Electric Actuators Market (2026-2036)

The global electric actuators market was valued at USD 15.7 billion in 2025. The market is projected to reach USD 28.3 billion by 2036, growing from USD 16.4 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period (2026–2036).

Published
May 2026
Pages
273
Format
PDF + Excel
Report ID
MREP - 1041952
Base year
2025
Market size · USD billion · 2025–2036Forecast 2026–2036 · 5.6% CAGR
2025 · BASELINE
$15.70B
2036
$28.30B
CAGR 2026–2036
5.6%
$40B$30B$20B$10B0
2025
2026
'27
'28
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'30
'31
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'35
'36

2025 baseline · 2026–2036 forecast at 5.6% CAGR · hover a bar for the value

Key highlights

01

The global electric actuators market is projected to reach USD 28.3 billion by 2036.

02

The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period 2026–2036.

03

The total electric actuators industry was valued at USD 15.7 billion in 2025 and is estimated to reach USD 16.4 billion in 2026.

04

North America is expected to hold the largest share of this market in 2026, driven by the concentration of oil and gas midstream and downstream infrastructure, a large installed base of aging pneumatic actuator systems undergoing active replacement with modern electric alternatives, the presence of leading actuator manufacturers and system integrators, and the advanced industrial automation infrastructure supporting broad electric actuator adoption across chemical processing, power generation, and water and wastewater treatment sectors.

05

Asia Pacific is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, driven by the rapid expansion of process manufacturing capacity across China, India, South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia, the accelerating deployment of water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, the growth of LNG import terminal and refinery construction, and the scaling of electric vehicle manufacturing facilities requiring precision linear and rotary actuator solutions across body assembly, battery production, and powertrain manufacturing operations.

06

By product type, the multi-turn electric actuators segment is expected to hold the largest share of the market in 2026, driven by its dominant position as the primary actuator technology for rising stem valve control in oil and gas pipelines, power generation facilities, and chemical processing plants where large torque output and multi-rotation drive are required.

07

By product type, the linear electric actuators segment is projected to register the highest growth during the forecast period, driven by its growing adoption in industrial automation, electric vehicle manufacturing, aerospace, and renewable energy applications where precise linear positioning and high force output in compact form factors are required.

08

By control type, the on/off electric actuators segment is expected to account for the largest share of this market in 2026.

09

By control type, the intelligent electric actuators segment is projected to register the highest growth during the forecast period, driven by the rapid adoption of IIoT-enabled actuator platforms offering real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance capabilities, and digital fieldbus integration across process-critical industrial operations.

10

By voltage, the AC electric actuators segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market in 2026.

11

By voltage, the DC electric actuators segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the growing deployment of battery-powered and low-voltage actuation solutions in electric vehicle manufacturing, renewable energy systems, and remote infrastructure monitoring applications.

12

By end-use industry, the oil and gas segment is expected to account for the largest share in 2026, while the water and wastewater treatment segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

13

By geography, North America is expected to dominate the market in 2026, while Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.

Report summary

ParticularsDetails
Market Size by 2036USD 28.3 Billion
Market Size in 2026USD 16.4 Billion
Market Size in 2025USD 15.7 Billion
Revenue Growth Rate (2026–2036)CAGR of 5.6%
FormatPDF, Excel & Cloud Portal · 273 pages
Dominating Product TypeMulti-turn Electric Actuators
Fastest Growing Product TypeLinear Electric Actuators
Dominating Control TypeOn/Off Electric Actuators
Fastest Growing Control TypeIntelligent Electric Actuators
Dominating VoltageAC Electric Actuators
Fastest Growing VoltageDC Electric Actuators
Dominating End-use IndustryOil and Gas
Fastest Growing End-use IndustryWater and Wastewater Treatment
Dominating GeographyNorth America
Fastest Growing GeographyAsia Pacific
Base Year2025
Forecast Period2026 to 2036

Report overview

Market size trajectory
2025
USD 15.70 billion
2026
USD 16.40 billion
2036
USD 28.30 billion
~1.7× expansion 2026–2036 at 5.6% CAGR
Scope note

Segments covered: product type, control type, voltage, end-use industry.

