Skip to main content

Passive RFID grows by 1.12 billion tags in 2014 to 6.9 billion

More than five years later than the industry had expected, market research and events firm IDTechEx find that the passive RFID tag market is now seeing tremendous volume growth. Market research and events firm IDTechEx find that the passive RFID tag market is now seeing tremendous volume growth - more than five years later than the industry had expected. Most of the growth is based on retailer adoption of UHF RFID for shelf-level stock replenishment, with the latest example being fashion retailer Zara r
October 31, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
More than five years later than the industry had expected, market research and events firm 6582 IDTechEx find that the passive RFID tag market is now seeing tremendous volume growth.

Market research and events firm IDTechEx find that the passive RFID tag market is now seeing tremendous volume growth - more than five years later than the industry had expected. Most of the growth is based on retailer adoption of UHF RFID for shelf-level stock replenishment, with the latest example being fashion retailer Zara recently announcing its intention to roll out RFID to approximately 2,000 stores by 2016.

IDTechEx forecast in the new report, RFID Forecasts, Players & Opportunities 2014-2024, that 25 billion RFID tags will be used on retail apparel and shoes in 2020 and a similar number on other ‘high value, high complexity mix’ items. Many other segments are taking off thanks to standardised, reliable technology where applications outside of retail are leveraging the considerable investment put in by RFID suppliers to address retailer needs.

Average tag prices in HF RFID are typically higher than UHF tags, often due to the need for greater security and therefore IC complexity, for example for payment applications. While NFC has been a failure so far due to lack of resolve between payment, telecoms and phone companies, it may be that Apple sets it on the right path and NFC begins to see traction over the coming years.

IDTechEx has found some striking territorial differences, as summarized in the chart below. UHF adoption is strongest in the US and Europe, and relatively weak in Asia in terms of number of tags, although tag production is increasingly moving there. In contrast, HF adoption has been strong in all territories, but particularly in Asia.

Overall, IDTechEx find that in 2014, the total RFID market is worth US$8.89 billion, up from US$7.77 billion in 2013 and US$6.96 billion in 2012. This includes tags, readers and software/services for RFID cards, labels, fobs and all other form factors. IDTechEx forecast that to rise to US$27.31 billion in 2024.

Related Content

  • Smart transportation market expected to reach US$176.49 billion in 2021
    July 3, 2015
    According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research, Smart Transportation Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021, the global smart transportation market was valued at US$45.10 billion in 2014, growing at a CAGR of 18.5 per cent from 2015 to 2021 to account for US$176.49 billion in 2021. The smart transportation market is primarily driven due to the emerging need for smart services across the globe. Moreover, the global increase in sa
  • EV market intelligence portal launched
    February 14, 2014
    IDTechEx has launched a new browser-based electric vehicle market intelligence portal which provides companies with real-time global analysis of the total electric vehicles market for land, water and air. The portal is based on an active and continuous program of interviews, data gathering and analysis by PhD-level IDTechEx analysts. Subscription will help clients take a concise and focused approach to accelerate growth and capture opportunities with minimal risk from disruptive technologies. Electri
  • Customised RFID
    January 31, 2012
    German companies KSW Microtec and Melzer have announced a collaborative initiative to produce a multi-layer UHF label for customised applications in access control and asset tracking. Drawing on the flexible engineering of KSW's windshield inlays and powered by Melzer's new SL-600 processing machine for converting selfadhesive label stock and dry inlays to fully functional RFID tags, the partners claim the labels offer the best and consistent read range for all types of applications.
  • Electric motor market expected to flourish in the next decade
    September 19, 2012
    Developments in the electric vehicle market are expected to boost growth in the electric motor market according to consulting and research organisations IDTechEX and Frost & Sullivan. As electric vehicles head towards mass production, the model of electric motor supply also requires changes in the future. In its 2012 market forecast with a ten year horizon, IDTechEX, a consulting and research organisation, argues that: “Any motor manufacturer without a compelling line up of electric vehicles by 2025 is sign