Elemental Analysis Market

Market Overview:

The global elemental analysis market size reached USD 1.9 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 3.1 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% during 2025-2033. The increasing farming activities, rising number of wastewater treatment plants, and the growing application in assessing the purity of ingredients added to cosmetics and personal care products are some of the major factors propelling the market.

Elemental analysis refers to the process of determining the elemental composition of a substance or sample. It involves identifying and quantifying the different chemical elements present in the material analyzed. It assists in assessing and monitoring pollution levels in air, water, soil, and biological samples. It ensures the purity, consistency, and compliance of raw materials, intermediates, and final products. It provides valuable insights into the composition and characteristics of substances, which enables researchers, scientists, and industries to make informed decisions, ensure quality control, understand environmental impacts, and advance scientific knowledge in various fields.

Elemental analysis is employed in the agriculture industry for assessing soil fertility and nutrient content to help optimize fertilizer application, enhance crop productivity, and prevent nutrient deficiencies or imbalances. This, coupled with the increasing farming activities, is strengthening the market growth around the world. Moreover, elemental analysis finds application in water and wastewater treatment processes to monitor the levels of contaminants, such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, and nutrients, in water sources. This, along with the rising number of wastewater treatment plants and the growing consciousness among people about the adverse impacts of pollutants, is influencing the market positively. In addition, the increasing usage of elemental analysis in cosmetics and personal care products to assess the purity of ingredients is favoring the growth of the market. Apart from this, the rising adoption of elemental analysis in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and verify that drugs are free from harmful contaminants is propelling the growth of the market.

Elemental Analysis Market Trends/Drivers:

Increasing need for quality and safety assurance across various industries augmenting market growth

There is an increase in the adoption of elemental analysis in numerous industries, such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage (F&B), and manufacturing to verify the presence and concentration of specific elements, detect contaminants, and assess product integrity. Elemental analysis provides valuable information about the composition and purity of materials, which ensures that products meet quality standards and regulatory requirements. It also enables companies to identify and mitigate potential risks, safeguard consumer health, and maintain product consistency and reliability.

Rising usage in forensic science and criminal investigations bolstering market growth

Elemental analysis plays a crucial role in forensic science and criminal investigations by analyzing trace elements and chemical compositions of various samples, such as fingerprints, fibers, soil, and gunshot residues. It involves techniques like X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and neutron activation analysis to assist in identifying unique elemental signatures that can provide valuable evidence in court. It helps forensic experts establish links between suspects, victims, and crime scenes. It also enables the detection and analysis of illicit substances, including drugs, explosives, and toxic materials. The demand for accurate and reliable elemental analysis in forensic science continues to rise as law enforcement agencies seek advanced tools and techniques to solve crimes and ensure justice.

Growing environmental monitoring and sustainability influencing market positively

The increasing global focus on environmental protection and sustainability is another significant factor fueling the demand for elemental analysis. Environmental monitoring programs require detailed analysis of air, water, soil, and biological samples to assess pollution levels, identify pollutants, and evaluate the impact of human activities on ecosystems. Elemental analysis helps policymakers, researchers, and industries develop effective strategies for pollution control, resource management, and sustainable practices by providing accurate data on environmental contaminants. It involves various techniques, such as atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which play a crucial role in quantifying trace elements, heavy metals, and organic compounds in environmental samples.

Elemental analysis Industry Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global elemental analysis market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on type, technology, and application.

Breakup by Type:

• Organic Elemental Analysis
• Inorganic Elemental Analysis
   

Inorganic elemental analysis dominates the market

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the elemental analysis market based on the type. This includes organic elemental analysis and inorganic elemental analysis. According to the report, inorganic elemental analysis represented the largest segment.

Inorganic elemental analysis focuses on determining the elemental composition of inorganic compounds, which include minerals, metals, salts, and non-carbon-based compounds. It contains a wide range of elements, including metals, metalloids, and nonmetals. It provides valuable information about the composition, purity, and trace element content of inorganic materials, which enables researchers to understand their properties, reactivity, and potential applications.

Organic elemental analysis involves determining the elemental composition of organic compounds, which are compounds primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen, often with additional elements like nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and halogens. It is used in organic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and the characterization of organic materials. It focuses on determining the percentages of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and sometimes sulfur (S) present in a sample. It involves combusting the organic sample in a controlled environment to convert the carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen into carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and nitrogen gas (N₂), respectively.

Breakup by Technology:

• Destructive Technology
• Nondestructive Technology
   

Nondestructive technology hold the largest share in the market

A detailed breakup and analysis of the elemental analysis market based on the technology has also been provided in the report. This includes destructive technology and nondestructive technology. According to the report, nondestructive technology accounted for the largest market share.

