Illumina CEO Forecasts Significant Expansion in China Amid Genomics Market Surge

Illumina Inc. CEO Francis deSouza has identified China as a pivotal growth market, citing rising demand for genomic sequencing technologies and expanding government health initiatives. The company expects double-digit revenue growth from the region over the next three years.

Illumina Inc. is positioning itself for accelerated expansion in China, with CEO Francis deSouza highlighting the country's evolving healthcare infrastructure and increasing public investment in precision medicine. He cited recent government-backed initiatives targeting early cancer detection and rare disease screening as key drivers of demand for next-generation sequencing platforms. The company reported that its installed base of sequencing instruments in Greater China reached 1,200 units by end-2025, up 47% year-over-year. This growth reflects strong adoption among academic institutions, tertiary hospitals, and private biotech firms. DeSouza noted that China’s domestic genomics research output grew by 38% annually between 2022 and 2025, indicating robust long-term potential. Illumina anticipates that China will account for 18% of its global sequencing revenue by 2027, up from 12% in 2023. This shift is supported by localized manufacturing partnerships and regulatory approvals for new instruments, including the NovaSeq X Plus platform, which gained approval in 2025 for use in clinical diagnostics. Market analysts suggest Illumina’s China strategy could outperform expectations if current trends continue. The company’s share of the Chinese genomics market rose to 29% in 2025, second only to local competitor MGI Tech, which holds 34%. However, Illumina’s technological leadership in high-throughput, low-cost sequencing remains a competitive advantage.