Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Benchtop, Portable), By Product (FT-NIR Spectrometers, Dispersive), By Application (Medical Applications, Remote Monitoring, Agriculture, Astronomical Spectroscopy, Particle Measurement, Industrial Use, Material Science), By Region, and By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 0.62 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.21%
Fastest Growing Segment	Dispersive
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 0.89 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market will grow from USD 0.62 Billion in 2025 to USD 0.89 Billion by 2031 at a 6.21% CAGR. Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an analytical technique that utilizes the electromagnetic spectrum between 780 nm and 2500 nm to determine the chemical and physical properties of samples based on molecular vibrations. The market is primarily supported by the method's capacity for rapid, non-destructive testing and the elimination of hazardous chemical reagents during analysis. Key drivers fueling expansion include increasing regulatory mandates for stringent quality control in the pharmaceutical and food safety sectors, as well as the growing industrial requirement for real-time process monitoring to ensure product consistency without interrupting production.

However, the necessity for complex chemometric modeling and regular calibration maintenance remains a significant challenge that can hinder broader adoption among smaller enterprises with limited technical expertise. Despite this barrier, key application sectors continue to exhibit strong momentum. According to Photonics21, in 2024, the photonics market for agriculture and food applications, a dominant sector for near-infrared technology deployment, demonstrated a compound annual growth rate of 11.8%. This robust growth underscores the critical role of optical sensing technologies in modernizing global supply chains.

Key Market Drivers

The increasing adoption of portable and handheld NIR analyzers for on-site analysis is reshaping the market by moving testing from centralized laboratories to the point of need. This shift is particularly critical in law enforcement, where rapid, non-destructive identification of illicit substances is required. Miniature devices now offer performance comparable to benchtop systems, allowing officers to make immediate decisions without destroying samples. For instance, according to Spectroscopy Online, August 2024, in the "Portable NIR Technology Applied to Illicit Drug Detection in Australia" article, a study utilizing a portable MicroNIR device achieved remarkable precision, with 99% of drug quantification values falling within a relative uncertainty of ±15%. Such reliability accelerates the global deployment of these tools across security agencies.

Simultaneously, stringent pharmaceutical regulations mandating rigorous quality control are driving the demand for advanced spectroscopic instruments. Regulatory bodies increasingly enforce Process Analytical Technology (PAT) frameworks, compelling manufacturers to integrate real-time monitoring systems that ensure compliance. This pressure fosters a robust environment for high-precision analytical equipment sales. According to Bruker Corporation, February 2025, in the "Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results," the company’s Scientific Instruments segment reported a revenue increase of 16.3% in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting strong demand. Highlighting the broader scale of this investment, according to Thermo Fisher Scientific, in 2024, the company’s Analytical Instruments segment generated a total revenue of $7.46 billion. This substantial figure underscores the critical role of optical sensing in modernizing industrial supply chains.

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Key Market Challenges

The necessity for complex chemometric modeling and regular calibration maintenance constitutes a significant technical barrier that is hampering the expansion of the Global Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market. Unlike simpler analytical methods, NIR spectroscopy relies heavily on advanced mathematical models to correlate spectral data with physical or chemical properties. This requirement demands a workforce proficient in specialized data analysis and instrument maintenance, resources that are often scarce or prohibitively expensive for smaller enterprises. Consequently, potential adopters frequently hesitate to invest in these systems due to the high operational complexity and the ongoing technical burden associated with model validation and recalibration.

This deficiency in specialized talent is restricting the market's ability to scale. According to Technology Scotland, in 2024, 78% of respondents within the photonics and enabling technologies sector reported experiencing a skills gap during the preceding twelve months. This widespread shortage of technical expertise directly limits the capacity of end-users to effectively deploy and sustain sophisticated NIR solutions, thereby slowing the technology's integration into critical industrial workflows where real-time monitoring is essential.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Spectral Analysis is fundamentally altering the market by removing the technical barrier of complex chemometric modeling. Advanced algorithms, particularly deep learning and convolutional neural networks, now automate the extraction of features from spectral data, enabling high-precision classification without requiring extensive manual calibration by domain experts. This technological leap is democratizing the use of spectroscopy in sectors requiring rapid qualitative analysis, such as agriculture. According to Spectroscopy Online, January 2025, in the 'The Marriage of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy with AI: The Small-Sample Breakthrough' article, a study utilizing a self-supervised learning framework achieved a classification accuracy of 99.12% on a tea variety dataset, demonstrating how software advancements are enhancing instrument performance.

