X-ray Security Screening Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By End-Use (Transit, Commercial), By Application (People Screening, Product Screening), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.89 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.28%
Fastest Growing Segment	Transit
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 6.27 Billion

Market Overview

The Global X-ray Security Screening Market will grow from USD 3.89 Billion in 2025 to USD 6.27 Billion by 2031 at a 8.28% CAGR. Global X-ray security screening systems utilize electromagnetic radiation to inspect baggage, cargo, and individuals for prohibited items without physical intrusion. The market is primarily driven by escalating global trade volumes which require expedited freight processing, the extensive expansion of mass transit infrastructure, and rigorous government mandates aimed at counteracting terrorism. These fundamental pillars support sustained demand across aviation and critical infrastructure sectors, establishing a solid foundation for industry growth distinct from transient technological trends.

However, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the high capital investment required to upgrade legacy infrastructure to modern standards. Substantial installation and maintenance costs often delay the adoption of compliant technologies in cost-sensitive regions, creating a barrier to market expansion. This financial strain is exacerbated by the necessity to process surging traveler volumes. According to Airports Council International (ACI) World, in 2025, global passenger traffic was projected to reach 9.9 billion passengers, highlighting the intense operational pressure on security checkpoints to balance safety with throughput.

Key Market Drivers

The expansion of aviation infrastructure and air passenger traffic acts as a primary catalyst for the Global X-ray Security Screening Market. As airports upgrade terminals to accommodate rising traveler numbers, the demand for high-throughput screening systems intensifies to prevent bottlenecks while maintaining rigorous security standards. This infrastructure growth extends beyond passenger terminals; air freight facilities are also expanding rapidly to handle increased logistics loads, necessitating advanced cargo screening solutions. According to the International Air Transport Association, December 2024, in the 'Air Passenger Market Analysis', global passenger demand rose by 7.1% in October 2024 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the same association reported in January 2025 that air cargo demand increased by 8.2% in November 2024, underscoring the dual pressure on aviation security infrastructure to scale operations for both people and goods.

Simultaneously, technological advancements in X-ray imaging capabilities, particularly the integration of Computed Tomography (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are reshaping market procurement. Airports and regulatory bodies are prioritizing the replacement of legacy 2D systems with 3D volumetric scanners that utilize automated threat recognition algorithms to enhance detection accuracy and speed. This shift is supported by substantial government funding aimed at modernizing checkpoint capabilities and addressing capability gaps. For instance, according to the Department of Homeland Security, March 2025, in the 'Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Overview', the administration allocated $90 million specifically for the Checkpoint Property Screening System program to procure and deploy these advanced screening technologies.

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Key Market Challenges

The high capital investment required to upgrade legacy infrastructure constitutes a substantial impediment to the expansion of the Global X-ray Security Screening Market. Procuring modern screening systems involves significant upfront expenditure, which is often compounded by the complex installation and structural modifications needed to integrate these units into existing terminals. This financial burden is particularly acute for regional transportation hubs and facilities in cost-sensitive markets, where limited budgets often necessitate the extension of the operational life of outdated equipment. Consequently, the adoption cycle for newer, compliant technologies is lengthened, directly restricting the revenue potential and growth velocity of the market.

This economic strain forces airport operators to make difficult trade-offs between capacity expansion and technology upgrades. The sheer scale of the funding required for these modernization efforts creates a barrier that slows the implementation of advanced security measures. According to Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East, in 2025, airports across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions were projected to invest $240 billion on infrastructure development projects between 2025 and 2035. Such immense capital requirements limit the available liquidity for immediate technology refreshes, thereby hampering the widespread deployment of new X-ray screening systems despite the operational need for better throughput.

Key Market Trends

The shift toward automated tray return and remote screening workflows is altering checkpoint operations by decoupling image analysis from physical lanes. Airports are deploying centralized screening rooms where operators analyze images from multiple lanes, minimizing idle time and allowing for rapid resource redistribution. This model is often paired with automated tray return systems to streamline baggage movement. Highlighting this transition, according to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), October 2025, in the 'Overview of Activities', 91 CATSA Plus lines featuring remote screening capabilities were deployed across the 17 largest airports in Canada as of the 2024/25 period, processing over 60.7% of the traveling public.

