L to 1000L capacity segment is anticipated to remain the leading and fastest-growing range in the single-use bioreactors market over the next six years.”

In terms of capacity, the market is segmented into < 50L, 50L to 1000L, and > 1000L. The 50L to 1000L capacity range is ideal for clinical and mid-scale production, widely adopted by CDMOs and biotech firms, and offers faster turnaround with reduced downtime. Its flexibility across applications, compatibility with modular cleanroom designs, and overall cost-effectiveness make it the most preferred capacity range, driving its continued dominance in the single-use bioreactors market.

By End-User Type

“Biopharmaceutical manufacturers are expected to remain the biggest demand generator of the market during the forecast period.”

The single-use bioreactors market is segmented into biopharmaceutical manufacturers, life science R&D companies & academic research, and contract research organizations & manufacturers. Biopharmaceutical manufacturers dominated the market owing to the increased flexibility, scalability, cost-efficiency, and reduced contamination risks offered by single-use technologies, which completely align with the dynamic nature of biopharmaceutical production.

Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) are the fastest-growing end-user type in the single-use bioreactors market owing to the rising trend of outsourcing biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing to reduce costs, increase flexibility, and accelerate time-to-market. Single-use systems align perfectly with the needs of CROs and CMOs, offering rapid changeovers, multi-product flexibility, and lower infrastructure requirements.

Regional Analysis

“North America is expected to remain the leading region for the single-use bioreactors market throughout the forecast period.”

In terms of region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America has a well-established biopharmaceutical industry, high R&D investment, and the early adoption of advanced bioprocessing technologies. The region is home to several major biotech companies, CDMOs, and research institutions that actively use single-use systems for clinical and commercial-scale production. Additionally, supportive regulatory frameworks, a strong focus on biologics and personalized medicine, and the growing demand for flexible and cost-effective manufacturing solutions further drive market growth in North America.

China is projected to witness the fastest growth in the single-use bioreactors market in the coming years, driven by rising healthcare expenditure, growing biopharmaceutical production capacity, and strong government support for biotech innovation. The region also benefits from the active presence of major industry players, which are expanding their operations and investments in China to meet the surging local demand for advanced bioprocessing solutions.

Key Players

The market for single-use bioreactors is very competitive and highly consolidated, with the leading players capturing the lion’s share. The major players are actively acquiring smaller companies to strengthen their market position and expand their technology portfolios. This strategy enables leading firms to enhance their product offerings, access new customer bases, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly growing and innovation-driven market. The following are the key players in the single-use bioreactors market.

Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)

• Sartorius AG
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Danaher Corporation
• Merck KGaA

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.

Are you the leading player in this market? We would love to include your name. Please write to us at sales@stratviewresearch.com

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept so that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.

The single-use bioreactors market is segmented into the following categories.

Single-Use Bioreactors Market, by Product Type

• Stirred-Tank (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Rocking (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Fixed-Bed (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Single-Use Bioreactors Market, by Cell Type

• Mammalian Cell (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Microbial Cell (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Other Cells (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Single-Use Bioreactors Market, by Capacity Type

• < 50L (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• 50L to 1000L (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• > 1000L (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Single-Use Bioreactors Market, by End-User Type

• Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Life Science R&D Companies & Academic Research (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Contract Research Organizations & Manufacturers (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Single-Use Bioreactors Market, by Region          

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and the Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, India, Japan, Australia, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and Others)

Research Methodology

• This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s single-use bioreactors market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. 
• The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market.
• The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruit available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
• This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.
• More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.
• We conducted more than 10 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Customization Options

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respected clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Service portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

Custom Research: Stratview Research offers custom research services across sectors. In case of any custom research requirement related to market assessment, competitive benchmarking, sourcing and procurement, target screening, and others, please send your inquiry to sales@stratviewresearch.com