Market Highlights

Estimated at US$ 1.3 billion in 2021, the explosive trace detection market is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% from 2022 to 2028, reaching US$ ~4.9 billion.

 

Explosives Trace Detectors (ETDs) are devices for detecting explosives in trace concentrations. By examining "trace" levels of invisible particles, the location that still has to be identified is refined. Drug identification also makes use of various instruments including ETDs. The majority of the time, the technology is utilized in airports, significant sites, and defenseless spots thought to be susceptible to terrorist attacks.

Modern features included in explosive trace detectors include an integrated GPS system that gives users precise target position data and the capacity to store and exchange data with other users via wired and wireless connections to enhance communication. Additionally, they provide users with clear images of the items that are displayed on the touchscreen's color display.
These instruments use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology, which allows users to identify and detect objects that are both organic and inorganic, such as drugs, explosives, and narcotics. They also have features like expandable libraries that let users to store enormous volumes of data.

The high development and maintenance costs of explosive trace detectors and the decline in defense spending in wealthy nations are two issues that are expected to impede the explosive trace detection market expansion. Furthermore, stringent government regulations pertaining to security screening instruments are expected to hinder the company.

Because these devices give capabilities like real-time 3D color photos, it is expected that the public safety and law enforcement sectors will see an increase in demand for detectors. This category is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the explosive trace detection market.

Explosive trace detectors are ideal for usage in the transportation, commercial, military, and other industries because of features including LED indicator lights, audio alerts, real-time sensor mapping, and longer battery life. These characteristics provide enhanced safety for the benefit of consumers. Explosive trace detectors also use Wi-Fi networking to send firmware upgrades, which keep the device running the most recent software.
They have LCD touchscreen panels that display information about batteries. This feature helps users manage how much time they spend on their devices. Furthermore, explosive trace detectors enhance connectivity by enabling users to save history files and send data from a device over wired and wireless connections.

Growth projections for the explosive trace detection market through 2028 are expected to be less than pre-COVID-19 estimates. The outbreak has had a serious negative impact on the worldwide aviation, defense, and marine industries. The aviation and maritime transportation industries saw significant operational changes, which in turn affected the growth of the explosive trace detection market. The manufacturers engaged in commercial market sales bear the costs associated with the decline in demand for explosive trace detection (ETD) equipment.

 

Many governments around the world are focusing on controlling COVID-19 outbreaks within their own countries. They are therefore spending more money on vaccine development and procurement as well as medical technology. Because of this, it is expected that the price of new explosive trace detection (ETD) systems will be less than what was previously projected prior to COVID in the coming years. During the forecast period, it is expected that demand will return to pre-COVID levels as the global economy continues to strengthen and linked sectors, such as airlines and urban transportation networks, are allowed to operate at a greater percentage of their operational capacity.

The primary market drivers are the tightening regulations pertaining to public safety and the growing need for aviation security. The explosive trace detection market is also anticipated to grow as a result of an increase in airline hijackings, a rise in terrorist operations globally, and a growing public concern for personal safety. One of the primary obstacles impeding the explosive trace detection market growth, however, is thought to be the high initial cost of installation.
Recent years have seen a number of directives and investments in the sector that should expand the market as a whole. Among them are:
• The reliability and affordability of ETD systems are being emphasized more since they are becoming essential to maintaining safety and security in the face of growing terrorist activity worldwide. The high purchase and running costs associated with ETD systems not only restrict industry expansion but also create challenges for government initiatives aimed at raising public safety standards more broadly. The present producers are making investments in the development of specialist products in order to meet the increasing demand for trustworthy and reasonably priced ETD systems. Because of the growing focus on the dependability and affordability of ETD systems, market participants have the possibility to make money.
• Smiths Detection Group Ltd. is one of the leading businesses in the explosive trace detection (ETD) sector. The company offers threat detection, security screening, and protection against the threat and unauthorized movement of contraband, explosives, toxic chemicals, and biological hazards. The company has production facilities in the US, Malaysia, France, Germany, and the UK in addition to its headquarters in the UK. A few of these industrial locations also serve as their centers for research and development. The company operates sales and service locations in 17 different countries to better serve its customers globally.

