Ultrasonic Flow Meters Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 1.52 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 2.14 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 7.08% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Europe |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| 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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Ultrasonic Flow Meters Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The ultrasonic flow meters market size reached USD 1.52 billion in 2025 and is projected to expand to USD 2.14 billion by 2030, reflecting a 7.08% CAGR over the forecast period. The growing deployment of custody-transfer-grade meters in large-diameter gas pipelines, retrofit demand for clamp-on devices in aging water networks, and early-stage investments in hydrogen infrastructure sustain near-double-digit demand across the process industries. Operators favor ultrasonic designs for zero pressure loss, predictive maintenance, and IIoT integration, which reduce lifetime operating expenditure compared with differential-pressure or turbine meters. Adoption accelerates where environmental compliance drives high-accuracy flow control, such as zero-liquid-discharge mandates in chemical processing and leakage-reduction programs in municipal water systems. Competitive differentiation is increasingly centered on edge-AI diagnostics and multi-path redundancy, which maintain ±0.15% repeatability in demanding custody-transfer conditions.
Key Report Takeaways
- By mounting method, in-line meters led with 66.2% revenue share in 2024, while clamp-on variants are forecast to grow fastest at an 8.31% CAGR through 2030.
- By measurement technology, transit-time captured 82.5% of ultrasonic flow meters market share in 2024 and remains the fastest-growing technology at an 8.51% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user industry, oil and gas held 62.9% of ultrasonic flow meters market size in 2024, whereas water and wastewater applications are set to expand at a 9.91% CAGR through 2030.
- By number of paths, single-path units controlled 59.3% market share in 2024; multi-path configurations are advancing at a 9.52% CAGR to 2030.
- By geography, Asia-Pacific led with 41.7% share in 2024, whereas Europe is projected to post the highest regional CAGR of 10.3% to 2030.
Global Ultrasonic Flow Meters Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerated shift to custody-transfer-grade ultrasonic meters in large-diameter gas pipelines | +1.20% | Global, with early gains in North America and Middle East | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rapid retrofit demand for non-invasive clamp-on meters in water-stress hotspots | +0.90% | APAC core, spill-over to MEA and Latin America | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Hydrogen-ready ultrasonic designs enable early-mover advantage in energy transition | +0.80% | Europe and North America, expanding to APAC | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Edge-AI self-diagnostics cut OPEX for utilities and boost predictive maintenance adoption | +0.70% | Global, with advanced deployment in Europe and North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Mandatory zero-liquid-discharge policies push high-accuracy flow control in chemicals | +0.60% | Global, with stricter enforcement in Europe and developed APAC | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| OEM-embedded ultrasonic transmitters in smart pumps expand addressable OEM market | +0.50% | Global, led by industrial automation hubs in Germany, Japan, and US | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Accelerated shift to custody-transfer-grade ultrasonic meters in large-diameter gas pipelines
Pipeline operators have begun phasing out turbine meters because ultrasonic units eliminate pressure-drop penalties, reducing compressor energy consumption by up to 15% while offering 20-year lifetimes with minimal maintenance. Multi-path designs now deliver API-compliant accuracy and enable field verification through small-volume provers, limiting downtime for calibration. Adoption is most visible in North American shale gas corridors and Middle Eastern export pipelines, where throughput variability requires wide Reynolds-number tolerance.
Rapid retrofit demand for non-invasive clamp-on meters in water-stress hotspots
Non-invasive clamp-on devices enable utilities to instrument prestressed concrete cylinder pipelines without cutting, thereby mitigating the risk of catastrophic failure while identifying leaks responsible for 20-30% of treated-water losses in emerging economies.[1]Emerson, “Emerson to Acquire Flexim and Expand Automation Leadership,” emerson.com Municipal projects can deploy hundreds of meters in weeks, enabling district-metered-area analytics that optimize pressure and drive down non-revenue water.