Concurrently, the adoption of open architecture standards is driving the market away from proprietary systems toward flexible, multi-vendor environments. By implementing common data standards, operators can integrate third-party detection algorithms with existing hardware, avoiding vendor lock-in. This approach allows agencies to layer software solutions onto diverse equipment fleets for a unified network. Illustrating this trend, according to OSI Systems, September 2025, in a company press release, its subsidiary secured a five-year contract from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the Non-Intrusive Inspection Common Integration Platform program, with a total potential value of approximately $54 million.

Segmental Insights

The transit segment represents the fastest-growing category within the global X-ray security screening market due to heightened security concerns across railway and metro networks. Governments worldwide are prioritizing the protection of mass transit infrastructure against potential threats, necessitating the deployment of efficient screening solutions. This expansion is driven by rapid urbanization and increasing passenger volumes which require high-throughput systems to maintain operational flow. Furthermore, initiatives by regulatory entities such as the Transportation Security Administration regarding surface transportation security continue to influence global standards, thereby mandating stricter inspection protocols at train stations and mobility hubs.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global X-ray security screening market due to stringent government regulations and substantial investments in public safety infrastructure. The region prioritizes enhanced security measures across aviation, transportation, and border control sectors to mitigate potential threats. This demand is heavily influenced by mandates from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which enforces rigorous screening protocols at airports to ensure passenger safety. Furthermore, the continuous upgrading of existing security systems to comply with evolving safety standards reinforces North America's status as the primary regional market.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, Micro-X unveiled its new Miniature CT Baggage Scanner at the Future Travel Experience Global event in Long Beach, California. This product launch showcased a novel approach to checkpoint security, leveraging miniaturized X-ray technology to create a compact and lightweight screening solution. The system was developed to address the need for more flexible and space-efficient security checkpoints without compromising detection standards. By reducing the physical footprint of computed tomography scanning, the company aimed to offer airports and other secure facilities a versatile alternative to traditional, larger screening lanes, facilitating improved passenger throughput and adaptable security configurations.
• In January 2025, Leidos was awarded a substantial contract with a potential value of $2.6 billion by the Transportation Security Administration to provide integrated logistics support for airport screening equipment. Under this agreement, the company was tasked with the testing, deployment, and maintenance of critical security systems used to inspect passengers and baggage at hundreds of domestic airports. This award represented a continuation of the company's long-standing role in supporting the agency's security infrastructure, ensuring that detection technologies remained operational and effective. The contract highlighted the continued focus on sustaining and upgrading the complex network of X-ray and screening devices essential for national aviation security.
• In April 2024, Smiths Detection officially launched the SDX 10060 XDi, a new security scanner utilizing X-ray Diffraction technology. This advanced system was designed to provide highly accurate material discrimination and substance identification based on molecular structure, making it particularly effective for detecting constantly evolving threats such as homemade explosives and narcotics in various forms. The technology aimed to automate the resolution of potential alarms, thereby improving security outcomes and operational efficiency for customs agencies and high-volume baggage handling operations. The launch marked a significant step forward in the capability to screen items with similar densities that traditional systems might struggle to differentiate.
• In January 2024, OSI Systems announced that its security division had secured a significant order valued at approximately $4 million from a major global air cargo logistics provider. The contract involved the provision of advanced security inspection systems, specifically designed to enhance air cargo screening operations. These solutions included the company's computed tomography-based explosive detection system and multiple models of its high-performance parcel screening platforms for both large and small packages. The equipment was intended to be integrated into a high-speed screening environment to optimize operational efficiency and threat detection capabilities, reflecting the growing demand for robust security infrastructure in the logistics sector.

Key Market Players

• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
• Smiths Detection Group Limited
• Thales Group
• Kromek Ltd
• NEC Corporation
• Leidos, Inc.
• Aware, Inc.
• Bruker Corporation
• OSI Systems, Inc.
• Analogic Corporation

By End-Use	By Application	By Region
Transit Commercial	People Screening Product Screening	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global X-ray Security Screening Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• X-ray Security Screening Market, By End-Use:

• Transit
• Commercial

• X-ray Security Screening Market, By Application:

• People Screening
• Product Screening

• X-ray Security Screening 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