 

Market Segment Analysis

The technology categories of the global explosive trace detection market are chemiluminescence (CL), chemical reagents, ultraviolet fluorescence, surface acoustic wave (SAW), thermo-redox, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), mass spectrometry (MS), and thermo-redox. The ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) market is expected to grow significantly throughout the projected period due to the moderate pricing. These systems can also operate in natural environments. Devices for ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) can also be employed for vapor and/or swipe (particulate) detection.
Growing Focus on Raising Security and Safety Standards to Fuel Demand in the Commercial Segment Based on application, the global explosive trace detection market has been divided into two segments: military & defense and commercial. The commercial segment is expected to have significant increase in the upcoming years due to the growing emphasis on raising safety and security requirements at venues such as airports, railway stations, ports, retail markets, hospitals, and others.

 

Over the last ten years, the explosive trace detection market has grown rapidly in North America, and this trend is expected to continue as the region holds the top spot during the projected period. The US is completely to blame for the explosive trace detection market explosive growth in North America because of its large military spending. The US has always had the greatest levels of military income and spending globally. Not only is it the world's largest military budgetary nation, but it also houses the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of explosive trace detection (ETD) systems, creating the largest market for these devices.

 

Key Players

The explosive trace detection market is highly competitive. The state of the sector and government assistance have a direct impact on the companies' growth. Based on their quality and level of penetration in both target and emerging markets, these companies distinguish their explosive trace detection services. Additionally, a few recent large mergers and acquisitions in the sector have had a big impact on the competitive dynamics. As an illustration:
In January 2022, Rock-It Global erected a new storage facility at Heathrow Airport, which will lessen screening backlogs in the future. • Perth Airport upgraded its security measures for passenger screening in February 2022, adding an x-ray machine, explosive trace detecting technology, and a new body scan. The business invested in the installation of x-ray equipment for onsite screening and an explosive trace detector (ETD) for dense goods.

These mergers and acquisitions have had an impact on the competitive landscape as a whole. 
The leading companies in the explosive trace detection market are as follows:
• Analogic Corporation (US)
• Leidos Holdings Inc. (US)
• Teledyne FLIR LLC (US)
• Chemring Group PLC (UK)
• L3Harris Technologies Inc. (US)
• OSI Systems Inc. (US)

• American Innovations Inc. (US)
• Biosensor Applications Sweden AB (Sweden)
• Smiths Detection Group Ltd. (UK)
• Nuctech Company Limited (China)

Explosive Trace Detection Market Scope:

Report Data	Explosive Trace Detection Market
Explosive Trace Detection Market Forecast Value 2028	4.9Billion
Explosive Trace Detection Market CAGR 2022 - 2028	10.7%
Explosive Trace Detection Market Forecast Period	2022 - 2028
Explosive Trace Detection Market Base Year	2021
Regional Scope	North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa
Key Companies Profiled	American Innovations Inc. (US), Biosensor Applications Sweden AB (Sweden), Smiths Detection Group Ltd. (UK), Nuctech Company Limited (China), Analogic Corporation (US), Leidos Holdings Inc. (US), Teledyne FLIR LLC (US), Chemring Group PLC (UK), L3Harris Technologies Inc. (US), OSI Systems Inc. (US)..
Key Segments	By Technology Chemiluminescence Thermo-Redox Amplifying Fluorescent Polymer Mass Spectrometry Ion Mobility Spectrometry Colorimetric & Automated Colorimetric By Type Handheld Table Top Others By End-Use Critical Infrastructure Costumes & Border Protection Event Security Law Enforcement Ports Event Security By Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle-East & Africa
Report Coverage	Market Sizing, Market Forecasting, Market Dynamics, Market Trends, Market Development Analysis, Market Share Analysis, Regional Analysis, Competitive Positioning, Competitive Benchmarking, Competitive Landscape, Company Profiling, Regulation Analysis, etc.