Table of Contents
Overview
New York, NY – May 14, 2025 – Global Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market size is expected to be worth around US$ 5.0 billion by 2033 from US$ 2.4 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period 2024 to 2033.
The global vaccine contract manufacturing sector is witnessing robust growth, driven by increasing demand for cost-effective and scalable vaccine production solutions. Vaccine contract manufacturing involves outsourcing the production process to specialized third-party organizations, offering capabilities such as formulation, filling, packaging, and quality control. This approach enables pharmaceutical companies to accelerate production timelines, manage operational costs, and maintain regulatory compliance across global markets.
Rising incidences of infectious diseases, including influenza, hepatitis, and human papillomavirus (HPV), have contributed to the increasing demand for vaccine development and production. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital role of contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) in ensuring rapid and widespread vaccine availability. Governments and healthcare providers across various regions continue to invest in public immunization programs, further supporting market growth.
Technological advancements, such as single-use bioreactors and mRNA production platforms, are enhancing manufacturing efficiency and adaptability. These innovations are helping contract manufacturers meet the growing need for personalized and novel vaccine types, including recombinant and conjugate vaccines.
North America holds a significant share of the global market due to well-established biopharmaceutical infrastructure and high R&D expenditure. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth, driven by rising vaccine demand, favorable government initiatives, and the expansion of manufacturing capabilities in countries like India and China.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the global vaccine contract manufacturing market generated revenue of US$ 4.0 billion and is projected to reach US$ 5.0 billion by 2033, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%.
- Based on vaccine type, attenuated vaccines held the largest market share, accounting for 35.7% in 2023. Other key categories include inactivated vaccines, RNA vaccines, subunit vaccines, and toxoid-based vaccines.
- By process, the downstream segment emerged as the leading contributor, capturing a share of 59.2% in 2023.
- When analyzed by scale of operations, the commercial segment dominated the market, contributing 66.4% of the total revenue due to its broad-scale manufacturing capabilities and established distribution networks.
- On the basis of end-use, the human use segment led the market, securing a significant revenue share of 72.6%, reflecting the growing global emphasis on human immunization programs.
- Regionally, North America maintained its leading position in the global market, holding a share of 40.1% in 2023, supported by advanced manufacturing infrastructure and ongoing investments in vaccine research and development.
Segmentation Analysis
- By Vaccine Type Analysis: In 2023, attenuated vaccines led the market with a 35.7% share due to their ability to trigger long-lasting immune responses. These vaccines are widely used against diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella. The segment’s growth is supported by advances in genetic engineering for safer strains, rising infection rates in developing regions, and cost-effective large-scale production. Government initiatives and global immunization programs are also expected to further boost demand for attenuated vaccines.
- By Process Analysis: The downstream segment accounted for 59.2% of the market in 2023, driven by the complexity of vaccine purification and formulation. As companies prioritize product purity and yield, processes such as ultrafiltration, chromatography, and sterile filtration have gained prominence. Innovations in purification technologies, including single-use systems, reduce contamination risks and streamline operations. The growing demand for high-quality RNA and protein-based vaccines continues to drive investments in advanced downstream processing capabilities.
- By Scale of Operations Analysis: In 2023, the commercial segment led with a 66.4% revenue share, fueled by increased demand for full-scale vaccine production. As more vaccines progress beyond clinical trials, the need for large manufacturing capacity grows. Long-term contracts between pharmaceutical firms and contract manufacturers are driving this segment, alongside rising global efforts in pandemic preparedness and vaccine stockpiling. These factors support continuous expansion of commercial-scale production infrastructure across developed and emerging regions.
- By End-use Analysis: The human use segment dominated with a 72.6% revenue share in 2023, driven by high global demand for vaccines against COVID-19, influenza, HPV, and other infectious diseases. Government vaccination initiatives and funding for universal immunization coverage are contributing factors. The aging population, which is more vulnerable to infections, is further boosting vaccine demand. Additionally, innovations in mRNA and protein-based platforms specifically targeting human use are expected to sustain growth in this segment.
