Global Metagenomic Sequencing Market Trends

• Focus on metadata collection and standards: There is increasing focus on systematic collection of metadata like sampling location, physicochemical parameters, and others. along with metagenomic sequence data to enable more contextual analysis. Initiatives like the Genomic Standards Consortium provide standards for consistent meta and phenotypic data collection. Moreover, public databases like MG-RAST have enforced minimum metadata standards for all submitted data sets. Complete and standardized metadata aids biological interpretation and trend analysis.
• Long read sequencing: Long read sequencing technologies like nanopore and PacBio allow sequencing of full length 16S rRNA genes and even complete bacterial and archeal genomes from metagenomic samples. This provides finer resolution and accurate taxonomic classification as compared to short reads. Long reads also aid better genome assembly and annotation from complex metagenomes. With improving accuracy and throughput, long read sequencing usage is increasing for metagenomics.
• Bioinformatics solutions: Advances in bioinformatics tools and workflows for metagenomic analysis like metaSPAdes, MEGARes, HUMAnN, and others are improving taxonomic and functional profiling from sequence data. Cloud-based solutions like CosmosID, One Codex, and others provide user-friendly and rapid metagenomic analysis for non-experts. Integrated sample-to-report solutions are enhancing adoption among biologists and clinicians. Automated analysis by AI/ML tools is also an emerging trend.
• Database expansion: Reference genome databases that are required for taxonomic classification and functional annotation are continuously expanding. Initiatives like the Uncultivated Bacteria and Archaea project and Hungate Collection are focused on sequencing type strains of novel microbes to populate databases. Databases like IMG, SILVA, GreenGenes, KEGG are frequently updated with new microbial genomes, functional pathways, and others  Richer databases allow more accurate metagenomic analysis.

Global Metagenomic Sequencing Market Regional Insights

• North America is expected to be the largest market for metagenomic sequencing market during the forecast period, accounting for over 41.3% of the market share in 2022. The growth of the market in North America is due to the high research and development (R&D) expenditure, presence of major companies, and rapid adoption of advanced sequencing technologies in the region.
• The Europe market is expected to be the second-largest market for metagenomic sequencing market, accounting for over 28.7% of the market share in 2022. The growth of the market in Europe is due to the availability of research funding and presence of leading metagenomics research organizations in the region.
• The Asia Pacific market is expected to be the fastest-growing market for metagenomic sequencing market, with a CAGR of over 22.6% during the forecast period. The growth of the market in Asia Pacific is due to the growing genomics research, increasing awareness, and improving healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Figure 1. Global Metagenomic Sequencing Market Share (%), By Region, 2023