The overall electric actuators industry covers the complete range of electrically operated mechanical devices designed to convert electrical energy into controlled mechanical motion for the purpose of moving, positioning, or controlling valves, dampers, gates, and other industrial equipment. The market includes multi-turn electric actuators, part-turn electric actuators, and linear electric actuators deployed across a wide range of end-use industries including oil and gas, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, chemical and petrochemical processing, automotive and electric vehicle manufacturing, aerospace and defense, food and beverage processing, and HVAC and building automation. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that electric motor systems currently account for about 53% of global electricity consumption, rising toward ~70% in industrial applications; this embeds a strong policy push to improve efficiency of motor‑driven equipment, including actuators.

These devices play an important role in process control and industrial automation by delivering accurate, repeatable, and remotely managed mechanical positioning. This precision is essential for maintaining pipeline safety, improving production efficiency, meeting regulatory standards, and optimizing overall processes. Electric actuators are offered in a broad spectrum of control configurations from basic on/off operation to proportional modulation and advanced digital systems with built-in diagnostics and support for fieldbus communication protocols such as HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, Modbus, EtherNet/IP, and PROFINET. They are manufactured in standard designs for general industrial use, as well as in specialized versions that are explosion-proof, weather-resistant, or submersible, making them suitable for hazardous areas, outdoor environments, and subsea applications.

The growth of the electric actuators market is primarily driven by the growing displacement of pneumatic and hydraulic actuator systems across process industries, as industrial operators increasingly prioritize the energy efficiency, installation simplicity, precise positioning performance, and remote monitoring capabilities that electric actuation platforms offer compared to compressed air and hydraulic fluid-based alternatives. The total energy inefficiency of compressed air generation and distribution, where compressor drive losses typically result in only 10 to 15 percent useful work delivery at the actuation point, is now under intense scrutiny as industrial operators pursue decarbonization commitments and seek to reduce operational energy expenditure under increasingly stringent energy efficiency mandates in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

The increasing adoption of IIoT platforms in process plants has significantly strengthened the investment case for electric actuators, as modern intelligent electric actuator units from manufacturers including Rotork plc, AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG, and Flowserve Corporation now offer embedded diagnostic sensors, remote configuration interfaces, and predictive maintenance data streams that integrate directly with plant distributed control systems and asset management platforms. This connectivity allows plant operators to move away from time-based maintenance schedules toward condition-based maintenance programs that reduce unplanned downtime and optimize operational costs across large installed actuator fleets.

Global investment in water and wastewater treatment infrastructure is providing a broad and structurally expanding demand base for electric actuators, particularly in the context of water scarcity concerns, urbanization-driven municipal water system expansion, and the regulatory tightening of discharge quality standards across both developed and developing economies. The International Water Association estimates that global capital investment in water infrastructure needs to reach approximately USD 1 trillion annually through 2030 to meet safe water and sanitation goals, directly driving demand for electric actuators used in water intake, treatment, distribution, and wastewater collection and processing operations. In parallel, the global expansion of LNG infrastructure, including export and import terminal construction, regasification plant development, and long-distance gas pipeline projects across North America, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, is generating sustained demand for explosion-proof and SIL-rated multi-turn and part-turn electric actuators in high-consequence process control applications.

In addition to these sector-specific drivers, the broader shift toward industrial automation is significantly expanding the market for precision linear electric actuators. The rapid expansion of electric vehicle battery manufacturing, advanced production facilities, and automated logistics and warehousing systems worldwide is extending their use beyond traditional process control into an increasingly diverse set of industrial applications.

Despite strong growth fundamentals, the market faces challenges related to the comparatively higher upfront procurement cost of electric actuator systems relative to pneumatic alternatives, particularly in applications with existing compressed air infrastructure where the incremental cost of switching to electric actuation must be justified against established operational practice. Technical challenges including heat management in high-cycle-rate applications, battery backup system requirements for fail-safe operation in power loss scenarios, and the complexity of commissioning intelligent actuator systems with multiple fieldbus protocol options continue to influence procurement decisions and total cost of ownership calculations for industrial buyers.