Nondestructive technology refers to elemental analysis methods that do not alter or consume the sample during the analysis process. It allows for the measurement and characterization of samples without causing significant or permanent changes to their composition or structure. It is advantageous when preserving the integrity of the sample is important or when multiple measurements or analyses are desired. It enables the retention of the original sample for further analysis or for other purposes.

Destructive technology refers to elemental analysis methods that involve altering or consuming the sample during the analysis process. It results in the sample being irreversibly transformed or consumed, which renders it unsuitable for further analysis or use. It is used when the elemental analysis requires complete sample decomposition or transformation to facilitate accurate and quantitative measurements.

Breakup by Application:

• Life Sciences
• Food and Beverage Testing
• Environment Testing
• Geology
• Others
   

Food and beverage testing dominates the market

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the elemental analysis market based on the application. This includes life sciences, food and beverage testing, environment testing, geology, and others. According to the report, food and beverage testing represented the largest segment.

Elemental analysis is important in ensuring the safety, quality, and regulatory compliance of food and beverages. It helps identify contaminants, assess nutritional content, and detect adulteration. It assists in detecting and quantifying heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium in food and beverages to ensure safety. It also analyzes the elemental fingerprint of food products to verify their origin, authenticity, and to detect adulteration or substitution.

It plays a crucial role in life sciences, particularly in biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical research. It helps in determining the elemental composition of proteins and peptides aids in understanding their structure, function, and interactions. It ensures the purity and quality of pharmaceutical products, including active ingredients and excipients. It also aids in identifying and quantifying trace elements in biological samples, which enables insights into metabolic processes and disease biomarkers.

Elemental analysis is crucial in assessing and monitoring environmental samples to understand pollution levels, identify sources, and evaluate impacts. It aids in analyzing samples for elements like sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, and heavy metals to assess air and water pollution, and comply with environmental regulations. It also identifies and quantifies elements in environmental samples to assess contamination from industrial activities, waste disposal, or accidental spills.

It is widely used in geology to understand the composition and processes of materials of the earth. It assists in identifying and quantifying the elemental composition of ores and minerals aids in mining exploration, resource estimation, and mineral processing. It also analyzes the elemental composition of rocks and minerals to characterize their formation, geological history, and geological processes.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Others
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others 
• Middle East and Africa
   

North America exhibits a clear dominance, accounting for the largest elemental analysis market share

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and others); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. 

The increasing adoption of elemental analysis in the mining industry to evaluate ore grades, identify valuable minerals, and assess the quality of geological samples represents one of major factors fueling the market growth in the North America region. Moreover, the rising use elemental analysis in the automotive industry to detect the quality of materials used in vehicle components is contributing to the market growth in the region. Besides this, the usage of portable analytical instruments helps in on-site analysis, which is influencing the market positively in the region.

Europe is estimated to expand further in this domain, owing to the rising food safety concerns, product innovations, extensive research and development (R&D) activities, etc.

Competitive Landscape:

The leading companies are focusing on using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique that offers extremely high sensitivity and the ability to measure a wide range of elements simultaneously. It also improves detection limits, faster analysis times, and enhances accuracy, which makes it a valuable technique in fields like environmental monitoring, geochemistry, and trace element analysis. Moreover, key players are introducing time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) techniques in elemental analysis to provide detailed information about the elemental and molecular composition of a sample surface.

The report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global elemental analysis market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:

• Agilent Technologies Inc.
• AMETEK Inc.
• Analytik Jena GmbH+Co. KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Bruker Corporation
• Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH
• Eurofins Scientific
• HORIBA Ltd
• PerkinElmer Inc.
• Rigaku Corporation
• Shimadzu Corporation
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Recent Developments:

• In May 2022, Analytik Jena GmbH+Co. KG (Endress+Hauser AG) started offering optimal solutions for routine drinking water analysis needs with its ICP-MS devices (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer). The ICP-MS systems of the PlasmaQuant MS series can detect 60 drinking water samples per hour for 21 elements.
• In 2018, Agilent Technologies Inc. launched a new ICP-MS water analyzer solution to increase productivity of environmental labs.
• In May 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and CSL enter strategic partnership to provide best-in-class pharma services.

Elemental Analysis Market Report Scope:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the global elemental analysis market performed so far, and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global elemental analysis market?
• What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the global elemental analysis market?
• What are the key regional markets?
• Which countries represent the most attractive elemental analysis market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the type?
• Which is the most attractive type in the elemental analysis market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?
• Which is the most attractive technology in the elemental analysis market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the application?
• Which is the most attractive application in the elemental analysis market?
• What is the competitive structure of the global elemental analysis market?
• Who are the key players/companies in the global elemental analysis market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the elemental analysis market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global elemental analysis market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. 
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the elemental analysis industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.