Global Hydroponics Market

Hydroponics Market: Insights

The market is estimated to grow from USD 10.56 billion in 2021 to almost USD 17.90 billion in 2026. With the growing food demand around the world and rising dependency on the traditional food sector, the hydroponics market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, as a potential solution for urban farming.

Hydroponics is horticulture farming where the soil is replaced with aqueous mineral solvents to grow plants and crops. It allows the producer to grow fruits, crops, greens anywhere in the world, in any season of the year. It also has a higher-yielding rate using fewer resources. With the increasing pressure on the agriculture market to fulfill the growing demand for crops and food, hydroponics is becoming a possible solution. It is looked at as a potential way to overcome the problems associated with the growing food demand in the world. It is becoming popular mainly due to its higher yield as compared to traditional agriculture practices.

According to the United Nations, it is proved that plants grown in the hydroponics have 20% higher yields than the traditional system, its productivity is 2-5 times higher than the traditional one. Also, it can be balanced with the ongoing ecological problems and weather changes. Climatic changes play a minute change in such systems, crops can be grown 365 days in this system.

Hydroponics Market: By Type

The category of liquid systems is expected to be the largest shareholder over the estimated timeframe of 2021-2026, which is further divided into Ebb & flow systems, drip systems, wick systems. This is mainly due to its cost-effectiveness compared to the other segments. Liquid systems help to increase the production rate compared to other types, and hence, the growers are preferring and installing liquid systems for crop productions. Although the primary cost for setting up the hydroponic system is expensive compared to the traditional cultivational ways which act as a restraint in this market, after the initial setup, the liquid system is observed to be somewhat pocket-friendly, and easier to maintain in comparison to other types.

Along with that, the liquid systems tend to be more productive than the aggregated systems. It also tends to reduce the cost for the nutrients used, as it works in a closed model. For these significant reasons, the liquid system faces a greater demand in this market. It is also expected to register a high growth rate between 2021-2026, due to the growing popularity of the closed cultivation system in the world. The cultivation of leafy vegetables such as lettuce is being farmed through the Nutrient Film Technique system and the Deepwater culture system, which are various forms of liquid hydroponic cultivation system.

Hydroponics Market: By Equipment

Based on the equipment, the market is considered into six main segments namely material handling, HVAC, control systems, LED grow lights, and irrigation systems among others. In terms of revenue growth, the largest share is expected to be occupied by HVAC systems. The systems are widely used for cooling, and dehumidification, and for maintaining the optimum temperature.

HVAC systems are one of the key pieces of equipment used in hydroponic farms. Moreover, the cost of maintenance of the HVAC system in the hydroponic system in comparison to its other components is somewhat less, it is estimated to acquire a larger share of the market.

Hydroponics Market: By Input

Based on the study by input, this market can be divided into two categories: Nutrients and Rockwool, which are divided into further sub-categories. In the forecasting period of 2021-2026, nutrients sub-segments are predicted to foster the fastest growth in the market. The external nutrients are highly essential in the hydroponic system, as the crops under hydroponics grow without soil. In hydroponics farming, the majority of crops are directly grown in the nutrient medium. This is the main factor driving the demand for nutrients in the global market.

Hydroponics Market: By Crop Type

By crop type, the hydroponics is divided into vegetables, fruits, flowers, where currently, fruits hold the most of the market share and it is expected that in the forecasting period it will have the fastest-growing market demand. Growing consumption of fruits globally along with changing food habits is driving the market growth for the fruits segment. Fruits can be grown and harvested all over the year by using the hydroponics farming technique. Fruits such as watermelon, tomatoes, and cantaloupe, among others are a good choice for framers who are using hydroponic methods.

However, during the foreseen period the growth of the cultivation of various leafy vegetables like, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce is estimated to be the fastest. As with the growing time, the consumers are getting aware of the benefits of eating fresh greens and vegetables, they are shifting to consume plant-based salads and dishes regularly, which is increasing the demand for this sin global market. And to tackle such increased demand the growers are opting for a more productive and all-season long system of cultivation, that is the hydroponic system. 

Hydroponics Market: By Region

The European and North American regions hold the largest segments for now in this market, due to their practices of advanced techniques, and constant investment in research and development.  But, the market in the APAC region is expected to grow at the fastest rate of CAGR during 2021-2026. Mainly due to the constant rise in the population, increased pressure on food production, the changing climates, etc., especially in the countries like China, India, South Korea, are the major contributor in this growth rate, with the increasing investment in the research and development sector and use of advanced techniques, the region is expected to grow at the largest CAGR during the foreseen period.

Hydroponics Market: Share & Competitor Analysis

Signify Holdings, American Hydroponics, Argus Control Systems, Grobo, Heliospectra AB, Logiqs B.V, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Hydrodynamics International, American Hydroponics, Vitalink, LumiGrow, Advanced Nutrients, Emerald Harvest, and  Hydroponic Systems International among others are the key players sharing maximum revenue in the market.

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of companies profiled in the report.

In May 2020, InFarm started its operations in the Netherlands through its new outlet.

In August 2019, LumiGrow Inc. launched “Top Light Hybrid smart fixture”. The systems are wireless and can be operated with software.