Published: December 2023 | Report Code: 12805 | Available Format: PDF | Pages: 280
The global infrared detector market generated revenue of USD 563.8 million in 2023, which is expected to reach USD 912.9 million by 2030, advancing at 7.2% CAGR between 2024 and 2030. This is due to the rising need for industrial automation, manufacturing processes, safety and surveillance applications such as fire detection at public places, temperature measurement, consumer electronics such as smartphones, smart-watches & tablets, healthcare solutions, scientific research, and diverse industrial applications.
Moreover, due to growing industrialization and urbanization, the demand for consumer electronics, smart homes, and safety and surveillance systems has increased enormously. In addition, industries including energy and manufacturing greatly benefit from the precise measurement of temperature, accomplished without physical contact. This confirms quality assurance, effective process control, and enhanced safety measures. Thus, these factors drive the market growth.
Furthermore, the need for infrared detectors is experiencing rapid growth in a variety of applications, such as fire detection and non-contact temperature measurement. They can accurately measure surface temperatures without direct contact, making them valuable in various applications. In fire detection, infrared detectors sense the infrared radiation emitted by flames, providing early warning and enabling effective risk mitigation and quick response. Also, the rising acceptance of infrared detectors can be accredited to their non-contact measurement capabilities, exceptional accuracy, and significant safety advantages in industries, public spaces, and safety systems, and continuous technological developments. These advancements lead to cost-effectiveness and enhanced performance across several applications.
The utilization of infrared detectors has witnessed a significant rise, attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 virus. These have the ability to detect temperatures without physical contact, which makes them crucial during the pandemic and its aftermath. With COVID-19 being highly contagious, people have been compelled to maintain distance from infected individuals, and infrared detectors played a vital role in providing non-contact temperature measurements.
In the realm of space exploration and observation, infrared detectors play a vital role in providing invaluable scientific data and enhancing the comprehension of celestial objects. By capturing thermal radiation, these detectors offer a distinct viewpoint, enabling thermal imaging, astronomical observation, planetary exploration, exoplanet detection, near-earth object tracking, and numerous other research applications easy and effective. Thus, their contribution is crucial in expanding the knowledge of the universe. Hence, the rapidly growing competition between different space organizations will further boost the growth of the market.
Based on type, the demand for pyroelectric infrared (PIR)-based thermal detectors is rising significantly. This is because PIR detectors offer a reliable and cost-effective solution for a wide range of industries and have been proven to be highly effective in various applications. They are commonly employed for motion detection in security systems, automatic lighting, energy management, robotics, wildlife monitoring, and non-contact switching. Pyroelectric detectors can sense changes in infrared radiation caused by the movement of warm objects, such as humans or animals. Thus, their ability to detect motion and presence makes them valuable in applications where motion sensing, occupancy detection, or energy optimization is required.
Based on technology, the cooled infrared detectors category is expected to witness a higher CAGR, of 7.5%, over the forecast period. This can be because these detectors have gained popularity over uncooled infrared detectors, as they exhibit remarkable sensitivity, superior performance, improved spatial resolution, enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, and enhanced detection capabilities and can operate at significantly lower temperatures.
Also, the image quality and detection capabilities of cooled detectors are superior and have low thermal noise. These advantages make cooled infrared detectors highly desirable in applications that require exceptional accuracy and precision, particularly in fields of military and defense, thermal imaging, scientific research, medical imaging, safety and surveillance, environmental monitoring, and industrial inspection.
Furthermore, advancements in materials and technologies have played a significant role in enhancing the spectral range and detection capabilities of cooled infrared detectors. The integration of cryogenic coolers, such as mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) and indium antimonide (InSb), has expanded the range of wavelengths that cooled infrared detectors can cover. This includes the medium or long-wave infrared regions. As a result, cooled detectors have become more versatile, offering businesses increased opportunities from their utilization across various applications.
