What this market covers
Aptamers are short nucleic acid strands that bind to specific targets and are used in diagnostics, research and drug development. Buyers are biotech firms, diagnostic makers and academic labs.
Typical segments
- Diagnostic aptamers
- Therapeutic aptamers
- Research reagents
- Biosensor aptamers
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +69% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +23% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €6.25 billion of products under CN code 29349990 (Nucleic acids and their salts, whether or not chemically defined; heterocyclic compounds) from outside the EU in 2025. | 6.25 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 29349990 were up 69% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€3.70 billion), calculated from Eurostat values. | +69 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29349990 to countries outside the EU were worth €6.44 billion in 2025. | 6.44 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 29349990 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €6.38 billion in 2025. | 6.38 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 29349990 to the EU in 2025, with €1.68 billion, or 27% of extra-EU imports. | 1.68 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29349990 to the United States were €4.63 billion in 2025. | 4.63 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 29349990 was €188.25 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 188.25 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Ireland was the largest EU exporter of CN 29349990 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €4.29 billion. | 4.29 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 16,517 enterprises in NACE class M7211 (Research and experimental development on biotechnology) in 2023. | 16,517 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class M7211 had net turnover of €30.20 billion in 2023. | 30.20 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class M7211 employed 95,900 people across the EU in 2023. | 95,900 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 830 private establishments in NAICS 325414 (Biological product (except diagnostic) manufacturing) in 2025. | 830 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 325414 employed an average of 46,853 people in US private industry in 2025. | 46,853 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 325414 changed by +23% between 2020 (38,064 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +23 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 325414 was $124,162 in 2025. | 124,162 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 2,242 papers mentioning "aptamer" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 2,242 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29349990, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 6248228712
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29349990, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 3700564361; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 6248228712
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29349990, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 6443503464
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29349990, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 6378695877
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29349990, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1684848388
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29349990, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 4633456896
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29349990, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 6248228712, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 331906
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter IE, product 29349990, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 4292014095
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 M7211, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 16517
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 M7211, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 30200
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 M7211, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 95900
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325414, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325414, annual_avg_estabs 830
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325414, annual_avg_emplvl 46853
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 38064; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 46853
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325414, avg_annual_pay 124162
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "aptamer"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 2242
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Biotech companies
- Diagnostic developers
- Research institutes
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU aptamers market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €6.25 billion of goods under CN 29349990 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €6.44 billion.
Where does the EU import aptamers from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Switzerland, United States, Korea, Republic of.
What is the average import price of aptamers in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €188.25 per kilogram for CN 29349990 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most aptamers?
Ireland led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, Belgium.
How many US companies are in the aptamers industry?
BLS counts 830 private establishments in NAICS 325414 (Biological product (except diagnostic) manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the aptamers industry?
Eurostat counts 16,517 enterprises in NACE class M7211 (Research and experimental development on biotechnology).
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