NDT Inspection Services Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 18.17 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 24.85 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 6.46% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | North America |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
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NDT Inspection Services Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The NDT inspection services market reached USD 18.17 billion in 2025 and is forecast to climb to USD 24.85 billion by 2030, advancing at a 6.46% CAGR. Expansion rests on stringent global safety mandates, the urgent need to assess aging infrastructure, and rising adoption of artificial-intelligence-driven inspection workflows that cut downtime and improve defect detection accuracy. Uptake is brisk in energy, transportation, and industrial facilities, where unplanned shutdowns carry high financial and environmental risk. Governments are tightening pipeline, rail, and hydrogen standards, while asset owners accelerate digital initiatives that merge ultrasonic, radiographic, and drone-based methods into single data platforms. Competitive intensity is sharpening as multinational TIC providers buy niche specialists to secure advanced robotics, phased-array ultrasonics, and analytics expertise. The net result is a larger addressable market but higher barriers for smaller firms as technology and certification requirements grow more complex.
Key Report Takeaways
- By testing technology, ultrasonic methods held 27.6% of the NDT inspection services market share in 2024, while acoustic emission testing is projected to grow at 8.1% CAGR through 2030.
- By service type, inspection and field services commanded 57.3% revenue in 2024; consulting and data analytics are is projected to grow a 6.7% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user, oil and gas accounted for 32% of the NDT inspection services market size in 2024, while renewable-energy applications are anticipated to grow at 8.52% CAGR through 2030.
- By Application, Flaw / Crack Detection commanded 43.4% revenue in 2024; Structural Health Monitoring are is projected to grow a 7.5% CAGR to 2030.
- By geography, North America led with 33.62% revenue share in 2024; Asia-Pacific is predicted to post the fastest 7.3% CAGR from 2025–2030.
Global NDT Inspection Services Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stringent global safety regulations in energy and transportation | +1.2% | Global, with emphasis on North America and EU | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rapid digitalization of RT and PA-UT inspection workflows | +0.8% | Global, led by OECD countries | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Aging infrastructure in OECD economies reaching end-of-life | +1.5% | North America, Europe, Japan | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Expansion of renewable-energy assets (wind, hydrogen pipelines) | +0.9% | Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| AI-enabled predictive analytics reducing unplanned shutdowns | +0.7% | Global industrial hubs | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Autonomous drone-based NDT for hazardous and subsea assets | +0.5% | Offshore regions, remote locations | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Stringent Global Safety Regulations in Energy and Transportation
Global regulators are raising the bar for pipeline integrity, railcar safety, and hydrogen infrastructure compliance. PHMSA now oversees 3.4 million mi of pipelines and mandates advanced leak-detection and material-verification protocols, pushing operators toward higher-frequency inspections and rigorous data traceability. ASME’s B31.8 hydrogen updates and ISO 19880-9 fuel-quality rules require new embrittlement detection techniques, expanding the NDT inspection services market as asset owners retrofit existing networks. Nuclear utilities in Europe and North America are also extending plant lifecycles, calling for enhanced ultrasonic and radiographic assessment of reactor components.[1]International Energy Agency, “Nuclear Power in a Clean Energy System,” iea.org Penalties for non-compliance have risen, making proactive inspection more cost-effective than remediation.
Rapid Digitalization of RT and PA-UT Inspection Workflows
Phased-array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) and time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) now outperform film radiography in weld sizing, while Total Focusing Method resolves flaws as small as 2.5 mm. AI engines embedded in platforms such as Eddyfi’s Capture™ automatically classify indications and reduce false positives, slashing analysis time by up to 40%. Cloud-based data lakes let inspectors overlay successive scans for trend analysis, turning raw A-scans into actionable insights that feed enterprise asset-management systems. These gains strengthen the NDT inspection services market by tying test results directly to maintenance decisions, budget allocation, and regulatory reporting.
Aging Infrastructure in OECD Economies Reaching End-of-Life
OECD infrastructure is deteriorating faster than replacement rates, with ASCE pegging the funding gap to reach USD 9.1 trillion across bridges, pipelines, and water networks.[2]American Society of Civil Engineers, “2025 Infrastructure Report Card,” asce.org The United States Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act unlocks multi-year rehabilitation budgets, yet labor and equipment shortages hamper timely execution. Pipeline integrity programs have broadened to cover aging water mains and prospective hydrogen conversions, each demanding unique ultrasonic, acoustic-emission, and radiographic methods. Climate-related stressors accelerate corrosion and fatigue, forcing operators to increase inspection frequency and adopt predictive analytics to optimize capital deployment.
