Individual Quick Freezing Equipment

Global Individual Quick Freezing Equipment Market to Reach US$2.0 Billion by 2030

The global market for Individual Quick Freezing Equipment estimated at US$1.6 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$2.0 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Tunnel Freezers Type, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 2.3% CAGR and reach US$750.8 Million by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Spiral Freezers Type segment is estimated at 4.0% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$441.9 Million While China is Forecast to Grow at 5.8% CAGR

The Individual Quick Freezing Equipment market in the U.S. is estimated at US$441.9 Million in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$381.7 Million by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 5.8% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.3% and 2.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 1.8% CAGR.

Individual Quick Freezing Equipment: Transforming Cold Chain Logistics or Just Another Innovation in Food Tech?

Global Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) Equipment Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

The global individual quick freezing (IQF) equipment market is undergoing a transformative shift driven by evolving food consumption patterns, stricter food safety regulations, and demand for longer shelf-life without compromising nutritional value. IQF technology, which involves rapidly freezing individual pieces of food such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, and bakery products, is becoming a preferred method over traditional freezing due to its ability to preserve texture, flavor, and moisture content. It allows processors to maintain product integrity and avoid clumping—key for foodservice providers and retailers that rely on portion control and high-quality presentation. This has led to the widespread adoption of IQF systems across various segments of the frozen food supply chain.

Another key trend propelling the market is the increasing demand for frozen convenience food, ready-to-eat meals, and packaged ingredients, particularly in urban areas with fast-paced lifestyles. The rise in global trade of frozen produce, seafood, and meats is putting pressure on processors to adopt freezing methods that ensure better product quality and regulatory compliance. Furthermore, IQF equipment is increasingly used to meet the export standards of countries with stringent food safety requirements. These market dynamics, combined with a growing consumer preference for clean-label and additive-free products, are creating opportunities for high-capacity, automated IQF systems that enable minimal processing while ensuring safety and freshness.

Are New Technologies Changing the Face of Food Freezing?

Technological advancements are reshaping the IQF equipment landscape, making it more efficient, sustainable, and adaptable to a wider range of food products. Modern IQF systems utilize advanced refrigerants, energy-efficient compressors, and intelligent control systems to deliver precise temperature control and faster freezing cycles. Equipment designs have become more modular, allowing food processors to customize capacity, belt configuration, and freezing parameters based on their specific product needs. Spiral freezers, tunnel freezers, and fluidized bed freezers are all evolving with improved airflow designs, hygienic construction materials, and enhanced sanitation protocols to reduce cleaning time and prevent cross-contamination.

Automation and digitalization are also emerging as strong enablers in IQF technology. Equipment manufacturers are embedding smart sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to monitor temperature, airflow, and operational parameters in real time. These features allow for predictive maintenance, performance optimization, and compliance tracking. Integration with cloud platforms and manufacturing execution systems (MES) supports full traceability and enhances visibility across the supply chain. Sustainability is another priority, with manufacturers developing eco-friendly refrigerants, reclaim heat systems, and low-energy designs to meet carbon footprint reduction goals. Together, these innovations are not only improving performance but also helping processors meet regulatory, environmental, and operational benchmarks.

Can Global Supply Chains Keep Pace With IQF Demand?

The growth of the IQF equipment market is strongly influenced by the performance of global food supply chains, which are experiencing both expansion and strain. Demand for frozen food is surging in regions like Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America, driven by rising incomes, westernized diets, and expanding retail infrastructure. As a result, food processors in emerging economies are rapidly modernizing their operations with advanced freezing technologies to meet domestic and export requirements. However, the expansion is not without challenges—fluctuations in raw material supply, inadequate cold chain infrastructure in certain regions, and energy constraints can hinder large-scale deployment of IQF systems.

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated investments in automation and food safety across the frozen food sector, but it also exposed vulnerabilities in cross-border logistics and equipment sourcing. This has led to increased demand for local manufacturing of IQF systems and more resilient maintenance and support networks. In response, major IQF equipment providers are localizing production, forming regional partnerships, and offering remote diagnostics and servicing tools. At the same time, the rise in e-commerce grocery and direct-to-consumer frozen food delivery is prompting processors to invest in scalable IQF systems that can adapt to fluctuating demand and batch variability. Overall, while infrastructure remains a limiting factor in some markets, the global push toward supply chain modernization is creating fertile ground for the widespread adoption of IQF technologies.

What Is Powering the Growth of the Individual Quick Freezing Equipment Market?

The growth in the individual quick freezing (IQF) equipment market is driven by several factors related to technological innovation, end-user demand evolution, and industry-specific operational needs. A primary driver is the increased consumption of frozen fruits, vegetables, seafood, and ready-to-eat products across global markets, especially as consumers demand year-round availability of seasonal and perishable items. This trend is prompting food processors to adopt IQF systems that preserve freshness, reduce waste, and meet export standards. Additionally, the rapid expansion of organized retail, cold storage networks, and foodservice sectors in emerging economies is fueling the installation of high-capacity and energy-efficient IQF lines.

Another key driver is the growing need for automation and hygienic design in food processing plants. IQF equipment equipped with automated controls, smart diagnostics, and CIP (clean-in-place) systems enables higher throughput with minimal human intervention—crucial in maintaining food safety and operational efficiency. Also significant is the shift towards sustainable production practices; food processors are under pressure to reduce energy usage, refrigerant emissions, and food loss. IQF systems designed with eco-friendly refrigerants, energy recovery systems, and modular scalability are in high demand. Moreover, regulatory compliance requirements regarding food quality and traceability are accelerating the adoption of advanced IQF systems capable of real-time monitoring and reporting. These cumulative factors are propelling the global IQF equipment market into a new era of growth and transformation.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Individual Quick Freezing Equipment market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Type (Tunnel Freezers Type, Spiral Freezers Type, Box Freezers Type, Other Types); Technology (Mechanical IQF Technology, Cryogenic Individual Quick Freezing Technology); Application (Food Processing Application, Retail Application, Catering & HoReCA Application); End-Use (Direct Sales End-Use, Indirect Sales End-Use)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 43 Featured) -

• Advanced Equipment Inc.
• Air Liquide
• Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
• Cryogenic Systems Equipment
• DSI Dantech
• GEA Group
• GEA Refrigeration Technologies
• JBT Corporation
• Linde North America, Inc.
• MAREL
• Messer Group
• Moon Environment Technology Co., Ltd.
• OctoFrost Group
• PATKOL
• Ramtech Refrigeration
• Scanico A/S
• Starfrost (UK) Ltd
• The Linde Group
• Vojta s.r.o.
• Zhejiang Guanfeng Food Machinery Co., Ltd.

TARIFF IMPACT FACTOR

Our new release incorporates impact of tariffs on geographical markets as we predict a shift in competitiveness of companies based on HQ country, manufacturing base, exports and imports (finished goods and OEM). This intricate and multifaceted market reality will impact competitors by artificially increasing the COGS, reducing profitability, reconfiguring supply chains, amongst other micro and macro market dynamics.

We are diligently following expert opinions of leading Chief Economists (14,949), Think Tanks (62), Trade & Industry bodies (171) worldwide, as they assess impact and address new market realities for their ecosystems. Experts and economists from every major country are tracked for their opinions on tariffs and how they will impact their countries.

We expect this chaos to play out over the next 2-3 months and a new world order is established with more clarity. We are tracking these developments on a real time basis.

As we release this report, U.S. Trade Representatives are pushing their counterparts in 183 countries for an early closure to bilateral tariff negotiations. Most of the major trading partners also have initiated trade agreements with other key trading nations, outside of those in the works with the United States. We are tracking such secondary fallouts as supply chains shift.

To our valued clients, we say, we have your back. We will present a simplified market reassessment by incorporating these changes!

APRIL 2025: NEGOTIATION PHASE

Our April release addresses the impact of tariffs on the overall global market and presents market adjustments by geography. Our trajectories are based on historic data and evolving market impacting factors.

JULY 2025 FINAL TARIFF RESET

Complimentary Update: Our clients will also receive a complimentary update in July after a final reset is announced between nations. The final updated version incorporates clearly defined Tariff Impact Analyses.

Reciprocal and Bilateral Trade & Tariff Impact Analyses:

USA
CHINA
MEXICO
CANADA
EU
JAPAN
INDIA
176 OTHER COUNTRIES.

Leading Economists - Our knowledge base tracks 14,949 economists including a select group of most influential Chief Economists of nations, think tanks, trade and industry bodies, big enterprises, and domain experts who are sharing views on the fallout of this unprecedented paradigm shift in the global econometric landscape. Most of our 16,491+ reports have incorporated this two-stage release schedule based on milestones.

Please note: Reports are sold as single-site single-user licenses. Electronic versions require 24-48 hours as each copy is customized to the client with digital controls and custom watermarks. The Publisher uses digital controls protecting against copying and printing is restricted to one full copy to be used at the same location.

The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the report. Upon ordering an electronic version, the Publisher will provide a link to download the purchased report.

Prior to fulfillment of an order, the client will be required to sign a document detailing the purchase terms for a publication from this publisher.