Solar Dryer Market

Solar Dryer Market Outlook (2022-2032)

The global solar dryer market has reached a valuation of US$ 2.64 billion in 2022 and is predicted to expand at a noteworthy CAGR of 6.1% to reach US$ 4.76 billion by the end of 2032.

Sales of solar dryers accounted for nearly 8% share of the global dryer market at the end of 2021.

Report Attributes	Details
Solar Dryer Market Size (2021A)	US$ 2.5 Billion
Estimated Market Value (2022E)	US$ 2.64 Billion
Forecasted Market Value (2032F)	US$ 4.76 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2022-2032)	6.1% CAGR
North America Market Share (2021)	~23.6%
East Asia Market Growth Rate (2022-2032)	~6.9% CAGR
China Market Growth Rate (2022-2032)	~6.6% CAGR
Market Share of Top 5 Companies	~18.7%
Key Companies Profiled	Rudra Solar Energy My Solar Dryer Juatechnology Radha Solar Dryer Focusun Energy Systems Malnutrition Matters Effimaxsolar Solar Brother Covestro

Sales Analysis of Solar Dryers (2017-2021) Vs. Market Forecasts (2022-2032)

Several industries are working to achieve the 17 UN sustainability objectives to make a comprehensive global contribution to living in a sustainable world in the future. One of the methods they are using to make life sustainable is the utilization of solar-based products and energy.

The solar industry combines innovation, growth, and sustainable development. Solar-based products such as solar dryer systems are used for securely concentrating and removing heat generated by the sun to dry out natural foods and keep them from getting spoiled. Owing to this, there is high utilization of solar dryers in industries such as food processing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, etc., which has given a great boost to solar dryer market expansion.

Moreover, solar dryers can also help achieve goals such as zero carbon farms, curbing post-harvest loss, etc., as these are operated by a renewable source of energy that does not harm the environment. This function can be crucial in terms of environmental safety and economic effect because it can protect the environment without affecting the quality of the product.

Fact.MR reveals that the global solar dryer market will be valued at US$ 4.76 billion by 2032-end, expanding at a CAGR of 6.1% over the next ten years.

• Short Term (2022 Q2 to 2025): Augmenting utilization and integration of solar dryers in textile industry to positively market growth.
• Medium Term (2025-2028): East Asia and South Asia & Oceania anticipated to witness high solar dryer demand on the back of high number of textile & food processing industries, coupled with favorable government initiatives.
• Long Term (2028-2032): Automation of solar dryers, such as operating the dryer with the help of programming or computational algorithms, to boost demand in the long run.

Over the historical period of 2017 to 2021, the global solar dryer market registered a CAGR of 1%. Looking ahead, worldwide sales of solar dryers are projected to exhibit growth at 6.1% CAGR between 2022 and 2032, according to Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider.

Market share analysis of solar dryers based on product type and region. Under the product type segment, tunnel dryers currently dominate with 62% market share.

Why is Interest in Solar Dryers Rising Rapidly?

“Growing Innovation in Solar Dryers Aiding Market Expansion”

Numerous socio-economic advantages are being offered by technological advancements in the use of sustainable energy sources such as solar dryers. Food security is one of the challenging issues faced by developing nations. Solar food dryers can increase food security by enabling the food to be stored for a longer period after drying. Hence, it provides a strong root for the solar dryer market in these regions.

Traditionally, food was dried by exposing it to direct sunlight in the open air. This method can be applied only to small quantities of food as exposing a large amount of food in the open is not feasible. There are also chances of contamination due to exposure to the elements in the open. However, with advancements in industrial technologies, products such as solar dryers are currently evolving and catching the eye of end users.

Technological advancements in solar dryers have now made them available in various working modes such as direct, indirect, and mixed. Several end-use industries such as food, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and others now use solar dryers as per their requirements.

All of these factors offer a plethora of opportunities for generating additional revenue through the sales of solar dryers.

“Several Benefits of Solar Dryers in Textile and Agriculture Industries”

In recent years, the market for solar dryers has undergone a significant transformation due to an increase in production and service businesses for end-use industries such as food, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and others.

The drying process is one of the inevitable stages in the production of textiles. Different textile companies have now started using solar dryers for dehydration processes and industrial drying. Most woven goods are dried for obtaining a better fabric. New and sophisticated drying techniques are replacing less efficient traditional drying techniques, enabling efficient and sustainable drying equipment such as solar dryers gain prominence.

