Indian Freeze Drying Market 2025-2035

Indian Freeze Drying Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Dryer (Sub Segmented into Tray-Style Dryers, Rotary Freeze Dryers, and Manifold Freeze Dryer) and Accessories (Sub Segmented into Drying Chamber, Vacuum System, CIP (Clean-in-place) Systems, and Others), By Scale Of Operation (Industrial Scale Freeze Dryers, Pilot-Scale Freeze Dryers, and Lab Scale Freeze Dryers), and by End-User (Biopharmaceutical Companies, Food and Beverage Companies, Academic and Research Institutes, CRO & CMO, Hospitals, and Research Laboratories) Forecast Period (2025-2035)

Industry Overview

Indian freeze-drying market was valued at $92 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $229 million in 2035, growing at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period (2025-2035). Freeze drying is a dehydration process for the preservation of perishable products by extending their shelf life and enhancing transportability. As the incidence of chronic and infectious diseases continues to grow, healthcare institutions are increasingly embracing lyophilized formulations owing to their consistency and long-term storage advantage. Increasing the need for lyophilized pharmaceuticals, especially for injectables and biologics, is likely to propel the huge growth of the Indian freeze-drying market. For instance, in January 2025, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals released a new facility for manufacturing injectables and lyophilized products for improving drug stability and shelf life. The operations of the company also consist of manufacturing vials, ampoules, eye and ear drops, and form-fill-seal (FFS) products.

Market Dynamics

Rising Demand for Energy-Efficient Freeze Dryers

As energy prices increase and sustainability becomes a major factor for consideration in India's manufacturing sector, demand is growing for energy-efficient freeze-dryer systems. Conventionally, lyophilizers have been characterized by high power consumption due to long drying cycles and deep refrigeration requirements, but the industry is increasingly embracing innovation in the form of heat recovery systems, intelligent sensors to optimize cycles, and efficient refrigeration compressors that waste less energy. Government programs for energy saving in industry, together with industry pressure to decrease operating costs, are driving this transition. For instance, in October 2024, GEA released the RAY Plus series, a second-generation batch freeze-drying system for food applications. The system achieves greater energy efficiency, increased sublimation speeds, and better hygiene conditions, allowing for better food preservation while reducing energy consumption. Its potential to preserve product integrity using fewer resources makes it a desirable option for sustainability-conscious manufacturers.

Growth in Advanced Lyophilization Solutions

The Indian freeze-drying market is undergoing a rapid shift from traditional batch-based systems to sophisticated, automated lyophilization systems. The complexity of formulations, particularly in biologics, biosimilars, vaccines, and cell- and gene-based therapies, is compelling the demand for precise, high-precision lyophilizers with real-time process monitoring, automatic loading/unloading, and integration with data analytics platforms. These advances eliminate human error, enhance sterility assurance, and facilitate continuous process verification consistent with regulatory requirements. Also, modular and scalable freeze-drying plants are increasingly popular, enabling manufacturers to scale up capacity in sync with demand without causing major disruptions. For instance, in October 2021, the Indian pharma company, PCI Pharma Services, acquired Lyophilization Services of New England (LSNE) to establish itself as a multinational contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). The agreement broadens the capabilities of PCI from packaging to aseptic fill-finish, lyophilization, and complex injectable manufacturing of biologics and advanced therapies.

Market Segmentation

• Based on the product, the market is segmented into dryers and accessories.
• Based on the scale of operation, the market is segmented into industrial-scale freeze dryers, pilot-scale freeze dryers, and lab-scale freeze dryers.
• Based on the end-user, the market is segmented into biopharmaceutical companies, food and beverage companies, academic and research institutes, CRO & CMO, hospitals, and research laboratories.

Vacuum System: The Largest Contributor to Freeze-Drying Accessories

The vacuum system sub-segment leads the accessories segment of the Indian freeze-drying market to create the low-pressure condition essential to sublimation and will have a direct effect on drying efficiency, product quality, and sterility. Increasing adoption in the pharma sector, where standards of GMP must be maintained for lyophilized biologics and drugs, is a major growth driver, with manufacturers of foods and beverages also investing in advanced vacuum systems to preserve nutrients, flavor, and texture in high-demand convenience foods. The increasing need for energy-efficient, oil-free, and low-maintenance pumps is reducing operation costs, while IoT-based monitoring solutions are improving process reliability with predictive maintenance and real-time control. Next-gen vacuum pump technology improvements in the industry, reduced noise levels, increased tolerance to water vapor, and extended service life are also spurring expectations in the Indian market, with local as well as international players gearing up to provide scalable, sustainable, and innovation-driven solutions. For instance, in July 2024, CryoDry partnered with Pfeiffer Vacuum to improve freeze-drying efficiency using advanced vacuum pumps. These pumps are designed with low noise levels, high tolerance for water vapor, and longer service life, enhancing reliability in pharmaceutical and food lyophilization while supporting innovation in global freeze-drying technology.

Food and Beverage Companies: The Largest End-User Segment

Food and beverage manufacturers are the largest end-user segment in the Indian freeze-drying industry, fueled by increasing demand for shelf life extension, nutritional preservation, and product variety. Increasing consumer demand for healthy, convenient, and premium quality packaged food motivated manufacturers to invest in freeze-drying equipment that preserves flavor, texture, and nutritional content. The trend is supported by growing experimentation with convenient meals, functional foods, and natural snacks that align with wellness-oriented lifestyles. As consumer preferences change and the world opens, food businesses are using freeze-drying as a vehicle to create innovation across snacks, fruit, dairy, and even indulgence categories. Technology solutions that allow for nutrient preservation and sustainable processing are coming to the forefront, allowing brands to differentiate in a competitive marketplace. For instance, in March 2025, Bonvie Snacks introduced freeze-dried and air-fried snacks. Bonvie Snacks is revolutionizing India's snacking sector with its new-age freeze-dried and air-fried product portfolio. Leveraging freeze-drying technology that retains as much as 98% of nutrients, the brand provides nutrient-rich, shelf-stable fruit snacks, ice cream bites, and corn-based items for health seekers. Its air-fried chips give the crunch of ordinary fried snacks without additional oil or calories, which is appealing to health-conscious snackers.

Market Players Outlook

The major companies operating in the Indian freeze-drying market include GEA Group, I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A., Ice Maker Refrigeration Ltd., and SP Industries Inc. (ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.), among others. Market players are leveraging partnerships, collaborations, mergers, and acquisition strategies for business expansion and innovative product development to maintain their market positioning.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH showcases its latest freeze-drying and loading/unloading technologies at PMEC India 2024, part of the CPHI India expo in Greater Noida. Exhibiting at Booth 9.B43 in Hall 9, HOF will present advanced solutions, including the use of cooled air as a refrigerant to enhance production reliability while lowering energy consumption and carbon footprint. The company will be joined by its partners Pharmalab, SKAN, and Castus, highlighting its commitment to innovation and sustainable lyophilization solutions for the pharmaceutical industry.
• In September 2023, CryoDry appointed Bioscreen Instruments PVT. LTD. as its new distributor in India, marking a significant step in expanding advanced freeze-drying solutions in the region. With Bioscreen's strong expertise and customer-focused approach, this partnership aims to deliver high-quality CryoDry freeze dryers supported by reliable local service. Together, the collaboration is set to raise industry standards and bring innovative, efficient freeze-drying technology to meet the diverse needs of Indian customers.

The Report Covers:

• Market value data analysis of 2024 and forecast to 2035.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the Indian freeze-drying market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new products and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying 'who-stands-where' in the market.