Expansion of Renewable-Energy Assets (Wind, Hydrogen Pipelines)
Offshore wind additions of 11 GW in 2023 spurred parallel growth in blade, tower, and subsea cable inspections.[3]Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Offshore Wind Report 2024,” gwec.net Drone-based EMAT and phased-array scans detect composite delamination and bolt fatigue without rope access, lowering risk and improving data quality. Hydrogen pipeline pilots drive demand for specialized ultrasonics that identify embrittlement in repurposed steel lines, enlarging the addressable NDT inspection services market for suppliers that master this niche.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortage of certified Level-III inspectors worldwide | -0.9% | Global, acute in North America and Europe | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| High capex for advanced phased-array and digital RT systems | -0.6% | Emerging markets, small operators | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Data-sovereignty and cyber-security concerns in cloud NDT | -0.4% | Global, heightened in regulated industries | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Slow regulatory qualification of novel inspection techniques | -0.3% | Global, particularly emerging markets | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Shortage of Certified Level-III Inspectors Worldwide
Nearly 30% of certified technicians are over 55 years old, and new entrants are not closing the gap fast enough. The extensive apprenticeship required for Level III status restricts labor mobility and inflates wages, elevating project costs for complex multi-method scopes. Outreach programs by ASNT and trade groups aim to rebrand the profession as high-tech, yet the pipeline of candidates remains thin, especially in specialties such as acoustic emission and robotics.
High Capex for Advanced Phased-Array and Digital RT Systems
State-of-the-art PAUT rigs with TFM imaging can cost several hundred thousand dollars, stretching the balance sheets of regional providers. Digital radiography units promise faster throughput and lower consumable spend but require controlled exposure rooms, new software, and rigorous staff training. Rapid innovation breeds obsolescence risk, forcing operators to weigh near-term benefits against the prospect of new generations that integrate AI analytics directly on the acquisition unit.
Segment Analysis
By Testing Technology: Ultrasonic Methods Drive Innovation
Ultrasonic testing held 27.6% of the NDT inspection services market share in 2024, reflecting its position as the backbone for volumetric inspections across oil, gas, and aerospace structures. The segment benefits from phased-array configurations that produce high-resolution images and quantify defect orientation in real time. Acoustic-emission testing, although smaller in absolute revenue, advances at 8.1% CAGR by 2030 as operators leverage real-time damage monitoring for pressure vessels and bolted joints.
Radiography, both computed and digital, remains indispensable for castings and complex geometry parts, while magnetic particle and dye-penetrant tests address surface flaws in ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. Electromagnetic methods, such as eddy current, deliver rapid assessments in aviation, detecting micro-cracks without surface preparation. Integration of AI-driven signal interpretation across all ultrasonic modalities reduces learning curves and boosts inspection throughput, widening the NDT inspection services market’s addressable user base.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Service Type: Consulting Gains Momentum
Inspection and field services captured 57.3% revenue in 2024, underscoring the foundational role of on-site flaw detection, weld testing, and thickness gauging. Asset owners rely on scheduled inspections to meet regulatory mandates and insurance requirements, ensuring steady baseline demand across the NDT inspection services market.
Consulting and data analytics services, though smaller, are expanding at 6.7% CAGR as clients migrate toward predictive maintenance and digital-twin programs. Specialists synthesize multi-method data into corrosion-growth models that inform risk-based inspection plans, deferring or prioritizing capital spending. Equipment-rental and calibration services round out the ecosystem, enabling smaller plants to access advanced gear without prohibitive capex, thus enlarging overall NDT inspection services market penetration.
By End-User Industry: Renewable Energy Accelerates
Oil and gas dominated the NDT inspection services market size with a 32% share in 2024, driven by vast pipeline and refinery infrastructure requiring continual integrity management. Aging pipelines, liquefied-natural-gas facilities, and petrochemical plants sustain high inspection volumes as regulatory scrutiny intensifies.
