Global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source Market Growth 2025-2031
Description
The global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market size is predicted to grow from US$ 332 million in 2025 to US$ 463 million in 2031; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2025 to 2031.
The impact of the latest U.S. tariff measures and the corresponding policy responses from countries worldwide on market competitiveness, regional economic performance, and supply chain configurations will be comprehensively evaluated in this report.
Cobalt 60 radioactive sources are produced by exposing stable cobalt-59 to neutron radiation, typically in a nuclear reactor, to create the radioactive isotope cobalt-60. Cobalt-60 emits high-energy gamma rays (with energies of 1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV), making it a crucial radiation source for applications in medical therapy, industrial radiography, food irradiation, and materials modification. In the healthcare sector, cobalt-60 is widely used for external beam radiotherapy in cancer treatment (e.g., gamma knife procedures). Industrially, it is applied for nondestructive testing (NDT), sterilization of medical supplies, and material aging simulations. Cobalt-60 sources are commonly manufactured as pellets, rods, or disks and are securely encapsulated in stainless steel or similar materials to ensure radiation safety during handling and use.
In recent years, the cobalt-60 radioactive source market has demonstrated steady growth, driven by increasing demands across healthcare, industrial, and food safety sectors. The healthcare sector remains the largest application field for cobalt-60, particularly in developing countries where cobalt-based radiotherapy devices, such as gamma knives, continue to be widely utilized due to their affordability and reliability. In regions with limited healthcare infrastructure, cobalt-60 external beam therapy remains a cost-effective cancer treatment solution, ensuring steady demand.
Industrial applications also contribute significantly to market stability. Cobalt-60 is extensively used for nondestructive testing (NDT) of welds and pipelines, as well as for sterilization of medical equipment and packaging materials. The increasing pace of industrialization, particularly in emerging economies, and ongoing infrastructure development projects (e.g., oil and gas pipelines, power transmission systems) are boosting demand for industrial radiography using cobalt-60. Meanwhile, food irradiation, an emerging sector, is gaining traction globally due to tightening food safety regulations. Cobalt-60 irradiation helps eliminate pathogens, prolong shelf life, and reduce spoilage, offering a compelling value proposition for food manufacturers.
From a supply chain perspective, cobalt-60 production is highly concentrated among a few key players, including BWXT (Canada), Rosatom (Russia), and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). As production requires nuclear reactors and operates under stringent regulatory oversight, market entry barriers remain high, enhancing the bargaining power of established suppliers. However, this concentration also introduces supply chain vulnerabilities—any reactor shutdowns, geopolitical tensions, or regulatory changes could significantly impact availability and pricing.
Geographically, North America and Europe have traditionally been the largest markets for cobalt-60, primarily for healthcare and industrial applications. However, the Asia-Pacific region, especially China and India, is showing faster growth driven by improvements in healthcare infrastructure and adoption of industrial quality assurance standards. Initiatives by international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) promoting food irradiation are further expanding the global application landscape for cobalt-60 sources.
Looking ahead, the increasing adoption of linear accelerators (LINACs) in radiotherapy could pose some competitive pressure on cobalt-60 applications in healthcare. LINACs offer certain technological advantages, such as higher beam precision and reduced long-term radioactive waste. Nevertheless, due to cost considerations and technological accessibility, cobalt-60 will likely retain a strong presence in lower and middle-income countries for the foreseeable future. Moreover, emerging applications in agriculture, environment monitoring, and industrial material testing could open new growth avenues for cobalt-60 radioactive sources.
In conclusion, the cobalt-60 radioactive source market is expected to maintain stable growth over the near term, while long-term prospects will depend on technological shifts, regulatory dynamics, supply chain resilience, and the successful development of new application areas.
LP Information, Inc. (LPI) ' newest research report, the “Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source sales in 2024, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source sales for 2025 through 2031. With Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms’ unique position in an accelerating global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source and breaks down the forecast by Type, by Application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source.
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
Segmentation by Type:
Low Specific Activity
High Specific Activity
Segmentation by Application:
Medical Application
Industrial Application
Others
This report also splits the market by region:
Americas
United States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
APAC
China
Japan
Korea
Southeast Asia
India
Australia
Europe
Germany
France
UK
Italy
Russia
Middle East & Africa
Egypt
South Africa
Israel
Turkey
GCC Countries
The below companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analysing the company's coverage, product portfolio, its market penetration.
Nordion
China National Nuclear Corporation
Rosatom
Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen
Polatom
NTP
DIOXITEK
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
What is the 10-year outlook for the global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market?
What factors are driving Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source break out by Type, by Application?
Please note: The report will take approximately 2 business days to prepare and deliver.
The impact of the latest U.S. tariff measures and the corresponding policy responses from countries worldwide on market competitiveness, regional economic performance, and supply chain configurations will be comprehensively evaluated in this report.