Stricter functional safety requirements under IEC 61508 and IEC 61511, along with the growing adoption of Safety Integrity Level (SIL) certifications in oil, gas, and chemical processing, are creating strong growth prospects for electric actuator manufacturers that offer SIL-rated products and proven functional safety expertise. At the same time, the rapid global expansion of renewable energy—particularly utility-scale solar and wind projects, where actuators are used for solar tracking and turbine pitch and yaw control—is establishing a new and steadily growing demand segment. Additionally, the increasing implementation of Industry 4.0 and digital twin technologies in process plants is driving investment in intelligent electric actuators capable of delivering real-time position and diagnostic data to support advanced digital operations.

Report infographic

Electric Actuators Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast (2026-2036) infographic
Electric Actuators Market · Report infographic

Market dynamics

1 factors across 1 force

Table of contents

12 chapters · 137 sections · 273 pages · click to expand
Review the full research scope before you buy. Chapters can also be purchased individually.

1.1Market Definition and Scope
1.2Market Ecosystem
1.3Currency and Limitations
1.3.1Currency
1.3.2Limitations
1.4Key Stakeholders

Segmental analysis

SegmentLargest share (2026)Fastest growth (2026–2036)
By Product TypeMulti-turn Electric ActuatorsLinear electric actuators
By Control TypeOn/Off Electric ActuatorsIntelligent electric actuators
By VoltageAC Electric ActuatorsDC electric actuators
By End-use IndustryOil and GasWater and wastewater treatment
01

By Product Type

  • The Multi-turn Electric Actuators Segment to Dominate the Global Electric Actuators Market
  • The electric actuators industry is segmented into multi-turn electric actuators, part-turn electric actuators, and linear electric actuators.
  • The multi-turn electric actuators segment is expected to account for the largest share of this market.
  • The leading position of this segment is attributed to its established and dominant role as the primary electrically operated drive technology for gate valves, globe valves, and rising stem ball valves used extensively in oil and gas pipelines, process chemical plants, power station auxiliary systems, and water distribution networks, where multi-rotation output torques ranging from a few hundred Newton-metres to several hundred thousand Newton-metres are required to operate large-bore valves against full line pressure.
  • The long operational service life of multi-turn electric actuator installations, combined with the large and continuously expanding installed base of rising stem valves across global process infrastructure, sustains strong replacement and upgrade procurement demand alongside new installation activity.
  • Key manufacturers including Rotork plc with its IQ3 intelligent multi-turn range, AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG with its SA and SAR series, and Flowserve Corporation with its Limitorque L120 series exemplify the sustained product development investment sustaining the competitiveness of this segment.
  • However, the linear electric actuators segment is projected to register the highest growth during the forecast period.
  • The high growth of this segment is driven by the accelerating adoption of electric linear actuation across industrial automation and robotics applications, the rapid buildout of electric vehicle manufacturing capacity globally that requires precision linear actuators across battery module assembly, body shop automation, and end-of-line testing equipment, the growing deployment of linear electric actuators in solar photovoltaic tracker systems and wind turbine pitch control applications, and the increasing preference for clean, maintenance-friendly linear electric drive solutions in food processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing environments where pneumatic or hydraulic actuation raises contamination and hygiene compliance concerns.
  • The IEA‑4E Electric Motor Systems policy brief notes that industrial automation and robotics are key growth areas for electric‑motor‑driven systems, including linear actuators integrated into workcells, conveyors, and assembly lines.
  • National EV‑incentive programs indicate robotic automation and electric‑drive‑based production lines, which directly increase demand for precision linear electric actuators in battery‑cell stacking, body‑in‑white automation, and end‑of‑line testing.
02

By Control Type

  • The On/Off Electric Actuators Segment to Hold the Largest Share
  • The electric actuators industry is segmented into on/off electric actuators, modulating electric actuators, and intelligent electric actuators.
  • The on/off electric actuators segment is expected to account for the largest share of this market.
  • The growth of this segment is driven by its broad deployment across isolation valve applications throughout oil and gas, water distribution, and power generation infrastructure, where the actuator function is limited to fully opening or fully closing a valve in response to a binary control signal, and where the simplicity, reliability, and lower unit cost of on/off actuator configurations make them the predominant technology selection for the large majority of valve actuation points in any given process facility.
  • The enormous global installed base of on/off actuated isolation valves across existing pipeline, refinery, and utility infrastructure sustains strong replacement procurement demand for this segment across all major geographies.
  • The U.S. DOE’s Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security and modernization initiative reports that over 150 electric utilities, serving about 90 million U.S. customers, have adopted or committed to advanced monitoring and protection technologies for operational‑technology (OT) networks, including valve and actuator control systems.
  • This modernization drive in the power, oil and gas, and water sectors increases the replacement of older pneumatic/hydraulic actuators with certified on/off electric actuators for isolation and emergency‑shutdown duties.
  • However, the intelligent electric actuators segment is projected to register the highest growth during the forecast period.
  • The high growth of this segment is driven by the rapidly expanding adoption of IIoT-enabled actuator platforms that provide real-time operational data, remote configurability, and predictive maintenance capabilities across process plant operations, the tightening of functional safety requirements that mandate diagnostic coverage levels achievable only with intelligent, self-monitoring actuator hardware, and the compelling total cost of ownership advantages that intelligent actuator platforms deliver relative to conventional units through extended service intervals, early fault detection, and integration with plant digital infrastructure supporting broader Industry 4.0 transformation programs.
03

By Voltage

  • The AC Electric Actuators Segment to Hold the Largest Share
  • The electric actuators industry is segmented into AC electric actuators and DC electric actuators.
  • The AC electric actuators segment is expected to account for the largest share of this market.
  • The dominant position of this segment reflects the prevalence of standard single-phase and three-phase AC power distribution infrastructure across industrial facilities globally, which makes AC-powered actuators the default technology selection for fixed installations in process plants, power generation facilities, and water treatment works where reliable grid power is available and where the high torque output characteristics of AC induction motor drives are well-suited to the demanding duty cycles of industrial valve and damper actuation.
  • The broad compatibility of AC actuators with established plant electrical infrastructure reduces both installation cost and engineering complexity, sustaining their dominance across the large majority of new and replacement procurement in industrial process control applications.
  • However, the DC electric actuators segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
  • The high growth of this segment is driven by the expanding deployment of battery-powered and low-voltage DC actuation solutions in electric vehicle manufacturing automation, remote pipeline and infrastructure monitoring stations where grid power is unavailable, renewable energy systems including solar tracker and wind turbine applications that operate on DC power architectures, and the growing adoption of 24 V and 48 V DC-powered building automation and HVAC control systems that require compact, energy-efficient actuator solutions compatible with low-voltage DC building management system architectures.
04

By End-use Industry

  • The Oil and Gas Segment to Hold the Largest Share
  • The electric actuators industry is segmented into oil and gas, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, chemical and petrochemical processing, automotive, aerospace and defense, food and beverage processing, HVAC and building automation, and other end-use industries.
  • The oil and gas segment is expected to account for the largest share of this market, reflecting the status of this sector as the largest global procurer of industrial electric actuators, driven by the enormous valve count in upstream production facilities, midstream pipeline and compression systems, and downstream refinery and gas processing operations, each of which relies on electrically actuated valve control for flow regulation, isolation, emergency shutdown, and pressure management functions.
  • The ongoing global expansion of LNG export and import terminal capacity, large-diameter gas transmission pipeline projects, and upstream production facility automation programs across North America, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific is continuously adding new actuation demand alongside replacement procurement for aging actuator systems in the existing global oil and gas infrastructure base.
  • The IEA’s statistical publications show that global LNG export capacity has increased by 300 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year of new capacity expected to be added by 2030, with major new projects in the U.S., Qatar, Australia, and the Middle East, all of which add hundreds of control and safety valves driven by electric actuators.
  • However, the water and wastewater treatment segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
  • The high growth of this segment is driven by the massive global capital investment cycle in water supply, treatment, and distribution infrastructure, fueled by population growth, urbanization, water scarcity, and the tightening of regulatory standards for drinking water quality and wastewater discharge across both developed and emerging economies.
  • Municipal water utilities are deploying electric actuators across intake structures, treatment plant process equipment, distribution network pressure management stations, and sewage pumping and treatment facilities, where electrically actuated valve and gate control provides the remote operability and monitoring capability needed to meet modern water utility automation and resilience requirements.
  • The growing deployment of desalination capacity across water-stressed regions including the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia is additionally creating significant new demand for corrosion-resistant and marine-grade electric actuator solutions in seawater intake, pre-treatment, and brine disposal applications.

