Non-Thermal Processing Market - Global Forecast 2025-2032

Non-thermal processing technologies are reshaping the food manufacturing landscape, presenting senior decision-makers with pragmatic solutions for maintaining product integrity, supporting compliance, and enabling responsive operational strategies to meet developing market and supply demands.

Market Snapshot: Growth in the Non-Thermal Processing Market

The non-thermal processing market is experiencing sustained growth, with market valuation expected to increase from USD 1.45 billion in 2024 to USD 1.58 billion in 2025, ultimately reaching USD 2.99 billion by 2032. This trajectory represents a 9.44% CAGR.

Scope & Segmentation of the Non-Thermal Processing Market

A clear segmentation of the non-thermal processing market allows executive leadership to pinpoint optimal avenues for investment and expansion, matching capabilities with both geographic needs and evolving food industry trends.

• Product Type: Applications span dairy (milk and cheese), fruit juices, meats, and seafood, supporting producers in serving varied consumer preferences and accessing emerging product verticals while maintaining flavor and extending shelf life.
• Technology: Techniques include cold plasma, high pressure, irradiation, ozone, pulsed electric fields, ultrasound, and ultraviolet. Each offers targeted capabilities, such as minimal nutrient loss and enhanced throughput, aligning investments with operational priorities.
• Food Form: Both liquid and solid foods benefit from non-thermal processing, with ready-to-drink beverages, specialty cheeses, and fresh proteins reflecting expanded adaptability to new product development and shifting consumer expectations.
• End User: Adoption is led by beverage producers, contract processors, foodservice operators, and product development teams. The participation of mid-sized companies highlights increasing accessibility and opportunities for broad system deployment.
• Region: Growth is strong in the Americas—particularly the US, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina—with varied adoption across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, shaped by local regulation and infrastructure maturity.
• Key Companies: Industry players such as JBT Corporation, Hiperbaric S.A., SPX Flow, GEA Group, Multivac, Tetra Pak International, Bühler, ELEA, Claranor, and SteriBeam AG drive innovation and provide critical market support to promote wider adoption.

Key Takeaways for Senior Decision-Makers

• Non-thermal processing supports delivery of clean-label and nutrient-rich products, aligning with market trends for transparency and stricter quality standards.
• Modular system designs enable agile operations, allowing rapid adaptation to market changes, supply fluctuations, or unforeseen disruptions.
• Streamlined integration of non-thermal platforms facilitates innovation in new food categories, helping organizations adapt product development in response to evolving trends.
• Maintaining strong regulatory engagement ensures smoother implementation of new technologies, upholds compliance, and reinforces long-term operational resilience.
• Collaboration across suppliers and technical partners drives industry standardization, accelerates knowledge sharing, and strengthens food safety practices across the supply chain.
• Digital monitoring and improved supply chain visibility equip teams to manage audits, quickly identify risk, and respond effectively to incidents in complex procurement environments.

Impact of 2025 United States Tariffs

Impending US tariffs on imported non-thermal processing equipment are changing procurement strategies among food manufacturers. Companies are increasingly turning to domestic equipment vendors and pursuing phased system upgrades to maintain business continuity. This evolving tariff environment highlights the importance of strong supplier partnerships and regular regulatory engagement to minimize uncertainty and support reliable operations.

Methodology & Data Sources

Findings in this report are derived from equipment producers, global food processing organizations, and regulatory institutions. All insights are cross-validated through peer-reviewed research and established industry bodies, ensuring reliability and relevance for executive decision-making.

Why This Report Matters for Strategic Decision-Making

• Delivers practical guidance to reduce complexity in adopting non-thermal processing, supporting return on investment for stakeholders.
• Prepares executive teams to address risk, driving progress in product development, technology integration, and cross-regional growth efforts.
• Enables prompt response to compliance changes and evolving operational imperatives within the B2B food sector.

Conclusion

Non-thermal processing technologies equip manufacturers with flexible tools to meet future efficiency and quality demands. This report presents actionable market insights for informed planning and lasting operational strength.

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