Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market
Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market by Product [Membrane Filter, Depth Filter, Virus Filter, Air Filter, Assemblies, Systems (Single-use)], Technique (Ultrafiltration), Type (Sterile), Application (API, Protein), Scale, End User - Forecast to 2030
OVERVIEW
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
The Europe pharmaceutical filtration market is projected to reach USD 5.95 billion by 2030 from USD 4.05 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2025 to 2030. Pharmaceutical filtration is a process wherein solid and semi-solid particles present in a suspension are separated from a liquid or gas by employing membrane filters, such as filter sheets, cartridges & capsules, papers, depth filters, and others. Its market is fueled by the growing development and commercialization of biologics and biosimilars.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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BY COUNTRYBy country, Germany held the largest share of 26% of the Europe pharmaceutical filtration market in 2024.
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BY PRODUCTBy product, the consumables segment is expected to dominate the market, with a share of 84.0% in 2024.
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BY TECHNIQUEBy Technique, the microfiltration segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate from 2025 to 2030.
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BY TYPEBy Type, sterile preparations dominate the Europe pharmaceutical filtration market.
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BY APPLICATIONBy application, the final product processing segment is expected to dominate the market.
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BY SCALE OF OPERATIONBy scale of operation, the manufacturing-scale operations segment is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period.
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BY END USERBy end user, the pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies segment is expected to dominate the market.
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COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPEMerck KGaA (Germany), Sartorius AG (Germany), and Eaton Corporation plc (Ireland) were identified as the Star players in the Europe pharmaceutical filtration market, given their strong market share and product footprint.
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COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPEEasy Filtration (Italy) and Sani membrane (Denmark) have distinguished themselves among startups and SMEs by securing strong footholds in specialized niche areas, underscoring their potential as emerging market leaders.
The Europe pharmaceutical filtration market is expanding quickly. This growth is primarily driven by stringent quality regulations, higher demand for sterile drug production, and increased adoption of biologic therapies. Advanced filtration technologies are the main enablers for safer and more reliable manufacturing of vaccines, injectable medicines, and personalized treatments. As manufacturers gradually shift their focus to contamination control and regulatory compliance, filtration solutions are becoming the key agents not only for sustaining pharmaceutical quality but also for encouraging ??????innovation.
TRENDS & DISRUPTIONS IMPACTING CUSTOMERS' CUSTOMERS
The Europe pharmaceutical filtration market is being reshaped by rapidly evolving industry, regulatory, and therapeutic trends, with major shifts expected to deepen over the forecast period. Europe biomanufacturers and CDMOs demand more filtration technologies due to the fast growth of advanced therapies such as cell & gene therapies, mRNA vaccines, and recombinant proteins. These CDMOs prioritize regulatory control and compliance, and the EU, as well as national authorities, are increasingly using filtration technologies for quality control and allowing it to be used for expanded innovation across the manufacturing value ??????chain.
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
MARKET DYNAMICS
Level
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Rising biologics and vaccine production under strict EU quality rules
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Increased demand for high-efficiency, regulatory-compliant filtration systems that ensure sterility
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High costs and demanding validation/compliance requirements
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Expanding use of advanced therapies in Europe
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Complex, evolving EMA and EU regulations on sterility, safety, and sustainability
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Driver: Rising biologics and vaccine production under strict EU quality rules
In Europe, the rapid growth of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, vaccines, and other biologics is significantly increasing the need for high-capacity, sterile, and virus-retentive filtration across upstream, downstream, and fill-finish steps. This shift toward complex biologic pipelines is prompting manufacturers to upgrade to more efficient, high-throughput filtration platforms to secure product purity and regulatory-compliant quality.
Restraint: High costs and demanding validation/compliance requirements
Across the European market, the significant capital and operating costs of advanced membrane and single-use filtration systems, combined with stringent EU validation and documentation requirements, remain a barrier to rapid adoption. Smaller firms and early-stage biotechs often delay filtration upgrades or rely on legacy systems, which slows the modernization of the regional filtration base.