Market Segments
By Vaccine Type
- Inactivated Vaccines
- Attenuated Vaccines
- RNA Vaccines
- Subunit Vaccines
- Toxoid-based Vaccines
By Process
- Downstream
- Analytical & QC Studies
- Fill Finish
- Packaging
- Others
- Upstream
- Bacterial Expression Systems
- Baculovirus/Insect Expression Systems
- Mammalian Expression Systems
- Yeast Expression Systems
- Others
By Scale of Operations
- Preclinical
- Clinical
- Commercial
By End-use
- Human Use
- Veterinary
Regional Analysis
North America emerged as the dominant region in the vaccine contract manufacturing market, capturing a revenue share of 40.1%. This leadership can be attributed to the growing demand for large-scale vaccine production and strategic alliances between governments and pharmaceutical firms. A significant milestone was the April 2022 announcement by Moderna, Inc. to establish a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Quebec, Canada. This initiative, under a long-term partnership with the Canadian government, expanded the company’s production capacity and regional footprint.
The urgency for rapid vaccine production during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with advancements in mRNA technologies, has significantly fueled the demand for contract manufacturing services. Furthermore, continued investment in manufacturing infrastructure and increased government funding for vaccine development have played a pivotal role in sustaining regional market growth.
Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific region is projected to record the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for biologics and advanced therapeutics. In June 2023, FUJIFILM Corporation launched a new commercial office in Tokyo aimed at strengthening customer support and fostering partnerships across the region’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
The market is further supported by a rapidly expanding pharmaceutical industry, rising investments in R&D, and government-led initiatives to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce dependency on imports. These factors collectively position Asia Pacific as a key high-growth region in the global vaccine contract manufacturing landscape.
Emerging Trends
- Rapid Expansion of Regional Vaccine Capacity: Under the WHO’s Global Action Plan (GAP) for pandemic influenza, regional manufacturing capacity was scaled up aggressively. Total pandemic dose capacity increased from 338 million doses in 2015 to over 900 million by 2018–19, reflecting growing investment in local production facilities in low- and middle-income countries.
- Growth of mRNA Technology Transfer Hubs: A dedicated mRNA Technology Transfer Hub was established in South Africa in 2021. By January 2025, technology transfer support had been extended to 15 recipient countries, including six in Africa, fostering local expertise and equipment deployment for mRNA vaccine manufacture.
- Expansion of WHO Prequalification for Local Sites: In 2024, a new vaccine packaging and manufacturing site in Africa was added to WHO’s list of prequalified facilities, enhancing credibility and enabling regional producers to meet international quality standards.
- Ambitious Targets for African Vaccine Sovereignty: The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator was launched with the objective of increasing the continent’s self-sufficiency. A target has been set for 60 % of vaccines used in Africa to be produced locally by 2040.
Use Cases
- Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Production: Contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) have been instrumental in meeting annual flu vaccine demand. For example, during the 2003–04 season, approximately 87 million doses were produced through such partnerships, ensuring uninterrupted supply for routine immunization campaigns.
- Global Pandemic Response via COVAX: During the COVID-19 pandemic, COVAX leveraged a network of reserved contract manufacturing capacity. Since late February 2021, more than 1.8 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses were delivered to 146 economies, demonstrating the critical role of CMOs in rapid, large‐scale vaccine deployment.
- mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer and Scale-Up: After its first successful technology transfer in September 2024 to Biovac, the mRNA Hub completed transfers to three more partners within the same year. These actions have significantly increased readiness for mRNA vaccine production in regions without prior capability.
Conclusion
The global vaccine contract manufacturing market is expanding steadily, driven by the growing demand for cost-efficient, scalable vaccine production solutions. This model allows pharmaceutical companies to outsource key processes such as formulation, filling, and quality control to specialized contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), accelerating production timelines and ensuring regulatory compliance.
In 2023, the market generated US$ 4.0 billion in revenue and is projected to reach US$ 5.0 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.6%. Rising infectious disease prevalence, increased global immunization programs, and the pivotal role of CMOs during the COVID-19 pandemic have strengthened the market.
Technological advancements, particularly in mRNA and single-use bioreactor platforms, support high-volume and flexible manufacturing. North America holds a dominant 40.1% market share due to robust infrastructure, while Asia Pacific is set to grow fastest, supported by regional manufacturing expansion and government initiatives. The market is further shaped by WHO-backed programs for regional capacity building and mRNA technology transfer.
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