The Global Plasma Economy: A Multibillion-Dollar Industry

Plasma, a protein-rich component of blood, makes up about 55 percent of total blood volume and is used in treating a wide range of conditions, including immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders, and infectious diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for convalescent plasma highlighted the therapeutic value of plasma and the fragility of its global supply chain.

Plasma and its derivatives represent a large market; the global value was estimated to be $35.8 billion in 2024, and with an 8.5 percent compound annual growth rate, it is projected to reach almost $80 billion by 2034. Yet the supply of blood and plasma remains highly concentrated; five countries—the United States, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Hungary—provide 80 percent of the world’s supply. These countries permit paid blood donations, creating a significant market. Following FDA recommendations, a plasma donor can donate up to twice a week. The Unites States is the leading exporter of blood-derived products, supplying about 70 percent of the plasma used worldwide. Total blood product exports represented about $37 billion in 2023—more than coal and gold exports.

A handful of companies dominate the plasma collection and processing market: Grifols, CSL Behring, Takeda (BPL), Octapharma, and Kedrion. During an international trek to Morocco and Spain, fellows from Cornell’s Emerging Markets Institute—including students from the Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership program—visited Grifols, a multinational company with a competitive position in fractionated plasma and other blood components. Roughly 400 Grifols plasma-collecting centers worldwide process about 25 percent of the global plasma supply. With a large footprint in the United States, it is estimated that Grifols holds 30 percent of the market share of plasma collection centers in the United States and Europe. Also, nearly 45 percent of worldwide blood components are tested for infectious diseases using Grifols technology. Major markets include Japan and the United States.

The industry faces major challenges such as supply bottlenecks, increasing operational costs, and technological threats—including advances in recombinant therapies that may reduce reliance on plasma-derived products. Other concerns lie in the reliance on paid donors, especially in high-income countries.

While demand is rising globally, access remains uneven. Many emerging markets still lack the infrastructure for collection, fractionation, and distribution of plasma therapies.

Opportunities in emerging markets

Emerging markets remain underdeveloped in plasma infrastructure with barriers including health care infrastructure and legislation challenges. However, these markets can play a major role in growth of opportunities, especially in increasing donor pools and tapping into unmet demand, all leading to a growth in the blood components market.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), voluntary blood donations increased by 10.7 million worldwide from 2008 to 2018. International companies are placing greater emphasis on cost-effectiveness and scalability, allowing them to better meet the needs of growing aging populations in developed economies. The large patient base and the demand for advanced medical treatments make emerging markets highly attractive for blood plasma product manufacturers.

Unlocking this potential will require strategic partnerships, public and private investments, and regulatory innovation. Companies like Grifols may benefit from early investment in donor networks, processing facilities, and market education programs tailored to local contexts.

Conclusion

The global plasma economy is expanding, fueled by clinical demand, technological advances, and evolving public health priorities. Market leaders such as Grifols are positioned to thrive, but continued success will depend on resolving supply constraints and geographic imbalances. For emerging markets, the plasma economy presents a rare dual opportunity: to improve patient outcomes and to strengthen biomedical sovereignty in a critical sector.

About the author

Jaime Andres Suarez Londono, MD, is an MBA and MS candidate at Cornell University and a fellow at the Emerging Markets Institute. He was an assistant professor at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine and the medical director of apheresis in its stem cell transplant and cellular therapies division. Through the American Society of Hematology and the Health Volunteers Overseas organizations, he co-directs international health programs. His work focuses on the biomedical and pharmaceutical landscape in emerging markets. He has led international trials in graft-versus-host disease prevention and conducted research on access to cellular therapies.

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