Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report – Industry Overview and Forecast to 2032

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Size

• The Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market size was valued at USD 7.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 10.7 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period
• Market growth is fueled by rising demand for packaged and innovative confectionery products, increasing consumption among youth, and the integration of automation and smart technologies in food manufacturing across developing economies.
• Moreover, growing investments in food processing infrastructure and favorable government initiatives in countries such as U.A.E, Saudi Arabia further support market expansion.

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Analysis

• Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment is increasingly adopted for producing chocolates, candies, gums, and jellies. Rising consumer demand for hygienic, high-quality, and customized sweets is driving strong growth across both local and multinational manufacturers.
• Innovative equipment for molding, tempering, coating, and cooling is crucial for efficient production. Automation and digital monitoring systems help reduce manual labor, enhance food safety, and improve production speed, especially in high-demand markets like Saudi Arabia and U.A.E
• Saudi Arabia leads the Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market, holding approximately 38% market share in 2024. Its dominance is driven by large-scale confectionery production, a strong export network, and increasing adoption of automation in the food processing sector.
• U.A.E witnessing the fastest growth, with the Middle East and Africa region projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2025 to 2032. Growth is supported by rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and expansion of retail and e-commerce channels offering diverse confectionery options.
• The chocolate processing equipment segment is expected to dominate the market with a significant share, accounting for over 40% of the total market in 2025, driven by strong Middle East and Africa demand for chocolate products and continuous innovation in chocolate formulations, textures, and premium offerings.

Report Scope and Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Segmentation       

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Trends

“Advancements in Operating Microscopes & 3D Visualization for Intraocular Surgery”

• One prominent trend in the Confectionery Processing Equipment Market is the increasing integration of automation and customization capabilities to meet evolving consumer demands and enhance manufacturing efficiency.
• These innovations enable manufacturers to streamline production, reduce manual labor, and offer flexible processing systems that can handle diverse product varieties, shapes, and textures with minimal changeover time.

• For instance, modern depositing systems now feature programmable controls and modular designs, allowing seamless customization of product fillings, sizes, and layering—catering to niche demands such as sugar-free, fortified, or artisanal sweets.

• These advancements are redefining confectionery production, empowering producers to innovate rapidly, reduce waste, and respond to trends such as clean-label ingredients, premium offerings, and healthier confectionery alternatives.

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Dynamics

Driver

“Rising Demand for Automation and Product Innovation in Confectionery Manufacturing”

• The increasing demand for automated and efficient production lines in the confectionery industry is a major driver for the market. As manufacturers face rising labor costs and higher production volumes, automation helps improve consistency, reduce human error, and lower operational costs.
• Consumers are also seeking novel confectionery products—including filled, layered, and shaped sweets—prompting manufacturers to invest in flexible and innovative equipment capable of producing a wide range of product types
• Additionally, regulatory requirements for food safety and hygiene are pushing companies to upgrade to equipment that supports clean-in-place (CIP) systems and minimizes contamination risks

For instance,

• In March 2024, Baker Perkins launched a new modular starch-free depositing system tailored for functional and medicated confectionery, enabling manufacturers to meet both innovation and compliance goals efficiently.

• As a Middle East and Africa appetite for personalized and healthier treats grows, confectionery manufacturers are increasingly turning to advanced processing equipment to keep pace with market trends.

Restraint/Challenge

“High Capital Investment and Maintenance Costs Limiting Adoption”

• The significant upfront cost of Confectionery Processing Equipment, especially advanced, automated systems, is a key barrier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the industry.
• Many of these machines require custom installations, regular maintenance, and skilled technicians, further increasing operational costs over time.
• Smaller producers, particularly in emerging economies, may struggle to secure the necessary financing or justify the investment, which can hinder market penetration and technological advancement.
• Consequently, This cost constraint often leads smaller companies to rely on older or semi-automatic equipment, restricting their capacity to scale, comply with hygiene standards, or offer product variety—ultimately impacting their competitiveness

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Scope

The market is segmented on the basis End Products, product type, Mode of Operation, Application.

• By End Products

On the basis of end product, the Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market is segmented into hard candies, chocolates, soft confectionery, chewing gums, gummies and jellies, and others. Chocolate-based products dominate the segment in 2025 with over 42% market share, supported by rising consumption of molded and filled chocolates across Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, and Southeast Asia. Growing consumer preference for premium, artisanal, and sugar-free chocolate also propels demand for advanced processing lines.

Gummies and jellies are the fastest growing segment, projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.1% from 2025 to 2032, driven by their popularity among children and adults and the increasing availability of fortified and vegan-friendly gummy options.