Concurrently, the Proliferation of Inline Process Analytical Technology (PAT) Systems is expanding beyond traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing into high-volume industrial material processing. Industries such as waste management and recycling are increasingly deploying automated, inline NIR systems to monitor material streams in real time, ensuring product purity and process efficiency without manual intervention. This demand for continuous, automated quality control is driving substantial investment in sensor-based sorting infrastructure. According to Tomra Systems, February 2025, in the '4th Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results' report, the company’s Recycling segment revenue increased by 37% in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the surging industrial adoption of these optical sorting technologies.

Segmental Insights

The Dispersive segment is emerging as the fastest-growing category in the Global Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market, driven by the expanding requirement for portable and rugged analytical instruments. This technology is witnessing rapid adoption in the agriculture and food and beverage industries, where it is essential for on-site grain measurement and quality control. The segment's expansion is further supported by the development of miniaturized spectrometers that offer cost-effective, high-speed analysis outside of traditional laboratory settings. Additionally, stringent safety standards enforced by regulatory authorities such as the FDA are compelling manufacturers to implement these durable, field-ready devices for immediate raw material verification and compliance.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the Global Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market, primarily due to its established pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. This dominance is significantly reinforced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which actively promotes Process Analytical Technology (PAT) frameworks. These regulatory guidelines encourage manufacturers to integrate NIR spectroscopy for real-time, non-destructive quality control and continuous process monitoring. Furthermore, stringent regional standards regarding food safety and environmental compliance drive the widespread adoption of these analytical instruments, ensuring North America remains the primary revenue generator in the global landscape.

Recent Developments

• In July 2024, BÜCHI Labortechnik AG entered into a strategic collaboration with Si-Ware Systems to distribute the NeoSpectra handheld near-infrared spectroscopy platform in key markets including the United States and Europe. This partnership leverages the Swiss company's extensive distribution network to bring the partner's portable, chip-based spectral sensor technology to a broader customer base. The initiative is intended to provide a robust solution for mobile material analysis, enabling users in the food, feed, and agriculture industries to obtain laboratory-grade results directly in the field. This cooperation underscores the growing industry trend towards decentralized testing and rapid, on-site decision-making capabilities.
• In April 2024, Metrohm AG expanded its analytical portfolio by introducing near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) capabilities to its OMNIS platform. The launch of the OMNIS NIRS allows laboratories to consolidate titration and spectroscopy analyses within a single, modular system, facilitating the comprehensive testing of liquid, solid, and viscous samples. The system features advanced sensor technology for precise temperature control and automated sample rotation to ensure high reproducibility of results. By integrating these techniques into one interface, the company aims to streamline laboratory workflows, reduce the risk of operator error, and improve the efficiency of quality control processes in various chemical sectors.
• In February 2024, Bruker Corporation launched a new dedicated single-point Fourier Transform Near-Infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometer known as the BEAM, designed specifically for in-process control applications. The instrument utilizes the company's established RockSolid interferometer technology to ensure long-term stability and precision for analyzing solid samples in industrial settings. Engineered with a compact, IP65-rated housing, the system can be mounted directly onto pipelines, chutes, or conveyor belts, allowing for immediate, non-contact quality monitoring. This development aims to enhance manufacturing efficiency in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries by minimizing waste and optimizing process parameters through real-time data analysis.
• In February 2024, trinamiX GmbH, a subsidiary of BASF SE, presented a miniaturized near-infrared spectroscopy module integrated into a smartphone reference design at the Mobile World Congress. This consumer spectroscopy solution, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile platform, enables mobile devices to perform non-invasive analysis of organic materials in the 1 to 3 micrometer wavelength range. The technology is designed to allow users to measure biomarkers related to health and beauty directly on their skin. This innovation represents a significant advancement in making sophisticated spectroscopic analysis accessible for personal use and mass-market applications beyond traditional industrial or laboratory environments.

Key Market Players

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Bruker Corporation
• PerkinElmer Inc.
• Oxford Instruments plc
• Shimadzu Corporation
• ABB Ltd.
• Agilent Technologies Inc.
• Metrohm AG
• Zeiss Group
• JASCO International Co., Ltd.

By Type	By Product	By Application	By Region
Benchtop Portable	FT-NIR Spectrometers Dispersive	Medical Applications Remote Monitoring Agriculture Astronomical Spectroscopy Particle Measurement Industrial Use Material Science	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market, By Type:

• Benchtop
• Portable

• Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market, By Product:

• FT-NIR Spectrometers
• Dispersive

• Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market, By Application:

• Medical Applications
• Remote Monitoring
• Agriculture
• Astronomical Spectroscopy
• Particle Measurement
• Industrial Use
• Material Science

• Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE