The global retort machine market size reached USD 1.8 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 3.1 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.95% during 2025-2033. The widespread adoption of the device in the food and beverage (F&B) sector, ongoing technological advancements, and the flourishing requirement for effective sterilizing and packaging facilities with enhanced storage capacity to preserve the product quality represent some of the key factors driving the market growth.
Report Attribute
|
Key Statistics
|
---|---|
Base Year
|
2024
|
Forecast Years
|
2025-2033
|
Historical Years
|
2019-2024
|
Market Size in 2024
|
USD 1.8 Billion |
Market Forecast in 2033
|
USD 3.1 Billion |
Market Growth Rate 2025-2033 | 5.95% |
Rising Demand for Processed and Convenience Foods
As global urban population rises and the prevalence of busy lifestyles increases, the need for RTE and shelf-stable meal also grows. Retort machines play a crucial role in producing these products with stable shelf life and compliance with food safety standards. Moreover, processed foods, altered from their natural state through cooking, preserving, or the addition of additives, are effectively sterilized and maintained in sealed containers by retort machines. This ensures an extended shelf life and maintains food safety. In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that the total value of U.S. processed food exports increased by 3 percent year-over-year to $15 billion, setting a record for the second consecutive year. Canada remains the top market with $5.9 billion exported, and Mexico is the second-largest market with $2.0 billion. Furthermore, according to the US Census Bureau, in May 2024, U.S. retail and food services sales, adjusted for seasonal variations, totaled $703.1 billion, marking a 0.1% increase from the previous month and a 2.3% rise from May 2023. Sales from March to May 2024 grew by 2.9% as compared to the same period in the previous year. Retail trade sales increased by 0.2% from April 2024 and were up 2.0% year-over-year. Nonstore retailers saw a significant 6.8% increase from last year, while food services and drinking places grew by 3.8%. The March to April 2024 change was revised to a 0.2% decrease.
Rapid Technological Advancements
Innovations in retort machine technology, such as automation and digital controls, enhance processing efficiency and accuracy. These advancements reduce human error, improve product consistency, and lower operational costs. The continuous development of more efficient and reliable machines drives market growth by attracting investments from food manufacturers. For instance, in April 2023, Surdry North America (SNA) introduced SteriNet21, FDA-approved software aimed at improving food quality control and securely recording thermal processing data. This platform enables remote access to vital sterilization process data, such as heat, temperature, and pressure within the chambers. It serves as a replacement or backup for traditional paper chart recorders, producing thorough digital documentation and minimizing the risk of compromising essential retort processing data.
Increasing Prevalence of Foodborne Diseases
The increasing prevalence of foodborne diseases drives the retort machine market toward growth as it heightens the need for stringent food safety and sterilization processes. Retort machines effectively eliminate pathogens and extend the shelf life of food products, ensuring safer consumption. This growing concern for public health and food safety regulations pushes food manufacturers to adopt advanced retort technology, enhancing their processing capabilities and compliance with safety standards, thereby fueling market growth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in June 2023, each year, infections from major foodborne pathogens are responsible for an estimated 9.4 million illnesses, 56,000 hospitalizations, and 1,350 deaths in the United States. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that An estimated 600 million people, nearly 1 in 10 globally, fall ill from contaminated food annually, leading to 420,000 deaths and a loss of 33 million healthy life years (DALYs). Unsafe food results in a $110 billion annual loss in productivity and medical expenses in low- and middle-income countries. Children under five bear 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125,000 deaths each year. Consequently, the rising occurrence of foodborne diseases is a key driver fueling the growth of the retort machine market.
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on process and application.
Breakup by Process:
Batch sterilization accounts for the majority of the market share
The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the process. This includes batch and continuous sterilization. According to the report, batch sterilization represented the largest segment.
Batch sterilization represents the largest segment in the retort machine market growth due to its ability to provide precise control over the sterilization process, affirming uniform heat distribution and thorough microbial inactivation. This method is highly adopted for high-value, small-batch food products and sensitive packaging materials. Moreover, batch sterilization systems are highly versatile, accommodating various container types and sizes, which is crucial for manufacturers seeking flexibility in production. The ability to maintain product quality and safety while meeting stringent regulatory standards makes batch sterilization a preferred choice in the industry. For instance, in 2022, JBT introduced SuperCRssTM, an innovative enhancement to the traditional saturated steam sterilization method, featuring various reliable and labor-saving automated capabilities.
Breakup by Application:
Meat and seafood holds the largest share of the industry
A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application have also been provided in the report. This includes dairy product, meat and seafood, beverage, cereals and pulses, and others. According to the report, meat and seafood accounted for the largest market share.
Meat and seafood lead the retort machine market growth due to their high demand for shelf-stable and safe-to-eat products. Retort machines provide effective sterilization and preservation, ensuring long shelf life and maintaining product quality. With the increasing global consumption of meat and seafood, coupled with the need for convenient, ready-to-eat meals, the adoption of retort processing in these segments is rising. Additionally, stringent food safety regulations further drive the use of retort technology in meat and seafood processing. According to Our World in Data, the global demand for meat has been increasing, with production more than tripling over the past 50 years. Currently, the world produces over 350 million tonnes of meat annually. Moreover, as per an article published on Economic Times in March 2024, a National Family Household survey revealed that the proportion of fish eaters increased from 66 per cent to 72.1 per cent between 2005-06 and 2019-21 with annual per capita fish consumption rising from 4.9 kg to 8.9 kg between 2005 and 2020. Among fish eaters, per capita consumption rose from 7.4kg to 12.3kg.
Breakup by Region:
Asia Pacific leads the market, accounting for the largest retort machine market share
The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, Asia Pacific represents the largest regional market for retort machine.
Asia Pacific leads the retort machine market due to rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and increasing demand for convenient, ready-to-eat foods. The region's significant investments in food processing infrastructure and the presence of large-scale food manufacturers enhance market growth. Additionally, the growing middle-class population and expanding retail sector further drive the adoption of retort machines, catering to the evolving consumer preferences for packaged and shelf-stable food products.
Report Features | Details |
---|---|
Base Year of the Analysis | 2024 |
Historical Period | 2019-2024 |
Forecast Period | 2025-2033 |
Units | Billion USD |
Scope of the Report | Exploration of Historical Trends and Market Outlook, Industry Catalysts and Challenges, Segment-Wise Historical and Future Market Assessment:
|
Processes Covered | Batch Sterilization, Continuous Sterilization |
Applications Covered | Dairy Product, Meat and Seafood, Beverage, Cereals and Pulses, Others |
Regions Covered | Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East and Africa |
Countries Covered | United States, Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico |
Companies Covered | Allpax Products LLC, ALP Co. Ltd., De Lama S.p.A., Hisaka Works Ltd, JBT Corporation, Steriflow, Surdry SL, Shandong Dingtaisheng Machinery Technology Co. Ltd., Z&P Steritech Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd., etc. |
Customization Scope | 10% Free Customization |
Post-Sale Analyst Support | 10-12 Weeks |
Delivery Format | PDF and Excel through Email (We can also provide the editable version of the report in PPT/Word format on special request) |
Key Questions Answered in This Report:
Key Benefits for Stakeholders: