Microbiology and Bacterial Culture Media Market Report 2025

The microbiology and bacterial culture media market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $5.08 billion in 2024 to $5.59 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%.The growth observed during the historic period can be linked to the increasing incidence of infectious diseases, the expansion of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, greater awareness of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), the growth of clinical diagnostic laboratories, and the rising demand from the cosmetics and personal care sector.

The microbiology and bacterial culture media market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $8.08 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%.The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the rising global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), an increased emphasis on pandemic preparedness and emerging pathogens, the expansion of personalized medicine and targeted therapies, higher demand for rapid and precise diagnostics, and the growth of global clinical trials and vaccine development pipelines. Key trends expected during this period include the adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning for microbial identification, the creation of chromogenic and fluorogenic media, automation in the preparation and dispensing of culture media, advancements in food and water safety testing, and the utilization of 3D culture systems and organoids.

The growing prevalence of infectious diseases is anticipated to drive the expansion of the microbiology and bacterial culture media market. Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by harmful microorganisms that can spread from person to person. This increase in prevalence is largely linked to rising antibiotic resistance, which reduces the effectiveness of standard treatments, allowing infections to persist longer and spread more easily. Microbiology and culture media play a critical role in identifying and cultivating harmful microbes, enabling accurate diagnosis and guiding targeted therapies. For example, in November 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO), an international health agency based in Switzerland, reported that global tuberculosis cases rose to 10.6 million in 2022, reflecting a 2.9% increase in incidence. Consequently, the growing prevalence of infectious diseases is fueling the growth of the microbiology and bacterial culture media market.

Companies in the microbiology and bacterial culture media sector are increasingly developing advanced solutions such as ready-to-use culture media to enhance efficiency in diagnostic and research applications. Ready-to-use culture media are sterile, pre-formulated substrates that support microbial growth without the need for manual preparation. This reduces preparation time, lowers the risk of contamination, and ensures consistent laboratory outcomes. For instance, in April 2025, AnalytiChem, a Germany-based provider of laboratory equipment, reagents, and consumables, launched Redipor, a ready-to-use culture media line. Redipor is designed to meet stringent compliance standards required in life sciences fields including pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, environmental testing, and healthcare. The product range includes a wide variety of media formats and packaging options such as plates, bottles, tubes, vials, chromogenic and irradiated media, and universal operator broth transfer kits, with customization available to meet specific regulatory or customer needs.

In February 2025, Biolog Inc., a US-based biotechnology company specializing in microbial and phenotypic profiling products, acquired Anaerobe Systems for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition aims to enhance Biolog’s capabilities in microbiology research and clinical sample preparation by advancing anaerobic culture technologies, broadening its product offerings, and supporting more sophisticated microbial studies. Anaerobe Systems, also based in the US, manufactures pre-reduced anaerobically sterilized (PRAS) plated and broth culture media.

Major players in the microbiology and bacterial culture media market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Merck KGaA, Becton Dickinson and Company, Nissui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., bioMérieux SA, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Neogen Corporation, Eiken Chemical Co. Ltd., Hardy Diagnostics, Teknova Inc., Microbiologics Inc., HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Scharlab S.L., Solabia Group, Conda Laboratories, Biotecnica Instruments S.p.A., Liofilchem S.r.l., Medicago AB, Carl Roth GmbH + Co. KG, Central Drug House (P) Ltd (CDH)

North America was the largest region in the microbiology and bacterial culture media market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in microbiology and bacterial culture media market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the microbiology and bacterial culture media market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sudden escalation of U.S. tariffs and the consequent trade frictions in spring 2025 are severely impacting the healthcare sector, particularly in the supply of critical medical devices, diagnostic equipment, and pharmaceuticals. Hospitals and healthcare providers are facing higher costs for imported surgical instruments, imaging equipment, and consumables such as syringes and catheters, many of which have limited domestic alternatives. These increased costs are straining healthcare budgets, leading some providers to delay equipment upgrades or pass on expenses to patients. Additionally, tariffs on raw materials and components are disrupting the production of essential drugs and devices, causing supply chain bottlenecks. In response, the industry is diversifying sourcing strategies, boosting local manufacturing where possible, and advocating for tariff exemptions on life-saving medical products.

Microbiology and bacterial culture media are nutrient-rich materials created to promote the growth and preservation of microorganisms in laboratory environments. These media supply vital nutrients, moisture, and suitable conditions necessary for the cultivation and examination of bacteria.

The primary categories of microbiology and bacterial culture media include dehydrated culture media, prepared (ready-to-use) culture media, chromogenic and selective culture media, enriched and enrichment media, and others. Dehydrated culture media consist of powdered nutrient substances that must be dissolved in water to form a medium for cultivating bacteria and other microorganisms. They are available in different compositions such as complex media, defined media, selective media, differential media, and transport media, and come in various formats like bulk-packaged media, single-use options, and custom or specialized formulations. These are widely used across multiple fields, including pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical production, diagnostics, food and water testing, bioenergy and agricultural studies, as well as cosmetics and personal care research.

The microbiology and bacterial culture media market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides microbiology and bacterial culture media market statistics, including microbiology and bacterial culture media industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a microbiology and bacterial culture media market share, detailed microbiology and bacterial culture media market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the microbiology and bacterial culture media industry. The microbiology and bacterial culture media market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The microbiology and bacterial culture media market consists of sales of products broth media, agar media, transport media, basal media, anaerobic culture media, and specialized culture media. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 3-5 business days.