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Biotechnology in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Arna Richardson Arna Richardson Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2024 ANZSIC X0001

Revenue

$11.9bn

2024-25

$11.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

24,295

Businesses

930

Wages

$X.Xbn

Biotechnology in Australia industry analysis

Biotechnology is becoming an increasingly important part of product development in a variety of sectors, with businesses using biotech applications to address many social and economic issues, including human health, food security and alternative fuels. Several companies have reached commercial readiness, with robust product pipelines and support from international partners improving their attractiveness to investors. While human therapeutics companies continue to dominate the industry, agricultural technology and food technology companies are gaining momentum. New funding sources are helping to drive industry growth.

Trends and Insights

  • Now in its third decade, the Australian Biotechnology industry covers a range of players, from small pre-revenue start-ups to commercially viable operations that sell biotech products domestically and abroad. The common factor is a reliance on innovative technology platforms.
  • Most biotechnology companies focus on a small number of product lines. Most biotechs research and develop new therapeutic or diagnostic products that target human diseases, although a growing number are focusing on agricultural and industrial biotech applications.
  • Proximity to universities and other major research centres is a partial determinant of the industry’s geographical distribution. These clusters often stem from universities that commercialise their discoveries or form spin-offs for government-funded research initiatives.
  • Innovation plays a key role in industry competition. A biotech that owns proprietary technology or has access to appropriate advanced technology has a competitive advantage.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $11.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The Australian biotech sector continues to grow and evolve

  • The local Biotechnology industry is now in its third decade and covers a range of players, including a growing number of small start-ups and commercially viable operations that sell biotech products domestically and in international markets.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Biotechnology in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The Biotechnology industry is set to benefit from greater acceptance of biotech products

  • Greater acceptance of biotechnology will support future industry growth, especially as the second and third generations of products come to market. Rising interest in biotech firms may help encourage greater investment, allowing more biotechs to become profitable.

Biggest companies in the Biotechnology in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
CSL
1,447.5
CSIRO
585.0
Amgen Australia
535.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 8 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Biotechnology in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Other products and services, Environmental and natural resource recovery and Human health biotechnology. Other products and services is the largest segment of the Biotechnology in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Human health biotechnology is a key area for biotechs

  • Human therapeutics include bio-pharmaceuticals like biotechnology-derived proteins, antibodies and enzymes and genetic therapies. The diagnostics sector includes tests for specific gene or protein markers. Vaccines are also significant in this segment, as are biologicals and biosimilars.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Biotechnology involves applying science and technology to living organisms, and parts, products and models, to alter living or non-living materials to produce knowledge and biotechnology products and services. The industry includes biotechnology research and development, licensing, product manufacturing and product wholesaling. Companies that focus on medical devices are not included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Human health biotechnologyAgricultural biotechnologyIndustrial biotechnologyFood production and processing technologiesEnvironmental and natural resource recovery

Companies

CSLCSIROAmgen Australia

Purchase this report to view all 8 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GENETIC MODIFICATION (GM)VENTURE CAPITALGENE THERAPYANGEL INVESTORSBIOMININGBIOLOGICALSBIOSIMILARS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 1841 - Biotechnology in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Now in its third decade, the Australian Biotechnology industry covers a range of players, from small pre-revenue start-ups to commercially viable operations that sell biotech ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Most biotechnology companies focus on a small number of product lines. Most biotechs research and develop new therapeutic or diagnostic products that target human diseases, a...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Proximity to universities and other major research centres is a partial determinant of the industry’s geographical distribution. These clusters often stem from universities t...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Innovation plays a key role in industry competition. A biotech that owns proprietary technology or has access to appropriate advanced technology has a competitive advantage.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Biotechnology industry covers a variety of organisations, reflecting its numerous applications and coverage of the whole supply chain. Industry participants include core ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of CSL's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of CSIRO's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Amgen Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 5 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for CSL, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for CSIRO, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Amgen Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 5 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

As biotechnology can sometimes be controversial, the industry is highly regulated. Research into stem cells, cloning and genetically modified crops can raise various issues r...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Biotech’s cost structures differ depending on various factors. These include the stage and speed of product development, the type of research undertaken, funding sources and ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Biotechnology industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Biotechnology industry in Australia is $11.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Biotechnology in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 930 businesses in the Biotechnology industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Biotechnology industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Biotechnology industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Biotechnology industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Biotechnology industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Biotechnology market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Biotechnology market in Australia are CSL, CSIRO and Amgen Australia

What does the Biotechnology in Australia include?

Human health biotechnology and Agricultural biotechnology are part of the Biotechnology industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Biotechnology in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is CSL.

How competitive is the Biotechnology industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Biotechnology industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.