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Market Overview

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Dry X-ray films are a type of medical film that does not require a darkroom for processing and does not use chemicals in the imaging process. These films are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. In comparison to wet X-ray films, dry films produce high-quality images with excellent grayscale and contrast, high resolution, and high density, making them the new standard for digital radiography imaging. There are two types of dry X-ray films available in the market: clear base films and blue base films. Additionally, these films can be used with dry thermal imagers or dry laser imagers.

The global dry X-ray film market was valued at $925 million in 2022 and is expected to reach $1,112 million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.86% during the forecast period of 2022-2032. The market is driven by several factors, including the cost advantages of dry X-ray films over other X-ray methods and the increasing demand for X-ray diagnosis procedures.

The global dry X-ray film market is currently in the developed phase; however, it faces some significant challenges, such as the increasing adoption of digital imaging acquisition and softcopy diagnosis. On the other hand, there are promising opportunities for the dry X-ray film market in emerging economies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the global healthcare ecosystem, including the radiology department. Radiology departments in hospitals and clinics were greatly affected as they required physical intervention. Moreover, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital health globally, including digital imaging, digital radiography, and softcopy diagnosis, which further impacted the demand for traditional hardcopy diagnosis methods like dry X-ray films and wet X-ray films.

The global dry X-ray film market is expected to be primarily driven by the increasing demand for X-ray diagnosis and the advantages of dry X-ray films, such as their lower cost compared to traditional X-ray films. In recent years, the use of X-rays for diagnosing conditions like osteoporosis, injuries, fractures, and bone replacements has significantly increased and is expected to continue growing in the coming years. Therefore, the market is projected to experience growth during the forecast period of 2022-2032. However, the adoption of digital imaging, digital radiography, and softcopy diagnosis poses a challenge to the market. Consequently, the growth of the dry X-ray film market is expected to occur mainly in regions with slower adoption rates, such as emerging countries.

The drivers for the global dry X-ray film market include the cost advantages of dry X-ray films over other methods and the increasing demand for X-ray diagnosis procedures. On the other hand, the market is expected to face limitations due to the increasing adoption of digital imaging acquisition and softcopy diagnosis, which offer advantages over traditional methods.

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Market Segmentation

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The market is segmented based on various factors, including type, application, end user, and region.

Segmentation by Type
Blue Film Base
Clear Film Base

Segmentation by Application
Dry Thermal Imager
Dry Laser Imager

Segmentation by End User
Hospitals and Clinics
Diagnostic Centers

Segmentation by Region
North America – U.S., Canada
Europe – Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Serbia, Romania, Russia, and Rest-of-Europe
Asia-Pacific – China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific
Latin America – Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest-of-Latin America
Middle East and Africa – U.A.E., Qatar, K.S.A., Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, South Africa, and Rest-of-Middle East and Africa

The global dry X-Ray film market is segmented into two types: clear base film and blue base film. Clear film-based and blue film-based X-Ray films are both used in medical imaging, but they have differences in composition and properties. The blue base film is the largest segment among the types, and this trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2032. Blue film-based X-Ray films have a blue-tinted polyester base with a special dye that acts as a filter, reducing scattered radiation and improving image contrast. These films are commonly used for mammography, where high contrast is important for detecting small breast tumors. The blue film base segment is projected to create the highest incremental opportunity of $115 million during the period 2021-2032.

Clear film base X-Ray films have a transparent polyester base with a thin layer of emulsion containing silver halide crystals. These crystals capture the X-Ray image when exposed. Clear film base X-Ray films are suitable for general radiography and a wide range of X-Ray imaging applications.

The dry laser imager segment is expected to create the highest incremental opportunity of $141 million during the period 2021-2032. Dry laser X-Ray imagers utilize laser printing technology and photostimulable storage phosphor (PSP) imaging to capture and store X-Ray images. A laser beam scans the PSP plate, releasing the stored energy and creating a digital image on the dry X-Ray film. Dry laser X-Ray imagers produce high-resolution images with sharp details and contrast, making them valuable in various medical imaging applications.

The hospitals and clinics segment is expected to create the highest incremental opportunity of $110 million during the period 2021-2032. Hospitals hold the largest share of the global dry X-Ray film market, as they often have dedicated radiology departments for medical imaging. Clinics also have smaller radiology departments to aid in diagnosis. The demand for imaging facilities in clinics is increasing due to the burden of chronic diseases and diagnostic cases.

In terms of regional distribution, Asia-Pacific held the largest share of 55.40% in 2021, followed by the Middle East and Africa at 19.80%. The Middle East and Africa region is anticipated to achieve high growth with a CAGR of 2.67% during the forecast period 2022-2032. Factors such as the rise in demand for X-Ray diagnosis procedures and lower adoption of digital imaging contribute to the market’s growth in these regions. Latin America is also expected to have significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of medical conditions like osteoporosis and a higher geriatric population.

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Competitive Landscape

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The selection of profiled companies was based on input from primary experts, analysis of company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration.

Key companies profiled in this report include Agfa-Gevaert Group, Carestream Health Inc., China Lucky Group Corporation (Lucky Healthcare Co., Ltd.), Codonics, Colenta Labortechnik GmbH & Co KG, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Huqiu Imaging (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, Konica Minolta Inc., Shenzhen Juding Medical Co., Ltd., Sony Group Corporation, Vinod Medical Systems Pvt. Ltd.

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Key Questions Answered

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What are the primary market drivers, challenges, and opportunities for the global dry X-Ray film market?

How is each product type within the global dry X-Ray film market projected to grow during the forecast period of 2022-2032?

What is the growth potential of the global dry X-Ray film market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa?

How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the global dry X-Ray film market?

How is each application within the global dry X-Ray film market expected to grow during the forecast period?