Global Explosive Trace Detection Market Overview
- Explosive trace detection market size is projected to grow at USD 3.5 Billion by 2035.
- The market size was worth USD 1.7 Billion in 2024.
- The market is growing at a CAGR of 8.3 %.
Market Overview:
Explosive trace detectors (ETDs) are explosive detection equipment which are able to detect explosives of small magnitude. The detection is accomplished by sampling non-visible "trace" amounts of particulates. Governments and international organizations implement regulations which mandate the use of ETD systems in airports, border security, law enforcement, military operations, and event security.
There are certain driving factors of explosive trace detection such as it is cost effective, fast, user-friendly, versatile, and most importantly it ensures safety and security. These led to the fueling of the explosive trace detection market growth.
Key Takeaways:
- North America has the highest explosive trace detection market share as it have strong security measures and large defense investments.
- Asia-Pacific is expected to have the fastest growing market as there is an increased investments in aviation security in countries, such as China, India, Japan, and Australia.
Global Explosive Trace Detection Market Drivers & Restraints
Key Drivers of Target Market:
The Cost-Effectiveness of Explosive Trace Detectors is expected to pitch the Explosive Trace Detection Market Growth
ETDs are affordable and cost effective imaging systems as compared to costly imaging systems. ETD instruments can be used alone as the primary means of explosives/narcotics detection and in combination with other detection technologies for alarm resolution, handling overflow, and relieving bottlenecks during peak periods of screening activity.
- For instance, In April 2021, India developed the word’s first micro-sensor based explosive trace detector, using a micro-electrochemical systems (MEMS), called NanoSniffer, which is the world’s first Microsensor-based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) and was launched by the Education Minister. NanoSniffer provides trace detection of the Nano-gram quantity of explosives, and delivers results in seconds. This affordable device reduced India’s dependency on imported explosive trace detector devices.
The Property of ETDs to Detect Only the Presence of Explosive Materials May Impede Market Expansion
The explosive trace detectors only detect the presence of the explosive materials and not the type or amount of explosives present, different the bulk explosives detector, which can identify both the type and amount of explosives present.
- Counterbalance Statements: Developing explosive trace detectors which acquires all the properties, such as, detecting the presence, the type and the amount of the explosive can be prevent the market expansion from impeding.
Opportunities:
Developing Advanced Explosive Trace Detectors May Fuel the Market Expansions
Developing more advanced explosive trace detectors, such as, the detectors which can detect the presence, type and the amount of explosives can improve operational effectiveness resulting in widespread market growth.
- For instance, in March 2024, OSI Systems was awarded a contract for approximately USD 27 million to provide Itemiser 5X explosive trace detection (ETD) systems for secondary screening of passengers and carry-on baggage at airport checkpoints along with related consumables to a leading European airport.
Global Explosive Trace Detection Market Segmentations & Regional Insights
The target market is classified into product, technology, end-user, and region.
Product
On the basis of product, the market can be categorized into handheld, portable, and fixed-point/standalone. The handheld segment dominated the explosive trace detection market share due to its versatility and its use for various number of applications such as airport security, border control, law enforcement, military operations, and event security.
- For instance, in November 2021, Bruker announced that the new RoadRunner explosive trace detector (ETD) for airport passenger and baggage security screening was the only handheld ETD instrument which met the protocol set by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the RoadRunner offered fast and accurate screening capabilities in an easy to use and handheld design.
Technology
The market can be subdivided into chemiluminescence, thermos-redox, amplifying fluorescent polymer, mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, colorimetric, and others, on the basis of technology. The colorimetric technology segment has the largest market share as it is highly sensitive, easy to use, and provides with good results.
End-user
Based on end-user, the market can be distributed into commercial, defense, public safety, law enforcement, and others. The defense segment dominated the focused market share due to its need for advanced explosive trace detection technologies to detect and neutralize explosive threats, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines in military operations.
Region
Geographically, the explosive trace detection market can be categorized into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.
North America: North America has the highest market share in the global explosive trace detection market growth due to its strong security measures, large defense investments, increasing terrorist activities, cross-border conflicts, and demand for aviation applications. These factors lead to the explosive trace detection market growth in North America.
- For instance, in August 2024, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed methods to detect explosives from about half an inch away. This technology recognizes the same substances from two to eight feet away, depending on the material.
Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific is expected to have the fastest growing explosive trace detection market as there is an increased number of investments in aviation security in countries, such as China, India, Japan, and Australia, increase in terrorism, which helps in further market growth, expansion of transportation network, and rising number of travelers through the region.
- For instance, in September 2024, Smiths Detection, a threat detection and security screening company, announced the launch of the SDX 6040, which enhanced the image quality X-ray, and was a cutting-edge screening solution designed to meet the dynamic demands of modern security environments. The SDX 6040 offered the best image quality on the market, and ensured unparalleled clarity when detecting threats.
Explosive Trace Detection Market Report Scope:
Attribute |
Details |
Market Size 2025 |
USD 1.8 Billion |
Projected Market Size 2035 |
USD 3.5 Billion |
CAGR Growth Rate |
8.3 % (2024-2034) |
Base year for estimation |
2024 |
Forecast period |
2024 – 2034 |
Market representation |
Revenue in USD Billion & CAGR from 2024 to 2034 |
Regional scope |
North America - U.S. and Canada Europe – U.K., Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Russia, Netherlands, and Rest of Europe Asia Pacific - Japan, India, China, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America - Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa - South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Rest of Middle East & Africa |
Report coverage |
Revenue forecast, company share, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
Segmentation:
By Product:
- Handheld
- Portable
- Fixed-Point/Standalone
By Technology:
- Chemiluminescence
- Thermos-Redox
- Amplifying Fluorescent Polymer
- Mass Spectrometry
- Ion Mobility Spectrometry
- Colorimetric
- Others
By End-User:
- Commercial
- Defense
- Public Safety
- Law Enforcement
- Others
By Region:
- North America
- U.S.
- Canada
- Europe
- Germany
- U.K.
- France
- Russia
- Italy
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- Australia
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Argentina
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
- GCC
- Israel
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East & Africa
Global Explosive Trace Detection Market Competitive Landscape & Key Players
The key players are adopting strategies, such as developing advanced ETDs, investing in research and development, collaborating with other organizations and manufacturing products locally, for the explosive trace detection market growth. The key players operating in this market include Leidos, Smiths Detection Group Ltd., Teledyne FLIR LLC, and others.
List of Key Players in the Market:
- Leidos
- Smiths Detection Group Ltd.
- Teledyne FLIR LLC
- Bruker
- Analogic Corporation
- NUTECH COMPANY LIMITED
- OSI Systems, Inc.
- Rapiscan Systems
- Autoclear
- DetectaChem
- Chemring Group PLC
- American Innovations
Global Explosive Trace Detection Market Recent News
- In March 2021, according to the data published by Nature, scientists developed a thermodynamic sensor that can detect a multitude of explosives in the vapor phase at the parts-per-trillion (ppt) level. These sensors rely on the catalytic decomposition of the explosive and specific oxidation–reduction reactions between the energetic molecule and metal oxide catalyst; i.e. the heat effects associated with catalytic decomposition and redox reactions between the decomposition products and catalyst are measured.
- In January 2024, the Defense and Security Accelerator (DASA) launched a new Themed Competition called ‘Small, Lightweight, and Trace Explosives Detector’. This competition was jointly funded by the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and seeked proposals for the development of novel, lightweight, bioassay systems for the detection of trace explosives to benefit the end-users working in U.K. and U.S. Defence and Security.
Analyst View:
The explosive trace detection industry in boom as it has several driving factors which lead to substantial market growth. Some of its driving factors include its cost-effectiveness, versatility, good speed, and most importantly ensuring the safety and security. New product launches, advanced technologies, and several collaborations and partnerships help to boost the growth of the market in upcoming years.
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Global Explosive Trace Detection Market Company Profile
Company Name |
Leidos |
Headquarter |
Reston, Virginia, U.S. |
CEO |
Thomas A. Bell |
Employee Count (2024) |
47,000 Employees |
Global Explosive Trace Detection Market Highlights
FAQs
Explosive trace detection market size was valued at USD 1.8 Billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 3.5 Billion by 2035 growing at a CAGR of 8.3 %.
The market is segmented into product, technology, end-user, and region.
The market is segmented by region North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the market.
The key players operating in the target market include Leidos, Smiths Detection Group Ltd., Teledyne FLIR LLC, Bruker, Analogic Corporation, NUTECH COMPANY LIMITED, OSI Systems, Inc., Rapiscan Systems, Autoclear, DetectaChem, Chemring Group PLC, and American Innovations