Renewable-energy applications are on track for an 8.52% CAGR to 2030, mirroring aggressive offshore wind build-outs and emerging hydrogen networks. Wind-farm operators schedule blade-root ultrasonics, gearbox vibration analysis, and tower weld radiography to maximize turbine uptime. Hydrogen pilot lines demand advanced ultrasonic techniques to detect micro-cracks and hydrogen-induced fissures, creating a niche yet high-margin segment of the NDT inspection services industry.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Application: Structural Health Monitoring Emerges
Flaw and crack detection held 43.4% revenue in 2024, serving the critical need for immediate go-/no-go assessments in high-risk assets. This traditional domain maintains stable growth as owners pursue zero-incident targets.
Structural health monitoring (SHM) represents the fastest-growing application, charting a 7.5% CAGR through 2030. IoT-enabled sensors feed continuous strain, acoustic-emission, and temperature data into cloud analytics, allowing operators to model remaining useful life and trigger inspections only when predictive thresholds are reached. SHM adoption extends beyond heavy industry into bridges, tunnels, and high-rise façades, broadening the NDT inspection services market’s footprint among civil engineers and municipal agencies.
Geography Analysis
North America led the NDT inspection services market with 33.62% revenue in 2024, fueled by 3.4 million mi of pipelines subject to PHMSA oversight, rigorous railroad tank-car standards, and federal infrastructure rehabilitation funding. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funnels multi-year budgets into bridge and water-system upgrades, ensuring long-term visibility for service providers despite skilled-labor shortages. Canadian midstream expansions and Mexico’s industrial corridor build-out reinforce regional demand, while early hydrogen pilots in California and Alberta create opportunities for specialized embrittlement testing.
The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing, projected at 7.3% CAGR, propelled by renewables supply-chain investments and aggressive offshore wind targets in China, Japan, and South Korea. India’s freight-corridor modernizations and ASEAN refinery upgrades broaden the client base, while Australia’s floating-wind prospects demand novel inspection strategies in deep-water conditions. Regional service suppliers partner with global TIC leaders to import advanced PAUT and digital-radiography expertise, accelerating technology diffusion.
Europe maintains steady growth underpinned by stringent EN and ISO standards, decommissioning of coal assets, and repurposing gas infrastructure for hydrogen blends. Offshore-wind capacity expansion in the North Sea and Baltic drives high volumes of blade, jacket, and subsea cable inspections. The Middle East and Africa are emerging frontiers; petrochemical expansions in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, plus pipeline megaprojects in East Africa, attract global providers with turnkey inspection packages. These diverse regional trajectories keep the NDT inspection services market resilient to single-region economic cycles.
Competitive Landscape
The NDT inspection services market is moderately fragmented yet consolidating. Wabtec’s USD 1.78 billion purchase of Evident’s Inspection Technologies division in 2025 doubles its addressable revenue pool and bolsters ultrasonic, digital radiography, and robotics capability. Similar moves, such as Apave’s takeover of IRISNDT and Testia’s acquisition of Edixia Automation, illustrate a race to assemble full-stack solutions spanning equipment, software, and field execution.
Technology is now the main differentiator. MISTRAS Group posted USD 729.6 million in 2024 revenue, with aerospace and defense clients adopting automated ultrasonic and acoustics platforms requiring high precision. DEKRA’s network invested in battery testing and hydrogen services, ensuring relevance in emerging mobility sectors. Providers with integrated AI analytics, drone fleets, and digital-twin services win multi-year enterprise contracts, locking in annuity revenue streams that strengthen competitive barriers.
Niche opportunities remain for specialists in hydrogen embrittlement diagnostics, composite wind-blade imaging, and automated subsea inspections. However, high equipment capex and the Level III talent gap limit new-entrant scalability. Established TIC majors leverage balance-sheet strength to absorb these costs, widening the capability gap. As a result, the NDT inspection services market tilts toward firms that combine global reach, advanced technology, and certification depth.
NDT Inspection Services Industry Leaders
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Applus Services S.A.
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Intertek Group plc
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Acuren Inspection Inc.
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SGS SA
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MISTRAS Group Inc.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- January 2025: Wabtec Corporation acquired Evident’s Inspection Technologies division for USD 1.78 billion, adding USD 433 million revenue and 25.9% EBITDA margin to its portfolio.