Hydrogen-ready ultrasonic designs enable early-mover advantage in energy transition
Suppliers offering meters certified for hydrogen blends of up to 30% by volume provide gas utilities with a migration path toward low-carbon fuels, particularly in Europe, where pilot injection programs are underway.[2]Emerson, “Emerson’s New Ultrasonic Flow Meter Series Enhances Non-Intrusive Measurement Accuracy Across Diverse Applications,” emerson.com Ultrasonic units resist hydrogen embrittlement, and their built-in sonic-velocity measurement supports real-time compositional analysis, ensuring billing accuracy as blend ratios fluctuate.
Edge-AI self-diagnostics cut OPEX for utilities and boost predictive maintenance adoption
Machine-learning models embedded in transmitters flag buildup, cavitation, or pipe degradation before accuracy drifts, trimming unplanned downtime by 40% for water and power utilities.[3]ifm electronic, “Innovations and Products for Flow Monitoring,” ifm.com Condition-based maintenance frameworks extend instrument life and compress calibration cycles, strengthening the total-cost-of-ownership case for ultrasonic technology.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| High initial CAPEX vs. legacy DP/turbine meters | -0.80% | Global, with higher impact in cost-sensitive emerging markets | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Accuracy drift in multiphase/slurry service without advanced signal conditioning | -0.60% | Global, particularly in oil and gas upstream operations | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Scarcity of accredited calibration labs above DN 1000 in emerging regions | -0.40% | Emerging markets in APAC, MEA, and Latin America | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Cyber-security concerns over IIoT-connected meters in critical infrastructure | -0.30% | Global, with heightened concerns in developed markets | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
High initial CAPEX vs. legacy DP/turbine meters
Ultrasonic installations cost three to five times more than differential-pressure alternatives once commissioning and training are included, challenging smaller municipal budgets despite lifecycle OPEX savings.[4]Emerson, “Emerson’s New Ultrasonic Flow Meter Series Enhances Non-Intrusive Measurement Accuracy Across Diverse Applications,” emerson.com Financing constraints slow the adoption of advanced diagnostics in developing regions, where functionality often takes precedence over advanced diagnostics.
Accuracy drift in multiphase/slurry service without advanced signal conditioning
Gas void fractions over 2% or high solid content scatter acoustic signals, pushing error beyond ±5% unless multi-path or dual-frequency designs are deployed, leading operators to favor alternative technologies in slurry pipelines or upstream three-phase flows.[5]KROHNE, “KROHNE Highlights Advancements in Ultrasonic Flow Meter Verification for Enhanced Custody Transfer,” waterplant.tech
Segment Analysis
By Mounting Method: Clamp-on adoption outpaces despite in-line dominance
In-line designs accounted for 66.2% of the ultrasonic flow meters market share in 2024. Clamp-on units, however, are projected to register an 8.31% CAGR, reflecting expanding retrofit programs across APAC utilities. The clamp-on segment benefits from WaveInjector transducer housings that can tolerate process ranges of -200 °C to +630 °C. As non-invasive devices avoid production outages, demand accelerates for emergency leak surveys and temporary audits in industrial plants.
Second-generation coupling pads and automated mounting rigs halve installation time, reinforcing economic advantages where shutdown costs exceed instrument price. Utilities piloting smart-water programs confirm leak-rate reductions within months of clamp-on deployments, supporting rapid investment payback and further penetration of the ultrasonic flow meters market in constrained capital environments.
By Measurement Technology: Transit-time innovation sustains clear leadership
Transit-time units held an 82.5% share in 2024 and are set to grow at an 8.51% CAGR through 2030. Their capability to capture sonic velocity supports composition monitoring needed for hydrogen-gas blends, elevating their value proposition as decarbonization momentum builds. Machine-learning-driven profile correction now sustains ±0.5% accuracy even under variable temperature regimes.
Doppler devices remain confined to dirty-fluid contexts due to their lower precision, while hybrid platforms combining Doppler and transit-time measurements are emerging for multiphase pipelines where shortfalls of single-method approaches are apparent. Modular electronics that switch between principles enable operators to standardize on one transmitter family, reducing inventory even as application diversity expands.
