Terminal Sterilization Market Analysis

  • Report ID: 5730
  • Published Date: Sep 16, 2025
  • Report Format: PDF, PPT

Terminal Sterilization Market Segmentation:

Sterilization Type Segment Analysis

The ethylene oxide segment in the terminal sterilization market is estimated to gain a revenue share of about 42% by the year 2035. The increasing necessity for sterilization due to contamination of medical equipment has contributed to the segment's rise. The smallest molecule in the oxirane family is ethylene oxide which manifests as a transparent, colorless gas with a faint, ethereal smell and is mostly employed in the synthesis of other compounds and is also utilized as a sterilizer.

Healthcare facilities utilize ethylene oxide for the terminal sterilization of important goods that are heat- or moisture-sensitive and cannot be steam-sterilized, and this procedure is known to be extremely regulated, safe, and essential for avoiding infections and guaranteeing that patients receive safe procedures and medical care. Products can be sterilized and made completely germ-free with the use of ethylene oxide, or ETO which uses a mix of vacuum, humidity, temperature, and gas.

Moreover, ethylene oxide terminal sterilization is one of the procedures that are most commonly employed in the medical device sector to eliminate living germs from products that are present in many common healthcare items, including curtains and gowns, as well as implantable medical devices, such as heart valves, bare metal stents, and vascular closure devices, as well as items utilized during implantation operations, such as catheters and guidewires.

Additionally, the process of steam sterilization, which uses moist heat to sterilize objects, is quick, easy, and affordable and coagulates and denaturates structural proteins and enzymes, destroying bacteria irreversibly.

Besides this, one well-known technique for sterilizing pharmaceutical items is irradiation which is an economical and safe way to sterilize single-use medical supplies such as surgical gloves and syringes. For instance, nowadays, radiation sterilization is used in the production of more than 45% of disposable medical devices made in wealthy nations.

End-users Segment Analysis

The hospitals segment in the terminal sterilization market is set to garner a notable share shortly. The growth of the segment can be credited to the growing risk of hospital-acquired infection. Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), sometimes referred to as hospital-acquired infections (HAI), brought on by bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens; bloodstream infections (BSI), pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTI), and surgical site infections (SSI) are the most prevalent forms that typically occur 48 hours following hospital admission. This has fueled the demand for terminal sterilization to prevent the transmission of infectious agents among patients and healthcare providers.

Our in-depth analysis of the terminal sterilization market includes the following segments:

            Sterilization Type

  • Ethylene Oxide
  • Irradiation
  • Moist Heat Sterilization
  • Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide

            Technology

  • Gravity
  • Vacuum
  • Steam
  • Forced Convention
  • Natural Convention

            End-User

  • Hospitals
  • Pharmaceutical Companies
  • Biopharmaceutical Companies
  • Medical Device Companies
  • Diagnostic Labs
  • Other Manufacturing Sectors
  • Academic Research Institutes

Browse key industry insights with market data tables & charts from the report:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In the year 2026, the industry size of terminal sterilization is evaluated at USD 12.58 billion.

The global terminal sterilization market size was worth over USD 11.72 billion in 2025 and is poised to witness a CAGR of around 8.2%, crossing USD 25.78 billion revenue by 2035.

North America terminal sterilization market will dominate around 40% share by 2035, driven by rising healthcare spending and increasing establishment of medical facilities.

Key players in the market include 3M, STERIS plc, ASP (Fortive), Belimed, Inc. (Metall Zug Group), Sterigenics U.S., LLC - A Sotera Health Company, Fedegari Autoclavi S.p.A., Andersen Sterilizers, Steelco S.p.A.
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