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Medical Laboratories in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Clara-Camille Schneider Clara-Camille Schneider Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ Q86.30DE

Revenue

€13.9bn

2024

€13.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

96,877

Businesses

637

Wages

€X.Xbn

Medical Laboratories in Germany industry analysis

Due to its central role in breaking chains of infection by providing SARS-CoV-2 infection tests, the industry recorded sales growth in 2020 and 2021. While the corona diagnostics sector recorded strong growth, sales development in routine diagnostics stagnated. Since then, industry sales have fallen again - a development that marks the end of the pandemic-related boom. Overall, the industry was nevertheless able to grow by an average of 1.5% per year over the past five years. The industry's profits have been burdened by insufficiently covered cost increases since 2021. For example, expenditure on wages and salaries, energy and transport costs and thus also the expenses for sample logistics and the prices of in-vitro diagnostics manufacturers have risen sharply. The fixed fee scales EBM and GOÄ do not allow the outpatient medical sector to refinance cost increases through price adjustments. < />For 2024, turnover is expected to increase by 0.8% compared to the previous year, meaning that industry turnover is likely to amount to 13.9 billion euros. As part of the implementation of the NIS 2 Directive and the KRITIS Umbrella Act, the industry is facing increasing legal requirements for its IT security. The implementation of effective IT security measures ties up investments and increases ongoing operating costs, although no refinancing has yet been agreed for these cost-intensive measures. Small and medium-sized companies, which dominate the industry, are facing particular challenges in the face of bureaucratic hurdles.One of the biggest challenges is the increasing shortage of skilled labour, which also affects laboratory medicine. The staff shortage is exacerbated by the reformed MTL training programme, which has been in place since 2023 and requires more staff in laboratories as well as higher qualification requirements. At the same time, the existing training capacities will not be able to meet the actual demand for MTL specialists in specialist laboratories, at least in the medium term. < />Despite all this, industry players have confidence in the future viability of Germany as a business location and are increasing their investments in research. Over the next five years, IBISWorld expects industry turnover to increase by an average of 2.7% per year to an estimated €15.9 billion in 2029. Demographic change and the associated ageing of the population in particular are contributing to industry growth, as older people are more likely to fall ill, which will result in higher demand for industry services. Growing health awareness will also contribute to rising healthcare expenditure. Laboratory diagnostics should also benefit from the digitalisation of healthcare and nursing care.

Trends and Insights

  • The shortage of skilled labour is slowing down growth in the sector. There is a lack of training opportunities, while at the same time more and more people working in the sector are working part-time or retiring.
  • General laboratory tests account for the largest share of sales in the sector. These include blood counts, the determination of liver and fat values, blood glucose measurements and the determination of thyroid values.
  • The largest proportion of industry players are based in the centre region. Laboratories there benefit from the high population figures, as a larger population generally goes hand in hand with a higher demand for laboratory services.
  • There is fierce competition within laboratory medicine. Although demand for laboratory services is increasing, the industry is also characterised by considerable price pressure and consolidation.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €13.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The shortage of skilled labour has various reasons and is an obstacle to growth

  • There is a shortage of skilled labour in the laboratory medicine sector. The recruitment of laboratory physicians and medical-technical laboratory assistants is becoming increasingly challenging and is slowing down the growth of industry turnover.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Medical Laboratories in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Biggest companies in the Medical Laboratories in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Limbach Gruppe SE
1,533.4
Sonic Healthcare Germany GmbH & Co. KG
1,178.4
Amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH
571.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Medical Laboratories in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including General laboratory tests, Pathology examinations and Analyses in the field of microbiology. General laboratory tests is the largest segment of the Medical Laboratories in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Preventive examinations ensure the best possible patient care

  • General laboratory tests include blood counts, the determination of liver and fat values, blood sugar measurements and the determination of thyroid values.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry specialises in the analysis of body fluids and excretions for the diagnosis of diseases or therapy monitoring. Methods from chemistry and biology are used for this purpose. Laboratory medicine is an interdisciplinary field of medicine.

What's included in this industry?

General laboratory testsPathology examinationsAnalyses in the field of microbiologyExaminations in the field of cytologyInvestigations in the field of genetics

Companies

Limbach Gruppe SESonic Healthcare Germany GmbH & Co. KGAmedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

POINT-OF-CARE TESTINGPCR TESTUNIFORM VALUATION STANDARDDIAGNOSIS RELATED GROUPS (DRG)MEDICAL INFORMATION OBJECTSKIM SERVICESLIQUID BIOPSY

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 86 - Medical Laboratories in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The shortage of skilled labour is slowing down growth in the sector. There is a lack of training opportunities, while at the same time more and more people working in the sec...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

General laboratory tests account for the largest share of sales in the sector. These include blood counts, the determination of liver and fat values, blood glucose measuremen...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The largest proportion of industry players are based in the centre region. Laboratories there benefit from the high population figures, as a larger population generally goes ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

There is fierce competition within laboratory medicine. Although demand for laboratory services is increasing, the industry is also characterised by considerable price pressu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Limbach Group SE has the largest market share in the laboratory medicine sector. It is the largest owner-managed laboratory group in Germany and was formed from the merge...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Limbach Gruppe SE's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Sonic Healthcare Germany GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Limbach Gruppe SE, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Sonic Healthcare Germany GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Laboratories must comply with the EU Medical Device Regulation, which has been in force since 2017. It tightens the requirements for medical devices by defining more products...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The profit margin can vary greatly from laboratory to laboratory. Large laboratories receive longer series that they can analyse in corresponding machines, which helps to inc...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany is €13.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Medical Laboratories in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 637 businesses in the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Medical Laboratories market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Medical Laboratories market in Germany are Limbach Gruppe SE, Sonic Healthcare Germany GmbH & Co. KG and Amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH

What does the Medical Laboratories in Germany include?

General laboratory tests and Pathology examinations are part of the Medical Laboratories industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Medical Laboratories in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Limbach Gruppe SE.

How competitive is the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Medical Laboratories industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Hospitals in Germany
  • General Medical Practices in Germany
  • Specialist Medical Practices in Germany

Complementors

  • Electromedical & Imaging Equipment Manufacturing in Germany
  • Biotechnology Research & Development in Germany
  • General Medical Practices in Germany
  • Specialist Medical Practices in Germany

International industries

  • Diagnostic & Medical Laboratories in the US
  • Pathology Services in Australia
  • Pathology and Diagnostic Imaging Services in New Zealand
  • Diagnostic & Ambulance Services in the UK

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.