Cobalt 60 radioactive sources are produced by exposing stable cobalt-59 to neutron radiation, typically in a nuclear reactor, to create the radioactive isotope cobalt-60. Cobalt-60 emits high-energy gamma rays (with energies of 1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV), making it a crucial radiation source for applications in medical therapy, industrial radiography, food irradiation, and materials modification. In the healthcare sector, cobalt-60 is widely used for external beam radiotherapy in cancer treatment (e.g., gamma knife procedures). Industrially, it is applied for nondestructive testing (NDT), sterilization of medical supplies, and material aging simulations. Cobalt-60 sources are commonly manufactured as pellets, rods, or disks and are securely encapsulated in stainless steel or similar materials to ensure radiation safety during handling and use.
In recent years, the cobalt-60 radioactive source market has demonstrated steady growth, driven by increasing demands across healthcare, industrial, and food safety sectors. The healthcare sector remains the largest application field for cobalt-60, particularly in developing countries where cobalt-based radiotherapy devices, such as gamma knives, continue to be widely utilized due to their affordability and reliability. In regions with limited healthcare infrastructure, cobalt-60 external beam therapy remains a cost-effective cancer treatment solution, ensuring steady demand.
Industrial applications also contribute significantly to market stability. Cobalt-60 is extensively used for nondestructive testing (NDT) of welds and pipelines, as well as for sterilization of medical equipment and packaging materials. The increasing pace of industrialization, particularly in emerging economies, and ongoing infrastructure development projects (e.g., oil and gas pipelines, power transmission systems) are boosting demand for industrial radiography using cobalt-60. Meanwhile, food irradiation, an emerging sector, is gaining traction globally due to tightening food safety regulations. Cobalt-60 irradiation helps eliminate pathogens, prolong shelf life, and reduce spoilage, offering a compelling value proposition for food manufacturers.
From a supply chain perspective, cobalt-60 production is highly concentrated among a few key players, including BWXT (Canada), Rosatom (Russia), and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). As production requires nuclear reactors and operates under stringent regulatory oversight, market entry barriers remain high, enhancing the bargaining power of established suppliers. However, this concentration also introduces supply chain vulnerabilities—any reactor shutdowns, geopolitical tensions, or regulatory changes could significantly impact availability and pricing.
Geographically, North America and Europe have traditionally been the largest markets for cobalt-60, primarily for healthcare and industrial applications. However, the Asia-Pacific region, especially China and India, is showing faster growth driven by improvements in healthcare infrastructure and adoption of industrial quality assurance standards. Initiatives by international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) promoting food irradiation are further expanding the global application landscape for cobalt-60 sources.
Looking ahead, the increasing adoption of linear accelerators (LINACs) in radiotherapy could pose some competitive pressure on cobalt-60 applications in healthcare. LINACs offer certain technological advantages, such as higher beam precision and reduced long-term radioactive waste. Nevertheless, due to cost considerations and technological accessibility, cobalt-60 will likely retain a strong presence in lower and middle-income countries for the foreseeable future. Moreover, emerging applications in agriculture, environment monitoring, and industrial material testing could open new growth avenues for cobalt-60 radioactive sources.
In conclusion, the cobalt-60 radioactive source market is expected to maintain stable growth over the near term, while long-term prospects will depend on technological shifts, regulatory dynamics, supply chain resilience, and the successful development of new application areas.
LP Information, Inc. (LPI) ' newest research report, the “Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source sales in 2024, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source sales for 2025 through 2031. With Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms’ unique position in an accelerating global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source and breaks down the forecast by Type, by Application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source.
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
Segmentation by Type:
Low Specific Activity
High Specific Activity
Segmentation by Application:
Medical Application
Industrial Application
Others
This report also splits the market by region:
Americas
United States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
APAC
China
Japan
Korea
Southeast Asia
India
Australia
Europe
Germany
France
UK
Italy
Russia
Middle East & Africa
Egypt
South Africa
Israel
Turkey
GCC Countries
The below companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analysing the company's coverage, product portfolio, its market penetration.
Nordion
China National Nuclear Corporation
Rosatom
Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen
Polatom
NTP
DIOXITEK
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
What is the 10-year outlook for the global Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market?
What factors are driving Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source break out by Type, by Application?
Please note: The report will take approximately 2 business days to prepare and deliver.
Table of Contents
94 Pages
- *This is a tentative TOC and the final deliverable is subject to change.*
- 1 Scope of the Report
- 2 Executive Summary
- 3 Global by Company
- 4 World Historic Review for Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source by Geographic Region
- 5 Americas
- 6 APAC
- 7 Europe
- 8 Middle East & Africa
- 9 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends
- 10 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis
- 11 Marketing, Distributors and Customer
- 12 World Forecast Review for Cobalt 60 Radioactive Source by Geographic Region
- 13 Key Players Analysis
- 14 Research Findings and Conclusion
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