- May 2025: MISTRAS Group announced 3.4% 2024 revenue growth, reaching USD 729.6 million, with aerospace and defense up 13%.
- February 2025: Fairley Gunn Group acquired Axi-Tek and Metrix NDT, enhancing specialized service capacity.
- August 2024: Sonomatic executed a fully robotic inspection of FPSO cargo tanks, confirming autonomous inspection viability in hazardous offshore environments.
- October 2024: Apave Group completed the acquisition of IRISNDT, expanding its NDT footprint across 48 branches in North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Global NDT Inspection Services Market Report Scope
Non-destructive testing is a testing and analysis technique that is employed by multiple industries to test the properties of a material, component, structure, or system for any form of characteristic differences or welding defects. The market has been segmented on the basis of technology employed, end - user segements and geography.
| By Testing Technology | Radiography (Film, CR/DR, CT) | ||
| Ultrasonic (Conventional, PA-UT, TOFD) | |||
| Magnetic Particle (Wet Fluorescent, Dry) | |||
| Visual and Remote Visual (RVI, Drone-Based) | |||
| Electromagnetic (Eddy-Current, ACFM) | |||
| Acoustic Emission | |||
| Others | |||
| By Service Type | Inspection and Field Services | ||
| Equipment Rental and Calibration | |||
| Consulting and Data Analytics | |||
| Others | |||
| By End-user Industry | Oil and Gas | ||
| Power Generation (Thermal, Nuclear, Renewables) | |||
| Aerospace and Defense (Commercial, Military, Space) | |||
| Automotive and Transportation (Rail, Shipbuilding) | |||
| Infrastructure and Construction | |||
| Others | |||
| By Application | Flaw / Crack Detection | ||
| Dimensional and Weld Inspection | |||
| Structural Health Monitoring | |||
| Others | |||
| By Geography | North America | United States | |
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| South America | Brazil | ||
| Argentina | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| France | |||
| Italy | |||
| Russia | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Asia-Pacific | China | ||
| Japan | |||
| India | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Australia | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Middle East | GCC | ||
| Turkey | |||
| Rest of Middle East | |||
| Africa | South Africa | ||
| Nigeria | |||
| Rest of Africa | |||
| Radiography (Film, CR/DR, CT) |
| Ultrasonic (Conventional, PA-UT, TOFD) |
| Magnetic Particle (Wet Fluorescent, Dry) |
| Visual and Remote Visual (RVI, Drone-Based) |
| Electromagnetic (Eddy-Current, ACFM) |
| Acoustic Emission |
| Others |
| Inspection and Field Services |
| Equipment Rental and Calibration |
| Consulting and Data Analytics |
| Others |
| Oil and Gas |
| Power Generation (Thermal, Nuclear, Renewables) |
| Aerospace and Defense (Commercial, Military, Space) |
| Automotive and Transportation (Rail, Shipbuilding) |
| Infrastructure and Construction |
| Others |
| Flaw / Crack Detection |
| Dimensional and Weld Inspection |
| Structural Health Monitoring |
| Others |
| North America | United States |
| Canada | |
| Mexico | |
| South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | |
| Rest of South America | |
| Europe | Germany |
| United Kingdom | |
| France | |
| Italy | |
| Russia | |
| Rest of Europe | |
| Asia-Pacific | China |
| Japan | |
| India | |
| South Korea | |
| Australia | |
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
| Middle East | GCC |
| Turkey | |
| Rest of Middle East | |
| Africa | South Africa |
| Nigeria | |
| Rest of Africa |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the NDT inspection services market?
The NDT inspection services market stood at USD 18.17 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 24.85 billion by 2030.
Which technology segment leads the NDT inspection services market?
Ultrasonic testing is the leading technology, holding 27.6% market share in 2024, thanks to its versatility and advancing phased-array capabilities.
What is the main restraint facing the industry?
A shortage of certified Level-III inspectors, with 30% of the workforce over 55 years old, constrains capacity and elevates labor costs.
How is AI affecting NDT inspection services?
AI shortens analysis time, improves defect classification, and supports predictive maintenance models that reduce unplanned shutdowns.