Report Attribute | Details |
Market Size in 2023 |
USD 563.8 Million |
Market Size in 2024 |
USD 599.9 Million |
Revenue Forecast in 2030 |
USD 912.9 Million |
Growth Rate |
7.2% CAGR |
Historical Years |
2017-2023 |
Forecast Years |
2024-2030 |
Report Scope |
Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Companies’ Strategic Developments; Market Share Analysis of Key Players; Company Profiling |
Segments Covered |
By Type; By Technology; By Wavelength; By Application; By Region |
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On the basis of wavelength, the short-wave infrared category accounts for the largest revenue share in the market. This is due to its increasing usage across diverse sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and beverages, residential, commercial, and automotive. In these industries, SWIR detectors are employed for tasks such as product inspection, quality control, process monitoring, and sorting. By leveraging unique spectral signatures of materials, these detectors can accurately characterize and identify substances, enabling efficient analysis in a wide range of industrial processes.
Moreover, the developments in technology and the increased accessibility of cost-effective SWIR detectors have led to their surging implementation. The ongoing developments have resulted in smaller, more affordable, and more sensitive detectors, creating new opportunities for their incorporation into several systems. This expansion has broadened the utilization of SWIR detectors across multiple industries. SWIR imaging finds applications in various fields, including electronic board inspection, solar cell inspection, produce inspection, identification and sorting, surveillance, anti-counterfeiting measures, process quality control, and more.
Furthermore, SWIR opens up numerous possibilities for applications that are challenging or even impossible to perform using visible light. SWIR detectors possess a wider range of spectral sensitivity compared to other types of infrared detectors. They have the capability to detect wavelengths spanning from approximately 0.9 to 1.7 micrometers. This extended range grants them the ability to capture more precise and specific information about objects or materials under observation.
In SWIR imaging, certain obstacles like water vapor, fog, and materials like silicon become transparent. Additionally, colors that appear nearly identical in the visible spectrum can be easily distinguished when observed in the SWIR range. All these qualities make it more demanding and hence contribute to the market growth significantly.
The people and motion sensing category dominates the market. This is attributed to the widespread use of infrared detectors in various environments or public places, including retail shops, airports, playgrounds, museums, and libraries. The infrared detectors are instrumental in these settings as they facilitate tasks such as counting people and detecting motion. For instance, in retail shops, they help monitor customer flow, analyze behavior, and optimize store operations. At airports, these detectors aid in managing passenger flow, enhancing security, and optimizing staff allocation.
Moreover, the smart home category is growing significantly in the market, due to the surging demand for security systems such as cameras, fire alarms, motion sensors, and remote controls. Also, the use of infrared detectors and technology in home automation continues to expand, providing convenience, energy efficiency, and enhanced control over various aspects of the home environment.
North America is a leading infrared detector market, globally. This is due to the presence of key players, technological advancements, and high demand from industries such as aerospace, military & defense, healthcare, industrial manufacturing, and automotive, in the region.
Whereas, the APAC market is projected to witness the highest CAGR, of 7.6%, over the forecast period. This can be ascribed to the strong governmental support, a thriving consumer electronics demand, expanding industrialization and urbanization, and the growing end-use sectors such as military & defense, safety & surveillance, healthcare, automotive, and aerospace, in the region. In APAC, Japan, China, India, and Taiwan are key markets. Japan, in particular, has a significant manufacturing base for infrared detectors, which are exported worldwide.
Moreover, the decreasing cost of infrared detectors is expected to boost their utilization in various applications within the region. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on enhancing surveillance and security systems in APAC. Infrared detectors play a vital role in security cameras, access control systems, and intrusion detection systems by detecting motion, monitoring activities, and ensuring safety. Thus, the increasing need for improved security measures in commercial establishments, residential areas, and public spaces is boosting the need for infrared detectors in the region.
This fully customizable report gives a detailed analysis of the infrared detector industry from 2017 to 2030, based on all the relevant segments and geographies.
Based on Type
Based on Technology
Based on Wavelength
Based on Application
Based on Vertical
Geographical Analysis
The infrared detector market size stood at USD 563.8 million in 2023.
During 2024–2030, the growth rate of the infrared detector market will be around 7.2%.
People and motion sensing is the largest application area in the infrared detector market.
The major drivers of the infrared detector market include the increasing need for infrared detectors in several applications, the rapid pace of infrastructure and industrialization development, the surging government investment and economic incentives for end-use sectors, and the rising demand for advanced technologies like infrared detectors to support critical industries.
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