By End-User Industry: Water utilities emerge as the fastest-growing customers
Oil and gas retained 62.9% of the ultrasonic flow meters market size in 2024. Nonetheless, water and wastewater utilities are expected to post a 9.91% CAGR driven by leak-reduction mandates and zero-liquid-discharge policies in chemical clusters. District-metered-area rollouts typically install 200-plus ultrasonic nodes per city phase, underpinning volume growth.
Chemical plants adopt inline hygienic designs that safeguard product purity and support clean-in-place workflows. Energy-intensive industries, including steel and pulp, retrofit ultrasonic meters to measure recycled water loops and cooling fluids, thereby reducing consumption metrics that directly tie to sustainability disclosures.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Number of Paths: Multi-path systems gain momentum in fiscal measurement
Single-path units delivered 59.3% of shipments in 2024. Multi-path variants are forecast to grow at a rate of 9.52% annually, thanks to custody-transfer contracts where repeatability of ±0.15% is mandatory. Eight-path models with dynamic path weighting now verify themselves in situ, freeing operators from quarterly prover campaigns and bolstering uptime.
Refiners retrofitting jet-fuel pipelines note improved reconciliation accuracy, trimming volume imbalances by 30 basis points, which easily justifies higher instrument spend. Water utilities apply three-path devices at treatment-plant intakes where asymmetric profiles once skewed mass-balance calculations.
Geography Analysis
Asia-Pacific contributed 41.7% of global revenue in 2024, fueled by China’s Belt and Road pipeline projects and India’s Smart Cities Mission that mandates high-accuracy metering. Local producers in Japan and South Korea enhance competitiveness through IoT-ready transmitters and temperature-compensating transducers, reinforcing regional supply security. Governments channel infrastructure stimulus toward wastewater reuse, thereby elevating the adoption of ultrasonic flow meters in municipal projects.
Europe is projected to expand at a 10.3% CAGR as EU policy drives hydrogen-ready pipeline retrofits and rigorous conformance to the Measuring Instruments Directive. Germany’s chemical heartland embeds ultrasonic meters within process intensification programs to reduce energy consumption per ton of output, while the Netherlands accelerates hydrogen injection pilots that require custody-grade mass reconciliation. Regional suppliers leverage vertical integration, combining instruments with cloud analytics to satisfy stringent sustainability audits.
North America sustains mid-single-digit growth, anchored by shale gas custody-transfer upgrades and water utility leakage projects in drought-prone western states. Federal infrastructure bills subsidize smart-water deployments that favor clamp-on meters for aging ductile-iron mains. South America and the Middle East-Africa represent emerging demand pockets, though limited accredited calibration facilities above DN 1000 slow some greenfield pipeline approvals. Suppliers counter by deploying mobile providers and remote support hubs, easing service barriers.
Competitive Landscape
The market is moderately fragmented. Emerson’s 2023 FLEXIM acquisition integrates clamp-on expertise into its Rosemount portfolio, widening addressable applications. Siemens advances edge analytics via its SITRANS FS portfolio tie-ins to MindSphere cloud, delivering fleet-wide health dashboards. KROHNE invests in small-volume prover compatibility, strengthening its midstream oil and gas credentials, while Endress+Hauser incorporates Netilion IIoT connectivity for lifecycle services.
Niche entrants develop portable, battery-powered meters for field audits, capturing customers in data center cooling loops and shipboard fuel monitoring. Competitive intensity centers on software differentiation rather than hardware alone, with predictive-maintenance subscriptions creating annuity revenue streams and raising customer switching costs. Certification portfolios remain critical; firms that can supply MID, API, OIML, and ATEX documentation retain a bidding advantage in multinational projects.
Strategic moves include partnerships with valve and pump OEMs, embedding ultrasonic transmitters at the factory level, and expanding pull-through volume. Suppliers also establish regional service depots to address calibration scarcity in Latin America and Africa, shortening turnaround times and reinforcing brand loyalty.
Ultrasonic Flow Meters Industry Leaders
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Baker Hughes Company
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Endress+Hauser Group Services AG
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Fuji Electric Co. Ltd
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Honeywell International Inc.
