What this market covers
Cell culture media are nutrient liquids that feed cells grown in the lab or in bioreactors. They include serum based, serum free and chemically defined products.
Typical segments
- Serum free media
- Chemically defined media
- Classical media
- Powdered media
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +20% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +23% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €668.3 million of products under CN code 38210000 (Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms "incl.) from outside the EU in 2025. | 668.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 38210000 were up 20% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€558.7 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +20 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 38210000 to countries outside the EU were worth €722.5 million in 2025. | 722.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 38210000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €988.7 million in 2025. | 988.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United States was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 38210000 to the EU in 2025, with €304.4 million, or 46% of extra-EU imports. | 304.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 38210000 to the United States were €141.9 million in 2025. | 141.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 38210000 was €62.60 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 62.60 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| France was the largest EU exporter of CN 38210000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €197.3 million. | 197.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 3,116 enterprises in NACE class C2120 (Manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations) in 2023. | 3,116 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2120 had net turnover of €428.65 billion in 2023. | 428.65 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2120 employed 600,730 people across the EU in 2023. | 600,730 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 830 private establishments in NAICS 325414 (Biological product (except diagnostic) manufacturing) in 2025. | 830 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 325414 employed an average of 46,853 people in US private industry in 2025. | 46,853 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 325414 changed by +23% between 2020 (38,064 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +23 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 325414 was $124,162 in 2025. | 124,162 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 177 papers mentioning "cell culture media" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 177 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38210000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 668285598
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38210000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 558726551; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 668285598
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38210000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 722479526
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38210000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 988678394
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38210000, partner US, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 304387226
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38210000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 141910069
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 38210000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 668285598, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 106758
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter FR, product 38210000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 197336978
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2120, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 3116
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2120, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 428651
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2120, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 600730
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325414, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325414, annual_avg_estabs 830
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325414, annual_avg_emplvl 46853
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 38064; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 46853
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325414, avg_annual_pay 124162
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "cell culture media"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 177
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Biopharma manufacturers
- Research labs
- Cell therapy developers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU cell culture media market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €668.3 million of goods under CN 38210000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €722.5 million.
Where does the EU import cell culture media from?
United States was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan.
What is the average import price of cell culture media in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €62.60 per kilogram for CN 38210000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most cell culture media?
France led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, Netherlands.
How many US companies are in the cell culture media industry?
BLS counts 830 private establishments in NAICS 325414 (Biological product (except diagnostic) manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the cell culture media industry?
Eurostat counts 3,116 enterprises in NACE class C2120 (Manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations).
Ask about this market
Ask about a figure, its source, a definition or the editions. Answers use only what is published on this page and the rest of the site, and link to the original source.
- Where does the 668.3 figure for the Cell culture media Market come from?
- How big is the Cell culture media Market?
- What does the Cell culture media Market cover?
- Who are the largest suppliers in the Cell culture media Market?
Answers come from the figures published on this site. Check the linked sources before relying on a number.
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