The global pharmaceutical drying equipment market is entering a period of substantial expansion, driven by increasing drug production, rising global disease burdens, and rapid advancements in pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies. The market, valued at USD 5.80 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 8.18 billion by 2029, registering a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period. As pharmaceutical companies scale up production of small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and complex formulations, demand for efficient, precise, and compliant drying systems continues to surge.
Pharmaceutical drying equipment plays a vital role in drug manufacturing by removing solvents—such as water—from formulations to produce stable, safe, and high-quality active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and final dosage forms. Drying is essential in preventing chemical degradation, microbial growth, and instability. Technologies such as spray drying, vacuum drying, freeze-drying, and fluidized bed drying are increasingly used across R&D, pilot-scale production, and large-scale commercial manufacturing.
Key Market Drivers: Rising Disease Prevalence and Growing Drug Demand
The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases—including diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, respiratory diseases, and autoimmune conditions—is a significant factor accelerating market growth. As the global patient population rises, pharmaceutical companies must expand manufacturing capabilities to meet rising demand for drugs, vaccines, and biologics. This expansion directly fuels the need for advanced drying equipment that ensures product stability, potency, and shelf-life.
Another major growth driver is the surge in generic drug manufacturing triggered by mass patent expirations. As blockbuster drugs lose exclusivity, demand for cost-effective generics grows rapidly. Generic manufacturers, particularly in Asia Pacific, are investing heavily in high-performance drying systems to enhance production efficiency, meet regulatory standards, and reduce operational costs.
Additionally, the increasing adoption of continuous manufacturing processes in the pharmaceutical industry is creating new opportunities for drying equipment suppliers. Continuous manufacturing improves throughput, minimizes waste, enhances product consistency, and reduces production time—all of which require robust drying technologies capable of supporting end-to-end workflows.
Market Restraints: High Maintenance Costs and Preference for Refurbished Equipment
Despite strong momentum, the pharmaceutical drying equipment market faces a few challenges:
- High Maintenance and Operational Costs
Advanced drying systems require routine maintenance, calibration, and technical expertise—raising operational expenses for manufacturers.
- Rising Adoption of Refurbished Equipment
Many small- and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies opt for refurbished or redeveloped drying equipment to minimize capital expenditure. This trend limits the adoption of new systems, especially in cost-sensitive markets.
However, growing regulatory pressure for quality assurance and compliance is pushing large players to adopt more advanced, automated, and digitally enhanced drying systems, partially offsetting this restraint.
Type Analysis: Spray Dryers Lead the Market in 2023
Based on equipment type, the pharmaceutical drying equipment market is segmented into:
- Spray Dryers
- Vacuum Dryers
- Freeze Dryers
- Fluidized Bed Dryers
- Other Dryers
Among these categories, spray dryers accounted for the largest market share in 2023.
Spray drying plays a central role in enabling continuous manufacturing, a growing trend across the global pharmaceutical landscape. As manufacturers shift from batch-processing to continuous operations, spray dryers offer unbeatable efficiency by converting liquid feeds into powders through a high-speed, energy-efficient single-step process.
Advantages include:
- Tight control over particle size, morphology, and stability
- Enhanced consistency for complex drug formulations
- Scalability for both small-molecule and biologic formulations
- Reduced contamination risk and improved process sterility
These benefits are particularly valuable for inhalation therapies, vaccines, biologics, and heat-sensitive compounds—supporting the segment’s strong dominance.
End-User Insights: Pharmaceutical & Biotech Companies Hold the Largest Share
By end user, the market is segmented into:
- Pharmaceutical & Biotech Companies
- Contract Development & Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs)
- Research Institutes, Academia, and Others
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies held the largest market share in 2023.
This dominance is fueled by:
- Rising demand for advanced drug formulations such as biologics, vaccines, cell & gene therapies, and personalized medicine
- Growing investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities
- Need for high-performance drying systems to ensure stability and protect complex APIs
- Expansion of in-house production capabilities to improve speed-to-market
As the biopharmaceutical sector expands, particularly in monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, and nucleic acid-based therapeutics, the need for specialized drying equipment is expected to rise significantly.
Regional Overview: Asia Pacific Dominates in 2023
The pharmaceutical drying equipment market is analyzed across:
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
The Asia Pacific region dominated the market in 2023, driven by:
- Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases
A growing patient population in countries like India and China is increasing demand for medicines.
Example: India reported 1.46 million new cancer cases in 2022, according to NCDIR.
- Expansion of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Asia Pacific is home to some of the world’s largest API and generic drug manufacturing hubs. Companies in China, India, and Japan are expanding their production capacities and investing in advanced drying solutions to meet global quality and compliance standards.
- Strong R&D and Industry Innovation
Japan’s highly advanced pharmaceutical ecosystem—with companies like Hosokawa Micron Group and Freund Corporation—supports ongoing equipment innovation and adoption.
- Cost Advantages and Skilled Workforce
India’s strong regulatory reforms, skilled talent base, and lower production costs have attracted global pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs.
As manufacturing activities continue to scale, Asia Pacific is positioned as the fastest-growing market segment through 2029.
Competitive Landscape: Key Players
Leading companies in the global pharmaceutical drying equipment market include:
- GEA Group (Germany)
- ATS Corporation (US)
- Hosokawa Micron Group (Japan)
- Freund Corporation (Japan)
- I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. (Italy)
- Syntegon Technology GmbH (Germany)
- BUCHI Labortechnik AG (Switzerland)
- OPTIMA Packaging Group GmbH (Germany)
- Mechatech Systems Ltd. (Netherlands)
- BEW Engineering Limited (India)
These companies are focusing on technology upgrades, automation, digital integration, and strategic partnerships to expand their market footprint.