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Emerson Electric Co.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- April 2025: Emerson unveiled the Flexim FLUXUS/PIOX 731 clamp-on series featuring modular hardware that trims assembly time by 20% and integrates Advanced Meter Verification for wet-gas compensation.
- March 2025: KROHNE demonstrated small-volume prover verification, achieving API-compliant repeatability for gasoline custody transfer, enabled by high-speed PLC signal processing.
- March 2025: Flonidan secured a contract to supply 600,000 ultrasonic SciFlo residential gas meters to Enexis Netbeheer for 2025-2028 rollout, expanding smart metering in the Netherlands.
- January 2025: Flowquip released the Soundwater Cypress clamp-on meter, targeting long-term monitoring without pipeline modification.
Global Ultrasonic Flow Meters Market Report Scope
Ultrasonic flow meters are devices that measure the velocity of a fluid flowing through a pipe using ultrasonic technology. They operate by emitting sound waves and analyzing the time it takes for these waves to travel through the fluid. This technology allows for accurate flow measurement without the need for moving parts, making them reliable and maintenance-free. The study monitors the revenue generated by the sales of ultrasonic flow meters globally.
The ultrasonic flow meter market is segmented by mounting method (clamp-on and in-line), end-user industry (oil and gas, water and wastewater, chemical and petrochemical, industrial (F&B, aerospace, and automotive), other end-user industries (life sciences, mining and metals, etc.)), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value in USD for all the above segments.
| Clamp-on |
| In-line |
| Transit-time |
| Doppler |
| Hybrid / Multipath |
| Oil and Gas |
| Water and Wastewater |
| Chemical and Petrochemical |
| Industrial (F&B, Aerospace, Automotive) |
| Other Industries (Life Sciences, Mining and Metals) |
| Single-path |
| Multi-path (3-Path, 4-Path, 5+-Path) |
| North America | United States | |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Spain | ||
| Russia | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| Japan | ||
| India | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Turkey | ||
| Rest of Middle East | ||
| Africa | South Africa | |
| Nigeria | ||
| Rest of Africa | ||
| By Mounting Method | Clamp-on | ||
| In-line | |||
| By Measurement Technology | Transit-time | ||
| Doppler | |||
| Hybrid / Multipath | |||
| By End-User Industry | Oil and Gas | ||
| Water and Wastewater | |||
| Chemical and Petrochemical | |||
| Industrial (F&B, Aerospace, Automotive) | |||
| Other Industries (Life Sciences, Mining and Metals) | |||
| By Number of Paths | Single-path | ||
| Multi-path (3-Path, 4-Path, 5+-Path) | |||
| By Geography (Value) | North America | United States | |
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| South America | Brazil | ||
| Argentina | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| France | |||
| Italy | |||
| Spain | |||
| Russia | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Asia-Pacific | China | ||
| Japan | |||
| India | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia | |
| United Arab Emirates | |||
| Turkey | |||
| Rest of Middle East | |||
| Africa | South Africa | ||
| Nigeria | |||
| Rest of Africa | |||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the projected valuation for ultrasonic flow meters in 2030?
The market is forecast to reach USD 2.14 billion by 2030.
Which mounting method is expanding fastest?
Clamp-on units are projected to grow at an 8.31% CAGR, outpacing in-line installations.
Why are transit-time meters preferred over Doppler types?
Transit-time models deliver ±0.5% accuracy in clean media and now support hydrogen composition monitoring, sustaining 82.5% market share.
Which region leads adoption today?
Asia-Pacific accounted for 41.7% of global revenue in 2024, driven by water infrastructure and pipeline projects.
How do multi-path meters improve custody transfer accuracy?
Multi-path designs compensate for asymmetric flow profiles and achieve repeatability within 0.15%, meeting API standards for fiscal measurement.
What limits ultrasonic adoption in slurry pipelines?
Gas pockets and solids scatter acoustic signals, causing ±5% error unless advanced signal conditioning is deployed.
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