Opportunity: Expanding use of advanced therapies in Europe
The strong pipeline of cell & gene therapies, mRNA vaccines, and other next-generation biologics in Europe is opening attractive opportunities for high-performance, application-specific filtration solutions. Suppliers that offer flexible, modular, and single-use platforms tailored to these modalities are well-positioned to capture new projects across CDMOs and large biopharma sites.
Challenge: Complex, evolving EMA and EU regulations on sterility, safety, and sustainability
European manufacturers must continually adapt their filtration strategies to meet the increasingly stringent expectations of the EMA and country-level authorities on sterility assurance, extractables and leachables, and environmental sustainability. Keeping pace with these evolving standards, while ensuring robust supply chains and consistent filter performance across multiple sites, poses an ongoing operational challenge for both pharma companies and filtration vendors.
EUROPE PHARMACEUTICAL FILTRATION MARKET: COMMERCIAL USE CASES ACROSS INDUSTRIES
| COMPANY | USE CASE DESCRIPTION | BENEFITS |
|---|---|---|
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Supplies a broad range of depth filters, clarification media, and membrane cartridges used for harvest clarification, bioburden control, and final sterile filtration in biologics, vaccines, plasma products, and recombinants | Improves clarification performance and product purity, strengthens viral safety, enables scalable single-use production, and lowers contamination risk at key bioprocessing stages |
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Provides integrated single-use bioprocessing and sterilizing-grade filtration solutions, including capsules, TFF & virus-removal systems, plus automated skids for upstream, downstream, and final-fill steps in biologics | Increases manufacturing flexibility and throughput, supports continuous or intensified operations, cuts time to batch release, and secures compliant sterility for advanced biologics |
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Delivers depth filtration, virus-removal media, TFF systems, and filtration trains linked with chromatography for continuous processing and large-scale biologics manufacturing | Raises production efficiency, facilitates continuous processing, helps reduce operating costs, and enhances the purity of high-value therapeutic products |
Logos and trademarks shown above are the property of their respective owners. Their use here is for informational and illustrative purposes only.
MARKET ECOSYSTEM
The Europe pharmaceutical filtration ecosystem comprises closely connected stakeholders, including membrane & equipment manufacturers, system integrators, biopharmaceutical producers, CMOs/CDMOs, distributors, and end users. Filter & media suppliers provide critical components, including sterilizing-grade membranes, microfiltration and ultrafiltration units, single-use assemblies, and depth filtration systems. Biopharma companies and CMOs apply these technologies across upstream, downstream, and fill-finish operations to ensure sterility, product purity, and regulatory compliance. Engineering partners support validation, scale-up, and process optimization, while distributors facilitate reliable delivery to manufacturing sites worldwide. This integrated ecosystem strengthens process efficiency, enhances contamination control, and supports the growing production of biologics, vaccines, and advanced therapies.
Logos and trademarks shown above are the property of their respective owners. Their use here is for informational and illustrative purposes only.
MARKET SEGMENTS
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market, By Product
In 2024, consumables accounted for the largest share of the Europe pharmaceutical filtration market. Their dominance stems from their indispensable use in everyday sterile manufacturing processes and the ongoing need for replacement to ensure regulatory compliance and continuous, contamination-free production.
Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market, By Technique
In 2024, microfiltration emerged as the most widely adopted technique, primarily due to its strong ability to remove bacteria and particulate impurities from pharmaceutical solutions. This makes it a key method for safeguarding the quality of injectable medicines and other high-sensitivity formulations.
Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market, By Type
Sterile filtration led the market in 2024, supported by its critical role in producing injectable therapeutics, biologics, and parenteral nutrition. The requirement for complete microorganism removal to ensure patient safety reinforces its continued dominance across European pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market, By Application
In 2024, final product processing emerged as the largest application area, as filtration at this stage is vital for ensuring the necessary sterility and purity standards. Its importance in influencing product safety and meeting regulatory requirements makes it a key contributor to market demand.
Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market, By Scale of Operation
In 2024, large-scale manufacturing operations dominated the market, supported by the needs of high-volume pharmaceutical production. These operations rely heavily on continuous and reliable filtration processes to maintain consistent product quality and comply with global standards.
Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market, By End User
Pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies held the leading share of the market in 2024. Their extensive use of filtration technologies for large-scale drug production, particularly for sterile and high-purity formulations, drives significant demand within this end-user segment.
REGION
Germany to be fastest-growing country in market during forecast period
Germany is among the fastest-growing markets in Europe for pharmaceutical filtration, driven by the ongoing expansion of biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and a robust pipeline of biologics and biosimilars. The rapid growth of CDMOs and CMOs, combined with intensive R&D activity in vaccines, cell & gene therapies, and mRNA platforms, is driving increased deployment of high-performance filtration systems across German facilities. Robust healthcare spending, advanced production infrastructure, and supportive federal and regional funding programs further encourage large-scale investment in innovative filtration technologies.
EUROPE PHARMACEUTICAL FILTRATION MARKET: COMPANY EVALUATION MATRIX
In the Europe pharmaceutical filtration market matrix, Merck KGaA (Star Player) holds a leading position with an extensive portfolio of high-efficiency filters for sterile and non-sterile applications, a global reach, and robust support across manufacturing and research settings. This leadership has driven widespread adoption among biopharma companies, contract manufacturers, and hospital networks. Eaton Corporation Plc (Emerging Leader) is rapidly gaining traction, owing to its innovative membrane technologies, flexible product design, and expanding presence in precision therapeutic areas. Meanwhile, specialist companies focusing on niche filtration needs and agile manufacturing practices show significant growth potential, with strategic advancements positioning them as future contenders in the leaders’ quadrant.
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
KEY MARKET PLAYERS
- Merck KGaA (Germany)
- Sartorius AG (Germany)
- Eaton Corporation Plc (Ireland)
- Porvair Plc (UK)
- Donaldson Company, Inc. (US)
- Alfa Laval Corporate AB (Sweden)
- MMS AG (Germany)
- MANN+HUMMEL International GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
MARKET SCOPE
| REPORT METRIC | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Market Size in 2024 (Value) | USD 3.81 Billion |
| Market Forecast in 2030 (Value) | USD 5.95 Billion |
| Growth Rate | CAGR of 8.0% from 2025–2030 |
| Years Considered | 2023–2030 |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025–2030 |
| Units Considered | Value (USD Million/Billion) |
| Report Coverage | Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
| Segments Covered |
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| Countries Covered | Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Rest of Europe |
WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU: EUROPE PHARMACEUTICAL FILTRATION MARKET REPORT CONTENT GUIDE
DELIVERED CUSTOMIZATIONS
We have successfully delivered the following deep-dive customizations:
| CLIENT REQUEST | CUSTOMIZATION DELIVERED | VALUE ADDS |
|---|---|---|
| Filtration Technology Insights | Comprehensive analysis of European microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, sterile filtration, and virus filtration technologies, with comparisons based on efficiency, scalability, cost, supply-chain maturity, and EMA regulatory compliance. | Supports filtration equipment suppliers in tailoring product portfolios to varying regulatory environments and manufacturing demands across major European markets, such as Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Switzerland. |
| Innovation and R&D Trends | Assessment of emerging filtration innovations in Europe, including advancements in single-use systems, continuous bioprocessing, aseptic automation, and PAT-enabled real-time monitoring, supported by analysis of regional R&D funding, collaborations, and patent activity. | Helps guide strategic R&D investment by identifying high-growth areas in Europe’s biopharmaceutical ecosystem and aligning new filtration technologies with regional innovation priorities and partnerships. |
| Unmet Needs | Identification of filtration challenges in high-value biologics, vaccines, sterile injectables, and cell & gene therapy manufacturing in Europe, especially under stringent EMA and country-specific GMP guidelines. | Highlights strong opportunities for advanced filtration systems and specialized services addressing sterility assurance, contamination control, extractables & leachables management, and validation support within European manufacturing facilities. |
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
- April 2024: Merck is investing over USD 325.46 million in a new research center at its global headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. This investment aims to enhance Merck's leading position in key technologies for the development and production of innovative medicines.
