Portugal Sterilization Services Market to Grow at a CAGR of 6.3% to reach US$ 162.34 million from 2022 to 2030

The Portugal sterilization services market was valued at US$ 99.72 million in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 162.34 million by 2030; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 6.3% from 2022 to 2030.

Analyst Perspective:

Medical devices are sterilized in different ways; these include the application of dry heat, moist heat (steam), vaporized hydrogen peroxide, radiation, ethylene oxide gas, and other sterilization methods such as vaporized peracetic acid, chlorine dioxide gas, and nitrogen dioxide. The sterilization process for some products is delicate and complex, requiring higher quality standards. The demand for sterilization processes for medical devices is continuously growing due to the increasing number of hospital-acquired infections, rising counts of surgical procedures, greater attention toward disinfection, and the growth of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. The increasing prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and the growing number of surgical procedures propel the sterilization services market growth.

Market Overview:

Sterilization services involve processes that eliminate or destroy all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores from medical devices, equipment, and instruments. The Portugal sterilization services market growth is attributed to events like the COVID-19 pandemic that highlighted the importance of rapid and effective sterilization to prevent the spread of infections. Many healthcare facilities outsource sterilization services to specialized providers to reduce costs and ensure compliance with regulations. Developing countries are investing in healthcare infrastructure, creating new opportunities for sterilization services providers to cater to growing medical needs. These factors are responsible for the Portugal sterilization services market growth during the forecast period.

Market Driver:

Growth in Medical Device Industry Drives Portugal Sterilization Services Market Expansion

Top revenue-generating medical device companies are investing significantly in the R&D of advanced technologies and sterilization services in Portugal. Medical devices and equipment are an essential part of monitoring patients. Sterilization is one of the crucial steps in the medical device manufacturing process. The sterilization modality varies on the basis of material compatibility, process availability, processing location, physical device attributes, regulatory approval, cost, and regulatory registration within the countries. Portugal has ~200 companies distributing medical devices. The public sector makes over 80% of medical device expenditure in Portugal, while 20% of sales are generated from the private sector. Further, products holding high sales potential in the Portuguese market are surgery equipment, patient monitoring systems, mini-invasive surgery (MIS) equipment, noninvasive medical apparatus, video endoscopes, X-Ray equipment, digital image processing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, and picture archiving systems, among others. Thus, the healthcare market requires proper management of safety standards to get clearance from regulatory bodies such as the EMA. It is expected that the budget for healthcare will increase in the coming future, as Portugal’s budget allocation for healthcare increased by 6.7% in 2022 compared to 2021. The medical market in Portugal shows opportunities for innovative medical devices and diagnostic equipment.  The aforementioned factors are likely to continue to provide lucrative opportunities for the Portugal sterilization services market during the forecast period.

Segmental Analysis:

Based on mode of delivery, the Portugal sterilization services market is bifurcated into offsite sterilization services and onsite sterilization services. The offsite sterilization segment held a larger market share in 2022; the onsite sterilization segment is anticipated to register a higher CAGR during 2022–2030. The market growth for the segment is attributed to the fact that offsite sterilization services have been proven cost-effective for hospitals. Moreover, companies in this business appoint qualified staff with excellent technical know-how to provide improved services, alongside maintaining high standards by complying with government regulations. Moreover, they are developing innovative solutions to reduce the time and cost for customers, which triggers the demand for offsite sterilization services. For instance, the Mobile Sterile Processing Unit of STERIS plc, a fully integrated, mobile central sterile processing department (SPD), allows for a turnkey process to continually support the operations without disruption during hospital construction, renovation, or expansion.

Based on method, the market is segmented into ethylene oxide sterilization, chlorine dioxide sterilization, gamma ray sterilization, electron beam sterilization, steam sterilization, and others. The ethylene oxide sterilization segment held the largest market share in 2022, and the chlorine dioxide sterilization segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030. The market growth for the segment is driven by the crucial and most commonly used methods during surgical procedures and other medical treatments. The process involves exposing products to EtO gas under vacuum in a sealed chamber. EtO has the ability to penetrate multiple layers of packaging, making it suitable for a broad range of materials. The size, shape, and material composition of many medical devices make EtO the most suitable sterilization method, as other methods, such as steam and radiation, do not provide the required levels of sterility. Moreover, using non-EtO sterilization methods might result in the degradation of core materials of several devices, compromising product safety for patients.

Based on service type, the market is segmented into contract sterilization and microbial reduction services, testing and validation services, equipment, technical support, and others. The contract sterilization and microbial reduction services segment held the largest market share in 2022 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030. Contract services include in-house and offsite sterilization of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and packaged units. Hospitals and manufacturers prefer these services as they significantly reduce cost and resource burden, allowing them to focus on core activities. Further, contract-based sterilization service personnel are trained for and well-versed with industry standards. In the last few years, the contract sterilization industry has witnessed phenomenal growth owing to the cost-effectiveness and wide adoption of these services in large- and small-scale manufacturers. Thus, the contract sterilization services market is expected to grow during the forecast period.

Based on end user, the market is segmented into medical device companies, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, hospitals and clinics, and others. The medical device companies segment held the largest market share in 2022 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030. The demand for medical devices would continue to rise in the coming years owing to the increasing population and prevalence of chronic diseases. Moreover, a persistent increase in the number of people gaining access to healthcare worldwide is fueling innovation in the medical device industry, which strives to provide better and widely available diagnostic equipment, boosting the Portugal sterilization services market growth.

Key Player Analysis:

Steris Plc; Ecolab Inc; Azbil Telstar, TUV SUD AG, Sterifast Sterilization & Disinfection Systems Lda, Oneprotec Europe Lda, Steelco SpA, ASP Global Manufacturing GmbH, and Ionisos are among the top players operating in the Portugal sterilization services market owing to their diversified product portfolio.

Recent Developments: 

Inorganic and organic strategies such as mergers and acquisitions are highly adopted by companies in the Portugal sterilization services market. A few recent key market developments are listed below:

• In June 2023, STERIS plc. signed a definitive agreement to purchase the surgical instrumentation, laparoscopic instrumentation, and sterilization container assets from Becton, Dickinson and Company. STERIS anticipates that the acquisition will qualify for a tax benefit related to tax-deductible goodwill, with a present value of approximately US$ 60 million.
• In January 2023, Ionisos and Studer Cables AG announced an agreement under which Ionisos acquired an E-beam sterilization and cross-linking facility from Studer Cables AG in Däniken, Switzerland. The acquisition increases Ionisos’ sterilization capacity, diversifying its technology mix and extending its geographic footprint in Europe.
• In August 2021, Ecolab Inc. opened the Ecolab Healthcare Advanced Design Center in Eagan, Minnesota—the state-of-the-art, 22,000-square-foot innovation center that enables Ecolab Healthcare partner with medical device industry customers to develop cutting-edge surgical equipment and new solutions for hospitals and surgery centers to prevent infections.