Confectionery Processing Equipment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Confectionery Processing Equipment Market is projected to experience significant growth, rising from USD 5.98 Billion in 2025 to USD 10.88 Billion by 2031, representing a CAGR of 10.49%. This market segment includes specialized machinery designed for the preparation, cooking, forming, and cooling of sweet goods such as chocolate, hard candies, gums, and jellies.

The expansion is largely driven by rapid global urbanization and increasing disposable incomes, which have amplified consumer demand for high-quality, industrially produced confectionery. Manufacturers are responding by investing heavily in automated production lines to guarantee consistent product hygiene and meet the high-volume requirements of modern retail supply chains. The robustness of this industrial activity is highlighted by the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, which noted that in 2025, the global trade volume for this machinery reached a preliminary peak of €54.5 billion for the year 2024.

However, the market faces a substantial challenge due to the high capital investment needed for advanced processing systems. The significant costs associated with procuring and installing state-of-the-art machinery frequently create a barrier to entry for small and medium-sized enterprises, restricting their ability to upgrade from manual or semi-automatic operations. This financial constraint is particularly severe in price-sensitive emerging markets, where manufacturers often struggle to justify the return on investment given the fluctuation in raw material prices. Consequently, despite strong demand for end-products, the capital-intensive nature of the equipment limits the potential customer base and constrains the overall market growth rate.

Market Drivers

The rising global consumption of chocolate and sugar confectionery acts as a primary catalyst for the machinery market, requiring an expansion of manufacturing capabilities to satisfy escalating consumer appetites. As disposable incomes increase and urbanization accelerates, producers are transitioning from batch to continuous processing methods to ensure consistent supply. This surge in demand is supported by recent industry performance; according to the National Confectioners Association's "2025 State of Treating" report released in March 2025, confectionery sales exceeded $54 billion in 2024 across all outlets, demonstrating the category's resilience. To capture this value, major processors are investing heavily in capacity, with industry leader Barry Callebaut reporting a 28.1% surge in sales revenue to CHF 10.4 billion in 2024, highlighting the high financial stakes driving capital expenditure in processing infrastructure.

Furthermore, the integration of Advanced Automation and Industry 4.0 Technologies serves as a critical driver, transforming traditional manufacturing floors into smart, connected ecosystems. Manufacturers are increasingly adopting robotic systems, IoT-enabled sensors, and data analytics to address labor shortages and improve operational efficiency. These technologies allow for precise control over complex recipes and minimize waste, which is essential for maintaining profit margins in a cost-competitive environment. The global reliance on such high-tech solutions is evident in trade flows; according to a June 2025 press release by the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association regarding "drinktec 2025," German exports of food processing and packaging machinery rose by 6% to €10.6 billion in 2024. This export growth underscores the widespread international adoption of sophisticated European processing technologies to modernize confectionery production lines.

Market Challenges

The substantial capital investment required for automated confectionery processing systems constitutes a primary impediment to market scalability. For many small and medium-sized enterprises, the procurement and installation costs of modern machinery create a prohibitive barrier to entry. This financial strain is especially pronounced in price-sensitive regions where manufacturers operate on thin margins, making the return on investment for high-cost equipment difficult to justify. As a result, a significant portion of the industry remains reliant on manual or semi-automatic methods, effectively capping the adoption rate of advanced technology and limiting the customer base to large, capital-rich corporations.

This hesitation to commit to heavy expenditures directly affects industrial performance metrics. When manufacturers delay upgrades due to cost concerns, the market experiences a tangible slowdown in machinery output and sales volume. According to the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, in 2025, production in the food processing and packaging machinery sector declined by nearly 2% to €16.1 billion for the year 2024, driven by significantly weaker investment activity. This contraction underscores how high capital requirements, coupled with economic caution, directly hamper the broader expansion of the equipment market.

Market Trends

Innovation in machinery for processing functional and sugar-free ingredients is fundamentally altering production lines as manufacturers respond to health-conscious consumer demands. Processing sugar substitutes, such as polyols or stevia, requires specialized equipment capable of managing distinct rheological properties and lower melting points compared to traditional sucrose. This shift is driving the development of high-precision dosing and temperature-controlled mixing systems to ensure texture consistency in reformulated treats. According to the National Confectioners Association's "2025 State of Treating" report from March 2025, 62% of consumers now believe that better-for-you confectionery options exist, indicating a mature market readiness that compels producers to upgrade their technical capabilities for functional ingredient integration.

Concurrently, the shift towards energy-efficient and sustainable processing systems has become a decisive factor in equipment procurement, driven by volatile energy costs and stringent environmental mandates. Manufacturers are prioritizing machinery with integrated heat recovery units, water recycling loops, and optimized drive systems to reduce operational expenditures and carbon footprints. This strategic pivot towards sustainability is directly influencing machinery sales performance for major technology providers. According to GEA Group's "Annual Report 2024" released in March 2025, revenue grew by 0.9% to €5.4 billion, a performance the company explicitly attributed to its competitive advantage in delivering innovative, sustainable technology solutions.

Key Players Profiled in the Confectionery Processing Equipment Market

• Baker Perkins
• Heat and Control, Inc.
• BCH Ltd.
• Sollich
• Tanis Confectionery
• Alfa Laval
• JBT Corporation
• Bosch
• Aasted
• BUhler AG

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Confectionery Processing Equipment Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market, by Type:

• Thermal Equipment
• Extrusion Equipment
• Mixers
• Blenders & Cutters
• Cooling Equipment
• Coating Equipment
• Other Equipment

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market, by Product:

• Soft Confectionery
• Hard Candies
• Chewing Gums
• Gummies & Jellies
• Others

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market, by Mode of Operation:

• Automatic
• Semi-Automatic

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Confectionery Processing Equipment Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.