World Market for Sensors

    The non-military world market for sensors exceeds expectations with US $ 32.5 billion in 1998. Until 2003, this market will grow at an annual rate of 5.3% to reach US $ 42.2 billion. Under very conservative assumptions it is expected to reach US $ 50-51 billion by 2008; assuming more favorable but still realistic economic conditions, the global sensor market volume could even reach US $ 54 billion by 2008. The expected price slump for many of these sensors is taken into account in these market figures. According to a newly released world report, "SENSOR MARKETS 2008" by the Swiss company INTECHNO CONSULTING, Western Europe is the leading consumer in 1998 with 31.7% of the world market, followed by the USA with 31.0% and Japan with 19.4%. The other countries account for approximately 17.9% of the world market. Sensor types with the highest demand volumes worldwide are temperature sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, binary position sensors (proximity switches, light barriers, reflectortype photosensors), position sensors, chemical sensors for measurement in liquids and gases, filling sensors, speed and rpm-sensors, flue gas sensors and fire detectors. The fastest growing types of sensors include rain sensors, thickness sensors, sensors that measure the quality of liquids, navigation sensors, tilt sensors, photodetectors, glass breakage sensors, biosensors, magnetic field sensors, and motion detectors. The worldwide sensor demand of US $ 32.5% billion in 1998 comprises around US $ 29.3 billion for housed and ready-to-use sensors and US $ 1.7 billion for sensor elements without housing. Worldwide demand for sensor modules was approximately US $ 0.6 billion, and for complete sensor systems, US $ 0.9 billion. The world market for sensors on semiconductor basis - they concern all types of sensors - grows from US $ 12.6 billion in 1998 to US $ 21.8 billion in 2008. The world market for fiberoptic sensors is closed to US $ 175 million at present, and will reach approximately US $ 350 million by 2008. The world report is available form INTECHNO CONSULTING.