Asia Pacific Freeze Drying Market

Market Overview

The market for freeze drying in Asia-Pacific is expected to reach USD 3097.45 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 7.85%.

Lyophilization, also known as freeze drying, removes moisture from a raw, frozen product by using a vacuum system and a process known as sublimation.

Raw frozen food is sectioned into pieces of the proper size and then distributed evenly across trays before being stacked and placed in freezers. The product, having been sized, then freezes at an even colder temperature, achieving the ideal stage in which the object's initial shape can be preserved while still retaining its integrity.

Then, the trays are loaded into a freezer-drying chamber with a refrigeration unit and a door that closes securely. A process known as sublimation removes ice from the product by the vacuum system of the chamber, and the ice is converted straight to a vapour without passing through the liquid state. Because the water is removed from the product while frozen, the cell structure is preserved, and the finished product exhibits a close similarity to its new version. As a result, the piece maintains its identity.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

• Increasing awareness about additives used in the packaged food and stockpiling nature of people

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in consumer demand for non-perishable food products. The stockpiling nature of consumers primarily drove it due to extended lockdowns. In most cases, even consumers avoided stepping outside in public areas to protect themselves.

The expanding food-processing sector and colossal consumer demand for ready-to-eat or convenience food products will drive the market studied in the short term. Furthermore, rising consumer awareness of the adverse effects of artificial food additives in food preservation is expected to drive demand for natural and healthy food products. Consumers in the country are increasingly choosing freeze-dried fruits, yoghurt melts, snack fruit, vegetable crisps, vegetable powders, and instant soup mixes, driving the market in the region.

Because of the constant presence of freeze-dried products in the local market, increasing product knowledge in the region also allows more consumers to purchase the products, driving the freeze-dried food market in this specific region.

Market Restraints

• Expensive procedure

The equipment required for freeze drying is approximately three times more expensive than the equipment required for other separation procedures. It contributes to the comparatively high cost of this process. In addition to this, they generate significant energy needs, which drive up the cost of the associated utilities. During the forecast period, the expansion of the market is anticipated to be hampered by these reasons.

Freeze drying food or pharmaceutical products has traditionally been regarded as a highly costly method. As a result, this technique has historically been utilised only when it was essential or when the high value-added to the final product could justify the costs. Contrary to the traditional perception, the most expensive aspect of the freeze drying process is not the method itself; instead, the initial investment is the main limiting factor.

Regional Analysis

The Asia Pacific Freeze Drying Market is segmented into China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and The Rest of Asia-Pacific, based on country.

Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing regional market for freeze drying during the forecast period. This upward trend in the regional market can be attributed to a robust food processing industry. In addition, the significant increase in the working population and growing base of the female workforce across the developing economies of the regional market, such as India and China, is creating a robust demand for processed and frozen food products, owing to their hectic lifestyle. As a result, the Asia Pacific freeze drying market in the food and beverage market is growing.

The growing regional population, rising consumer spending, hectic lifestyles, and rising health consciousness have attracted international players. Regional market players focus on large-scale expansion through business strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations. It is expected to unlock the market's growth potential.

Segmental Analysis

The market is segmented into Tray-style Freeze Dryer, Manifold Freeze Dryer, and Shell Freeze Dryer based on freezer type.

The tray freeze dryers market is expected to dominate the segment. Tray freeze-dryers are more sophisticated than their counterparts, and they are used to dry a wide range of materials in both the pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries. The tray freeze-dryer freezes the product in place while performing unbound water removal and bound freeze drying, resulting in the driest possible end-products in long-term storage. Furthermore, these dryers allow operators to dry products in bulk, making them popular for long-term storage of pharmaceutical products such as vaccines.

The market is segmented into Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Others, based on end-user.

The food & beverage segment is expected to augment the market growth. There are three significant reasons which are contributing to this cause.

• Individuals' hectic work schedules prompt them to opt for refrigerated, frozen, and canned food, increasing the demand for freeze drying equipment.
• The growing number of female workers and nuclear families also drives the Asia Pacific Freeze Drying market. Working women have less time to cook, which increases the demand for convenience foods such as canned and frozen foods.
• One of the primary benefits of freeze drying is extending the shelf life of nutritious food ingredients while also making food products versatile, accessible, and convenient. The demand for shelf-stable food drives the demand for these freeze drying processes in the food and beverage industry.
• Highest Growth Expected in Pharmaceuticals Segment

In the pharmaceutical industry, freeze drying is widely used to improve labile drugs' stability and long-term storage stability, particularly protein drugs. Approximately half of the FDA and EMA-approved biopharmaceutical products are freeze-dried, indicating the importance of the freeze drying process in pharmaceuticals compared to other processes, despite the high cost and lengthy processing time.

Increasing life expectancy, rising R&D investments, surging foreign investment in developing markets, and rising customer spending has aided the pharmaceutical industry's growth. And as the prevalence of chronic diseases and obesity rises at an alarming rate, so makes the demand for pharmaceutical products across the board.

Recent Developments

• May 2022, The Ajinomoto Group recently submitted a letter of commitment stating that it will adhere to the new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, including the Net-Zero Standard, established by the international partnership organisation Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The Ajinomoto Group will set new targets to achieve carbon neutrality, which calls for limiting the net amount of GHG emissions to zero by fiscal 2050.
• March 2022, Starting April 1, Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. will switch to renewable energy sources for power purchased for eight plants in Japan's Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Chubu, and Chugoku regions.