- January 2023: Sartorius AG and RoosterBio signed a collaboration deal to provide purification solutions and establish scalable downstream manufacturing processes for exosome-based therapies.
- September 2022: Merck expanded its facility in Molsheim, France, to increase the manufacturing capacity of single-use assemblies belonging to the Mobius portfolio by investing around USD 139.97 million. The expansion will span over 3,500 sq. ft. The expanded facility will manufacture Mobius single-use assemblies, such as filters, tubing connectors, needles, and pumps.
Table of Contents
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Methodology
This research study extensively used secondary sources, directories, and databases to identify and collect valuable information to analyze the global Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market. In-depth interviews were conducted with various primary respondents, including key industry participants, subject-matter experts (SMEs), C-level executives of key market players, and industry consultants, to gather and verify critical qualitative and quantitative information and assess the market's growth prospects. The global market size estimated through secondary research was then triangulated with inputs from primary research to arrive at the final market size.
Secondary Research
Secondary research was used mainly to identify and collect information for the extensive, technical, market-oriented, and commercial study of the Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market. The secondary sources used for this study include the American Membrane Technology Associations (AMTA), European Membrane Society (EMS), American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada, National Institutes of Health (NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), BioProcess International Magazine, BioPharm International, Journal of Bioprocessing and Biotechniques, BioPlan Associates, ScienceDirect, and Factiva, research journals; corporate filings such as annual reports, SEC filings, investor presentations, and financial statements; press releases; trade, business, professional associations and among others. These sources were also used to obtain key information about major players, market classification, and segmentation according to industry trends, regional/country-level markets, market developments, and technology perspectives.
Primary Research
Following an initial assessment of the global Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market landscape through secondary research, comprehensive primary research was undertaken. This involved conducting in-depth interviews with market experts from the demand side, including stakeholders from pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, CROs, CMOs, and academic and research institutions. Additionally, interviews were held with key supply-side participants, such as C-suite and senior executives, product managers, and marketing and sales leaders from prominent manufacturers, distributors, and channel partners.
The research covered six major geographical regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Approximately 70% of the primary interviews were conducted with supply-side participants, while 30% involved demand-side experts. Data collection methods included structured questionnaires, email correspondence, online surveys, personal interviews, and telephonic discussions to understand the market dynamics comprehensively.
Market Size Estimation
Both bottom-up and top-down approaches were used to estimate and validate the total size of the Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market. These methods were also used extensively to estimate the size of various subsegments in the market. The research methodology used to estimate the market size includes the following:
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the market size from the estimation process explained above, the total market was divided into several segments and subsegments. To complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for all segments and subsegments, data triangulation and market breakdown procedures were employed, wherever applicable. The data was triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply sides.
Market Definition
Pharmaceutical Filtration is a process wherein solid and semi-solid particles present in a suspension are separated from a liquid or gas by employing membrane filters, such as filter sheets, cartridges and capsules, papers, depth filters, and others. These filters retain solids, thus allowing liquids to pass through in all pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing processes.
Stakeholders
- Filter Manufacturers, Vendors, and Distributors
- Academic and Government Research Institutes
- Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
- Life Science Companies
- Venture Capitalists and Investors
- Government Organizations
- Private Research Firms
- Research & Development (R&D) companies
- Contract Research Organizations (CROs)
- Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs)
- Market Research and Consulting Firms
Report Objectives
- To define, describe, and forecast the Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market based on product, technique, type, scale of operation, application, end user, and region
- To provide detailed information regarding the major factors influencing market growth (such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges)
- To strategically analyze micromarkets1 concerning individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market
- To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for market leaders
- To forecast the size of the market segments concerning six main regions: North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa
- To profile the key players in the global Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market and comprehensively analyze their product portfolios, market positions, and core competencies
- To track and analyze competitive developments such as product approvals & launches, expansions, agreements, and collaborations in the Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market
- To benchmark players within the Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market using the company evaluation matrix framework, which analyzes market players based on various parameters within the broad categories of business and service strategy
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Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Europe Pharmaceutical Filtration Market