Spray Drying Equipment Market Size (2025 – 2030)

The Spray Drying Equipment Market was valued at USD 4.9 billion in 2024. Over the forecast period of 2025-2030, it is projected to reach USD 7.07 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.3%.

Spray drying technology is employed to transform liquid or slurry-based materials into a dry powder form. The process involves spraying the liquid feed into a hot gas flow, causing the liquid to evaporate and leaving behind dry powder particles. This method is widely used across industries like food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and ceramics, primarily to create powdered products with enhanced characteristics, including extended shelf life, greater stability, and improved solubility. Key components of spray drying equipment include dryers, atomizers, and air filters, among others. The market for this equipment is witnessing steady growth, driven by the increasing demand for processed food products and the expanding use of spray drying techniques across various industries.

Key Market Insights:

• The growth of the spray drying equipment market is fueled by the escalating demand for processed food products and the growing use of spray drying technologies across industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

• With advantages such as extended shelf life, lower transportation costs, and improved product quality, spray drying is becoming increasingly favored by manufacturers globally.

• Consequently, the market for spray drying equipment is set to experience substantial growth in the near future, offering opportunities for industry participants to innovate and address the needs of an expanding market.

Spray Drying Equipment Market Drivers:

The growing demand for spray-dried encapsulation is expected to propel market expansion.

The encapsulation process is gaining popularity due to the continuous development of value-added products in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Numerous studies have been conducted globally to explore and innovate this technology. Volatile and chemically unstable liquid foods, such as cardamom essential oil, are often processed using this method. Cardamom essential oil is widely used in Scandinavian, Arabic, and Indian cuisines, as well as in the perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. However, the instability of the ingredient has been a concern. The introduction of encapsulation effectively addresses this issue by stabilizing the ingredient. Amorphous Solid Dispersions (ASDs) are becoming increasingly popular in the pharmaceutical industry to enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), thus creating opportunities for the development and production of ASDs.

Spray Drying Equipment Market Restraints and Challenges:

The high installation and operational costs are expected to limit the growth of the market.

Spray Drying Equipment Market Opportunities:

Investments in both Greenfield and Brownfield developments are expected to support market growth.

Significant investments have been made in both brownfield and Greenfield sites across various industries. Both developed and developing economies are showing considerable interest in the specialized field of spray drying equipment, particularly in over 900 abandoned fields and green food, chemical, and pharmaceutical plants.

The growing demand for products in the pharmaceutical and nutritional sectors, such as antibiotics, penicillin, enzymes, and whey proteins, is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Additionally, advancements in technology enable manufacturers to develop energy-efficient products that are free from hazardous gases, creating substantial growth opportunities for the spray dryer industry.

SPRAY DRYING EQUIPMENT MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

Spray Drying Equipment Market Segmentation: By Type

• Rotary Atomizer

• Nozzle Atomizer

• Fluidized

• Closed Loop

• Centrifugal

The nozzle atomizer segment holds the largest market share, driven by the widespread use of nozzle-based equipment to produce free-flowing and coarser powders. These atomizers can be configured to offer a wide range of flow rates, making them ideal for applications that require precise flow control and the production of flexible particles. The increasing need to reduce moisture content while processing pharmaceutical products to achieve optimal quality and fine granular particles is expected to further drive the adoption of spray dryers in the forecast period.

The rotary atomizer segment is projected to register the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period. Rotary atomizers are known for their versatility, making them suitable for a broad range of products. They typically produce a narrower particle size distribution and looser powder compared to dual fluid nozzles.

Additionally, the fluidized segment is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. This growth is attributed to factors such as the rising demand for drying processes that improve product quality while reducing energy consumption, an increasing number of industries adopting this technology, and growing demand from emerging economies worldwide.

The closed loop and centrifugal segments are anticipated to see moderate growth during the forecast period. Closed-loop dryers can reduce energy consumption in milk powder production by up to 60% compared to current practices, while centrifugal sprayers are most effective for producing solid powders or particles from liquid materials like solutions, emulsions, suspensions, and pumpable pastes.

Spray Drying Equipment Market Segmentation - By Drying Stage

• Single Stage

• Two Stage

• Multi Stage

The two-stage segment currently holds a significant market share and is expected to maintain its dominance in the future. This can be attributed to the decreasing manufacturing costs and the rising demand for these dryers across various industrial applications, all while maintaining high product quality.

Furthermore, the multi-stage segment is anticipated to exhibit the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period. This is due to its ability to directly control the pressure between the first and final stages of the spray drying process, as well as its capacity to produce dust-free agglomerated solutions with optimal spreadability.

Spray Drying Equipment Market Segmentation - By Application

• Food & Dairy

• Pharmaceutical

• Chemica

• Others (Animal Feed))

The pharmaceutical segment is projected to register the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period, driven by the rising demand for drugs across regions such as North America and Europe. Moreover, government initiatives aimed at boosting the pharmaceutical industry are expected to contribute to an increase in the demand for pharmaceutical products in India over the next eight years.

The chemical segment is anticipated to experience significant growth due to increased product development in the chemical industry, particularly for the spray drying of polymers, resins, and other chemical intermediates.

Spray Drying Equipment Market Segmentation - by region

• North America

• Europe

• Asia Pacific

• South America

• Middle East & Africa

North America leads the market, driven by strong demand for pharmaceutical products and technological advancements in the region. The region is expected to maintain its dominance in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period. North America boasts a well-established manufacturing sector that relies heavily on water usage in production processes, owing to the high demand for dry products from industries such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. This has increased pressure on industry participants to develop cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions for industrial applications.

The U.S. is projected to experience the fastest growth, driven by a high demand for powdered milk as a substitute for liquid milk. Additionally, the extraction and use of food additives, coupled with the rising demand for ready-to-eat foods such as instant coffee and soup mixes, has expanded the role of spray drying in enabling faster production processes.

In Europe, the market saw stable growth, driven by increased demand for processed food and dairy products. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, total milk production in Europe reached 236 million tons in 2020. Technological advancements in food production and the growth of large dairies have significantly contributed to market revenue in the region. Moreover, trade and technology agreements such as the European Union (EU) and the Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) are broadening business opportunities, which in turn is expanding the market share in Europe.

The Middle East and Africa region is expected to experience steady growth during the forecast period. The industrial sector plays a major role in the regional economy, with many large-scale chemical and pharmaceutical production facilities. This is driving the demand for spray dryers, which is fueling market growth in the region.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact Analysis

The demand for pharmaceutical spray drying has surged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmaceutical spray drying is a process in which hot gas is used to rapidly dry a drug product, converting a liquid or suspension into a dry powder. This technique is frequently employed to enhance the bioavailability of medications. It ensures the distribution of particles of uniform size, which is essential for the production of industrial products such as catalysts. While air is the most commonly used drying agent, ethanol may be used as an alternative when the liquid is flammable. The introduction of new medicines, including vaccines and biological substances that require spray drying technology, is expected to create significant market opportunities, thereby driving the growth of the spray drying market.