Geographic analysis

01

North America

Largest share

In 2026, North America is expected to account for the largest share of this market. This is driven by the concentration of oil and gas production, processing, and pipeline infrastructure across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the presence of a large installed base of aging pneumatic and electric actuator systems across chemical plants, refineries, and power generation facilities that are actively undergoing technology refresh programs, and the deep local supply base provided by leading manufacturers including Emerson Electric Co., Flowserve Corporation, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Moog Inc., and Tolomatic, Inc. The stringent safety management requirements enforced under OSHA's Process Safety Management standard, the EPA's Risk Management Program, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's regulations for pipeline integrity management collectively compel sustained investment in reliable, certified electric actuator platforms across North American process industries. The United States in particular benefits from strong ongoing capital spending in LNG export terminal construction, refinery modernization, and water infrastructure upgrade programs that drive consistent new installation activity for electric actuators across multiple end-use sectors. The U.S. DOE’s ICS and OT‑modernization initiative reports that over 150 U.S. utilities have adopted advanced monitoring and protection technologies for operational‑technology networks, which supports the deployment of certified electric actuators in pipeline and power‑plant safety systems. The IEA’s gas‑infrastructure tables show that U.S. LNG export capacity has more than doubled over the last decade, adding thousands of process‑control valves and supporting rapid electric‑actuator procurement in terminals and upstream/ midstream infrastructure.

02

Asia-Pacific

Fastest growth

However, the Asia Pacific electric actuators market is expected to grow at the fastest rate from 2026 to 2036. This is driven by the massive ongoing expansion of refinery, petrochemical, LNG, and industrial process manufacturing capacity across China, India, South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia, the accelerating buildout of municipal water treatment and distribution infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing economies, and the scaling of electric vehicle battery production and automotive manufacturing operations across the region that are generating substantial new demand for precision linear and rotary electric actuators. China's continuing investment in natural gas pipeline infrastructure under its national energy security program, combined with the enforcement of enhanced safety management standards for hazardous chemical facilities under the Work Safety Law amendments, is compelling large-scale adoption of intelligent and SIL-rated electric actuator platforms across Chinese process industries. India's Jal Jeevan Mission, targeting household piped water connections across rural India, and the ongoing Smart Cities Mission infrastructure program together represent a significant and time-bounded procurement opportunity for electric actuators in municipal water and wastewater treatment applications across the country.

03

Europe

Europe is a large and technically sophisticated market for electric actuators, supported by a robust regulatory framework encompassing the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU for hazardous area equipment, IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 functional safety standards, the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, and the incoming EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which will replace the current Machinery Directive and introduce updated safety and electromechanical equipment requirements from January 2027. European manufacturers including Rotork plc, AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG, IMI plc, and Festo SE & Co. KG maintain strong competitive positions in their home region and globally, supported by deep application engineering expertise and long-established relationships with major European oil and gas, chemical, and water utility operators.

Competitive landscape

Companies profiled (15)
  • Rotork plc (U.K.)
  • Emerson Electric Co. (U.S.)
  • AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG · Germany
  • Flowserve Corporation (U.S.)
  • ABB Ltd. · Switzerland
  • Siemens AG · Germany
  • Nidec Corporation · Japan
  • Parker Hannifin Corporation (U.S.)
  • Moog Inc. (U.S.)
  • Curtiss-Wright Corporation (U.S.)
  • IMI plc (U.K.)
  • Festo SE & Co. KG · Germany
  • SMC Corporation · Japan
  • Tolomatic, Inc. (U.S.)
  • Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.)

Frequently asked questions

The global electric actuators market is expected to reach USD 28.3 billion by 2036 from an estimated USD 16.4 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period 2026–2036.
 

Cite this report

Meticulous Research. (2026). Electric Actuators Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast (2026-2036) (Report No. MREP - 1041952). Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/electric-actuators-market-6635

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