• By product type

On the basis of type, the Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market is segmented into weighing and dissolving equipment, mixers, blenders, cutters, thermal equipment, tempering equipment, forming and depositing equipment, cooling equipment, extrusion equipment, coating equipment, rolling equipment, and others. driven by rising demand for filled and molded confections, efficient production lines, and innovations in candy designs across high-volume facilities in Saudi Arabia and U.A.E

Tempering equipment is the fastest-growing segment, as regional chocolate manufacturers increasingly invest in advanced tempering systems to enhance gloss, shelf life, and structural integrity of artisanal and mass-produced chocolates.

• By Mode of Operation

On the basis of mode of operation, the Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market is segmented into semi-automatic and automatic. The automatic segment leads in 2025, owing to rising investments in smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 adoption across confectionery factories in developed Middle East and Africa economies such as South Africa and South Korea. Automation reduces labor costs and enhances productivity in high-volume production environments.

The semi-automatic segment is the fastest growing due to increasing demand from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets like U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, South Africa where cost-effective and flexible equipment is preferred.

• By Application

On the basis of application, the Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market is segmented into weighing and dosing, mixing and refining, conching, tempering, enrobing, moulding, cooling, and decorating. The mixing and refining segment dominates in 2025, supported by expanding production of chocolates and sugar confectioneries requiring precise ingredient blending to meet quality standards.

The enrobing segment is the fastest growing, driven by the rising popularity of coated confectionery products in urban markets and increasing exports from the region to Middle East and Africa and North America.

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Regional Analysis

• Saudi Arabia leads the Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market, holding approximately 38% market share in 2024. Its dominance is driven by large-scale confectionery production, a strong export network, and increasing adoption of automation in the food processing sector.
• Its vast confectionery manufacturing base and strong export capabilities leads Saudi Arabia. Large-scale production facilities leverage automation to boost efficiency, meeting both domestic demand and growing international orders.
• The country’s rapid industrialization and government support for smart manufacturing fuel advanced equipment adoption. Additionally, expanding consumer markets and investments in R&D enhance Saudi Arabia’s competitive edge in producing innovative, high-quality confectionery processing solutions.

U.A.E Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Insight

U.A.E witnessing the fastest growth, with the Middle East and Africa region projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2025 to 2032. Growth is supported by rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and expansion of retail and e-commerce channels offering diverse confectionery options.

South Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Insight

South Africa maintains a steady growth trajectory due to its advanced electronics, automotive, and medical device industries. Strong R&D focus on high-precision, medical-grade Confectionery Processing Equipment supports innovation and quality improvements. Government policies promoting technology advancement and export competitiveness bolster South Africa’s market position in the Middle East and Africa region.  

Confectionery Processing Equipment Market Share

The Confectionery Processing Equipment industry is primarily led by well-established companies, including:

• Bühler AG (Switzerland)
• ALFA LAVAL (Sweden)
• JBT (John Bean Technologies Corporation) (U.S.)
• Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany)
• GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
• Candy Worx (U.S.)
• Tanis Confectionery (Netherlands)
• Caotech Grinding Technology (Netherlands)
• SELMI GROUP (Italy)
• Royal Duyvis Wiener B.V. (Netherlands)
• Baker Perkins (U.K.)
• Loynds (U.K.)
• Latini - Hohberger Dhimantec (U.S.)
• Hacos NV (Belgium)
• Heat and Control, Inc. (U.S.)
• SOLLICH KG (Germany)
• Aasted ApS (Denmark)
• BCH LTD (U.K.)

Latest Developments in Middle East and Africa Confectionery Processing Equipment Market

• In April 2025, Bühler AG announced the launch of its next-generation DoMiReCo (Dosing, Mixing, Refiner, and Conche) system, aimed at improving energy efficiency and product consistency in chocolate processing. The upgraded solution integrates smart sensors and automation capabilities to streamline production and reduce energy consumption by up to 20%, catering to sustainability goals in the confectionery industry.
• In February 2025, GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft unveiled its new hygienic rotary depositor for starch-free confectionery production, designed to process functional and nutraceutical candies. The depositor supports flexible changeovers between recipes and ingredient types, helping manufacturers meet rising consumer demand for sugar-reduced and vitamin-enriched confections.
• In January 2025, Tanis Confectionery introduced a compact jellies and gummies processing line designed for mid-size manufacturers looking to scale operations. The line incorporates integrated cooking, depositing, and drying technologies, with real-time monitoring to optimize quality control and minimize waste during production.
• In December 2024, Heat and Control, Inc. announced a strategic partnership with a leading Asian food producer to expand its snack and confectionery processing footprint in Southeast Asia. The collaboration includes the deployment of modular systems for candy coating and seasoning, enabling high throughput with consistent taste and texture

SKU-34434