Distributed Control System Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024-2030)

Distributed Control System Market Size

Distributed Control System Market Analysis

Batch-Oriented Process Is Larger Contributor to Application Segment

The batch-oriented process category generated market revenue of USD 11,455 million in 2022, and it is predicted to remain dominant till 2030. This process is generally used where the products are made in sets, or when the volume of production is low but the demand for excellent quality is a key concern. Process industries, where every step of the production process is carefully monitored and controlled, include steelmaking & mining, pharmaceuticals, cement, glass & paper, food & beverages, and sugar industry.

Oil & Gas Holds Largest Market Share

The oil & gas category accounted for the largest revenue share, of approximately 21%, in 2022, and it is expected to maintain the trend over the forecast period. All the main divisions of E&P operations—downstream, midstream, and upstream—are significant revenue generators for the distributed control systems market. In the upstream sector, crude oil and natural gas are extracted and produced. In the midstream sector, these hydrocarbons are stored and transported. In the downstream sector, businesses are engaged in the refining of crude oil, the production of petroleum products, and their sale through wholesale and retail channels.

In addition, oil & gas is a process industry with complex monitoring processes. A DCS enables the control of operations with the help of HMIs and controllers, by integrating safety processes, such as alarm management systems. The processes in the oil & gas industry are crucial, lengthy, and complicated, due to which distributed control systems are widely adopted to provide safety, reliability, and profitability.

China National Petroleum Corporation, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation are some of the major players in the Chinese energy sector. Similarly, in India, the oil & gas industry is a main part of the economy. The country has 23 refineries, and it was the third-largest consumer of oil in the world in 2021.

Chemicals Category Is Growing at Significant Rate

The chemicals category is expected to grow at a significant rate, because chemical companies are adopting advanced distributed control systems to improve their production efficiency, safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness and reduce human errors. A DCS has multiple controllers inside a plant or production unit that are linked to a central console, which helps centralize plant operations and allow for the control and monitoring of every element's process in one place. It also helps manage complex production processes.

Regional Outlook

The Asia-Pacific region held the largest market share, of 34%, in 2022, and it is predicted to be dominant throughout this decade. The growth of the market is ascribed to the increasing power generation in the region, augmenting industrial infrastructure, and booming usage of nuclear and other forms of renewable energy. Hence, the market is expected to grow in China, India, and other regional countries because of the ongoing power generation projects and technological inventions. The DCS market in this region is also growing rapidly because of the rapid automation, urbanization, and financial growth.

In China, the market is growing due to the government support for clean energy projects and focus on reducing carbon emissions, which drive its renewable energy industry. Essentially, the rapid economic expansion would increase the power demand, which will, in turn, create the requirement for greater funds for the expansion of the power plant infrastructure. Moreover, industrial automation is one of the biggest trends in the Asia-Pacific region due to the increasing demand for high-quality products and increasing manufacturing costs. In this regard, DCS will help decrease the labor wages and the overall requirement for manpower.

The North American region is expected to grow at a significant rate and hold a considerable share during the forecast period. The rapidly growing natural gas industry is a key driving factor for the distributed control systems market in the region. The oil & gas sector in the region is process-driven, with continuing operations and detailed monitoring techniques. It is difficult for operators to monitor and control the use of the equipment in the industry all by themselves. Hence, several North American E&P companies are adopting HMIs and a controller, or DCS, to manage operations and make them cost-efficient.

DCSs also play a vital role in controlling the operations of nuclear power plants, which is why the rising nuclear power capacity is a key driver for the demand for these solutions. In addition, in this region, solution integration in the chemical industry is gaining momentum with the enhanced reliability, remote monitoring, and lower installation costs it provides. Various enterprises in the chemical industry are moving from outdated DCS systems to more-advanced ones to improve production, efficiency, and safety and reduce human mistakes.

Report Breakdown

Based on Component

• Hardware
• Software
• Services

Based on Application

• Continuous process
• Batch-oriented process

Based on End-Use

• Oil & Gas
• Power Generation
• Chemicals
• Food & Beverages
• Pharmaceutical
• Metals & Mining
• Paper & Pulp

Geographical Analysis

• North America
  • U.S
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  •  U.K.
  •  France
  • Italy
  •  Spain
• Asia-Pacific
  • Japan
  • China
  •  India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
• Latin America
  •  Brazil
  •  Mexico
• Middle East and Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  •  U.A.E.

Top Distributed Control Systems Companies