Towards Healthcare
Long Read Sequencing Market Booms at 30.96% CAGR by 2034

Long Read Sequencing Market Investor Outlook, Opportunities and Challenges

Based on market forecasts, the global long read sequencing market, projected at USD 0.78 billion in 2024, is expected to reach USD 11.6 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 30.96% over the forecast period. The rising incidences of genetic disorders, growing research and development, and increasing demand for personalized medicines drive the market.

Category: Biotechnology Insight Code: 5324 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

Long Read Sequencing Market Size, Companies, Advances and Expert Analysis

The long read sequencing market was estimated at US$ 0.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to US$ 11.6 billion by 2034, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.96% from 2024 to 2034.

Long Read Sequencing Market Revenue 2023 - 2034

Key Takeaways

  • North America dominated the global long read sequencing market in 2024.
  • Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing during the forecast period.
  • By product type, the consumables segment dominated the market in 2024.
  • By product type, the services segment is estimated to be the fastest growing at a notable CAGR during the forecast period.
  • By technology type, the nanopore sequencing segment dominated the market in 2024.
  • By technology type, the single-molecule real-time sequencing segment is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period.
  • By workflow type, the sequencing segment dominated the market in 2024.
  • By workflow type, the data analysis segment is estimated to be the fastest growing at a notable CAGR during the forecast period.
  • By application type, the whole genome sequencing segment dominated the market in 2024.
  • By application type, the metagenomics segment is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period.
  • By end user, the academic & research institutes segment dominated the global long read sequencing market in 2024.
  • By end user, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is predicted to grow significantly during the forecast period.

Long Read Sequencing Market: Next-Gen DNA Sequencing

Long-read sequencing (LRS) is one of the techniques of DNA sequencing in which the nucleotide sequence of long strands of DNA is determined. It is more favorable than short-read sequencing as it eliminates the need to cut up and then amplify the DNA. It can generate reads tens to thousands of kilobases in length with greater accuracy. These techniques implement different methodologies but are capable of sequencing long lengths of DNA. Long-read sequencing can more accurately detect large-scale mutations, where long sections of DNA are deleted or moved.

The increasing demand for genomics research due to rising incidences of genetic and chromosomal disorders boosts the market. In addition, the study of genetic variation and the discovery of mutations underlying human disease are dependent on technological advancements in molecular biology. The rising need for personalized medicines also potentiates LRS technology.

  • In October 2024, Azenta Inc. announced the launch of a long-read Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for clinical applications. Azenta becomes the first commercial provider to obtain regulatory approval to offer this test in the US.
  • In October 2024, PacBio announced the collaboration with the National Cancer Center of Singapore (NCCS) to accelerate cancer research by leveraging PacBio’s advanced sequencing technologies to profile the genomic landscape of prevalent cancers in Asia.
  • In July 2024, Oxford Nanopore Technologies announced an expanded, multi-year contract and a collaboration with Plasmidsaurus to transform the plasmid sequencing market through the application of nanopore technology.

Growth Factors

  • Growing genetic diseases: The increasing genetic diseases is rising the demand for the use of long-read sequencing.
  • Increasing personalized medication: The demand for the use of personalized medication to treat various genetic diseases with the use of long-read sequencing is increasing.
  • New developments: The long-read sequencing is also being used in the field of proteomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics.

Market Dynamics

Opportunity for the Long Read Sequencing Market

Personalized or precision medicines are therapeutics that are tailored based on an individual’s clinical and genetic requirements. The rapidly changing demographics are one of the reasons for using personalized medicines. Genomic testing aids in identifying the risk of developing a disease later in life and taking early actions to help prevent or reduce its likelihood. LRS is used to detect and diagnose rare genetic disorders within the population. Apart from genetic disorders, long-read sequencing is also used to detect tumors and infectious diseases. It has also emerged as a valuable tool in the field of transplantation, particularly in understanding the complex interplay between donor and recipient immune systems. Hence, the technology opened the door for additional advancements and enhancements that may eventually result in clinical practice using personalized medicines.

Low Accuracy and High-Cost Hinder the Long Read Sequencing Market

The major challenge of the market is the low accuracy of LRS. The LRS technique is less accurate than short-read sequencing. Another major challenge is the high cost per base compared to short-read sequencing. The average cost of LRS is several thousand dollars. This limits the affordability of several researchers from low- and middle-income countries.

Regional Insights

Long Read Sequencing Market NA, EU, APAC, LA, MEA Share, 2023 (%)

Presence of Key Players Dominated North America

North America held the largest share of the long read sequencing market in 2023. The state-of-the-art research & development facilities, increasing investments & collaborations, and the presence of key players drive the market. The key players, such as PacBio, Azenta, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Illumina, hold a major share of the global market. Novel drug discovery research and increasing awareness of personalized medicines boost the market. The market is also driven by favorable government policies and regulatory approvals for personalized medicines. In 2022, the US FDA approved 12 novel personalized medicines, accounting for 34% of all newly approved therapeutics. Out of which, 5 were new cell and gene therapies.

Favorable Government Policies Drive Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is projected to host the fastest-growing long read sequencing market in the coming years. The rising geriatric population, increasing genetic and chromosomal disorders, and growing research and development drive the market. The market is also driven by favorable government policies to support genomics in respective nations. As of January 2024, whole genome sequencing of 10,074 individuals across 99 communities was completed under the ‘GenomeIndia Project.’ China's government also actively supports genomic research. In 2016, it announced a $9 billion, 15-year project to collect, analyze, and sequence genomic data to become a global leader in precision medicine. Similarly, the Japanese government supports the advancement of genomic research and the strengthening of collaboration with international research communities.

Europe Emerges as a Key Growth Driver in the Long Read Sequencing Market

Europe is expected to grow significantly in the long read sequencing market during the forecast period. The industries in Europe are focusing on various research and development by using long-read sequencing for new treatment and diagnostic option development for the rising genetic diseases. At the same time, institutes are also collaborating with them to enhance this production. Thus, all these factors, along with the rising use of personalized medication, are promoting the market growth.

Segmental Insights

By product, the consumables segment dominated the long read sequencing market in 2023. Consumables for LRS include flow cells, assay kits, and reagents. They can eliminate the need to buy the entire sequencing kit.

Tthe services segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period. The availability of a lack of trained professionals and favorable infrastructure in small research institutions demands LRS services. In addition, the services can save a lot of time for researchers, allowing them to focus on outcomes rather than the procedure.

By technology, the nanopore sequencing segment accounted for a considerable share of the long read sequencing market in 2023. Nanopore sequencing is the only sequencing technology that enables real-time analysis in fully scalable formats, analyzes native DNA or RNA, and provides real-time analysis. In addition, it is proven with a variety of input materials such as genomic DNA, amplified DNA, cDNA, and native RNA.

The single molecule real-time sequencing segment is predicted to witness significant growth in the market over the forecast period. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing minimizes chemical modifications during library preparation, eliminating the need for DNA amplification. It also allows for the detection of various types of epigenetic modifications.

By workflow, the sequencing segment led the global long read sequencing market in 2023. Sequencing is one of the essential steps for LRS. Nucleotides are read on a sequencer at a read length and depth, and the clonal clusters are detected one base at a time.

The data analysis segment is anticipated to grow with the highest CAGR in the market during the studied years. Data analysis is the final step of the workflow. It involves analyzing the sequence reads produced by the sequencer. It involves two steps: read processing and sequence analysis.

By application, the whole genome sequencing segment registered its dominance over the global long read sequencing market in 2023. The rising demand for personalized medicines, identifying causative variants, and novel genome assembly boost the segment growth.

The metagenomics segment is projected to expand rapidly in the market in the coming years. The rising incidences of chronic disorders, disease prognosis research, and novel drug discovery augment the segment growth.

By end-use, the academic & research institutes segment dominated the long read sequencing market globally in 2023. The growing research and development in research institutions and the increasing number of publications & patents promote segment growth.

The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is anticipated to grow fastest in the market during the forecast period. Companies that have favorable infrastructure, sufficient funding, and research facilities augment segment growth.

Top Companies in the Long Read Sequencing Market

Long Read Sequencing Market Companies

  • 10x Genomics
  • Agilant Technologies
  • Azenta Life Sciences
  • BGI Genomics
  • Element Biosciences
  • Illumina
  • MGI
  • Oxford Nanopore Technologies
  • Pacific Biosciences (PacBio)
  • Qiagen
  • Quantapore, Inc.
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • Universal Sequencing Technology Corporation

Latest Announcements by Industry Leaders

In January 2024, PacBio CEO Christian Henry announced that it more than doubled its fourth-quarter sales of $58.4 million, i.e., a 113% increase compared to $27.4 million collected in the last three months of 2022. This surge in revenue was attributed to the recently launched two major DNA sequencing machines. He also said that he expects to see long-read DNA sequencing take as much as half of the market within the next five years.

Recent Developments in the Long Read Sequencing Market

  • In October 2024, PacBio announced a novel and improved long-read sequencing chemistry, SPRQ, for its Revio sequencing system. The new chemistry reduces DNA input by four-fold, enabling a 33% increase in data output, improving methylation calling, and expanding support for multi-omics.
  • In July 2024, researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology developed a novel long-read sequencing platform, NanoRanger, that offers an accurate, rapid, and low-cost method for diagnosing Mendelian genetic disorders within just a few hours.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product

  • Consumables
  • Services
  • Instruments

By Technology

  • Nanopore Sequencing
  • Single Molecule Real Time Sequencing
  • Others

By Workflow

  • Sequencing
  • Data Analysis
  • Pre-Sequencing

By Application

  • Whole Genome Sequencing
  • Metagenomics
  • Targeted Sequencing
  • RNA Sequencing
  • Epigenetics
  • Others

By End-Use

  • Academic & Research Institutes
  • Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
  • Hospitals & Clinics
  • Others

By Region

  • North America
    • US
    • Canada
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Thailand
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Denmark
    • Norway
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
    • South Africa
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Kuwait
  • Last Updated: 19 May 2025
  • Report Covered: [Revenue + Volume]
  • Historical Year: 2021-2023
  • Base Year: 2024
  • Estimated Years: 2025-2034

Meet the Team

Shivani Zoting is a dedicated research analyst specializing in the healthcare industry. With a strong academic foundation, a B.Sc. in Biotechnology and an MBA in Pharmabiotechnology, she brings a unique blend of scientific understanding and strategy.

Learn more about Shivani Zoting

Aditi Shivarkar, with over 14 years of experience in consumer goods, leads research at Towards Consumer Goods, ensuring precise, actionable insights on trends, consumer preferences, and sustainable packaging for businesses.

Learn more about Aditi Shivarkar

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FAQ's

Long-read sequencing allows for detecting complex structural variants that may be difficult with short-reads.

In short-read sequencing, DNA must be broken down into small fragments of around 900 letters. In long-read sequencing, DNA is broken into much larger fragments, ranging from around 10,000 letters to 100,000 letters in length.

Food and Drug Administration, National Institute of Health, Genomics Education Programme, WHO.