Furthermore, the development of new technologies for agriculture such as polycarbonate materials that are used in solar tents or solar tunnel dryers will be a key factor driving market growth.

What Do Solar Dryer Manufacturers Need to Be Aware Of?

“Dependency on Climatic Conditions and Season Hampering Solar Dryer Market Growth”

The duration and intensity of the sun's rays are highly dependent on the season, weather, and location. As such, the presence of manufacturers around the world is constrained. Market players should try coming up with some innovative solutions to operating solar dryers in the absence of sunlight.

Additionally, the solar dryer market may also be hampered by high installation costs and the need to hire staff who have the needed professional training.

The aforementioned considerations could pose a threat to the growth prospects of solar dryer manufacturers; however, several companies are developing strong solutions to get through these obstacles and seize the high opportunity present in the market.

Country-wise Insights

Will Large End-use Industries in China Drive High Demand for Solar Dryers?

China is considered to be the largest textile manufacturer in the world. The textile industry in 2021 generated profits of approximately US$ 3.1 million, which is considered to contribute more than 50% of the world’s total revenue. China provides a developed market for textile industries. Solar dryers are extensively used for industrial drying purposes.

Along with the textile industry, China is also leading the production of agriculture, which contributed to around 7.3% of China’s total GDP in 2021. Solar dryers are used as a tool to eliminate water content or moisture from fruits, crops, and vegetables.

High penetration of end-use industries of textiles and agricultures creates high opportunities for the sales of solar dryers. China's solar dryer market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 949.4 million by 2032-end.

Why is the U.S. a Highly Lucrative Solar Dryer Market?

Solar dryers are devices that use a non-conventional source of energy, which is solar energy, for drying materials such as food, textiles, paper, and others. This drying method helps harmonize the available solar energy for various drying purposes.

The U.S has a large paper industry valued at around US$ 34.6 billion. One of the major requirements for the paper industry is power and wood. The usage of solar dryers provides a sustainable source of energy that can be used efficiently in paper manufacturing companies.

The pharmaceutical industry in the U.S shares 48% weightage of the global pharmaceuticals industry.

As the U.S is leading in the food processing and agriculture industry, contributing US$ 750 billion and US$ 1.05 trillion, respectively, to its GDP, demand for solar dryers will rise rapidly over the coming years. The U.S. currently accounts for 90.2% share of the North America market for solar dryers.

Category-wise Insights

Why is Usage of Direct Mode Solar Dryers Most Prominent?

Solar dryers are available in different modes having various designs. One of the most widely used solar dryers is direct solar dryers, which enjoyed a market size of US$ 1.7 billion in 2021. Industrial drying implies the removal of water content from material so that it can be processed further or preserved.

Traditionally, materials such as food and cloth were dried by placing them in lines on top of tents or rocks so that they could be exposed to maximum sunlight. The basic function of direct solar dryers is to dry these materials by exposing them to direct sunlight. In recent times, solar tents and drying racks have been used for drying materials in the sunlight.

The major importance of this technique is that it is cost-effective; and will thereby drive the sales of direct solar dryers at a CAGR of 6.5% through 2032.

How Will Solar Dryer Market Growth Be Aided By the Agriculture Industry?

An important issue being faced by developing countries in recent times is the security of food. The usage of solar dryers provides a good socio-economic solution for the security of food. According to the varying quantities to be dried, different designs of solar dryers can be used. A cabinet dryer is a box-type dryer that is used to dry vegetables, fruits, and other food in small quantities.

China, the U.S, Brazil, and India are the top four leading countries in the agriculture industry. India generates revenue of approximately US$ 38.3 billion from the agriculture sector. Drying the produced food is one of the important processes in agriculture to preserve it for a longer time.

Active involvement of developed and developing countries in the agriculture industry is paving the way for increased sales of solar dryers in the long run. The agro-industry solar dryer market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.8% due to booming technological developments in the agriculture industry.

Competitive Landscape

Prominent solar dryer manufacturers are Rudra Solar Energy, My Solar Dryer, Juatechnology, Radha Solar Dryer, Focusun Energy Systems, Malnutrition Matters, Effimaxsolar, Solar Brother, and Covestro.

Leading manufacturers of solar dryer products are employing sustainable technologies and optimization systems for diverse end users. Key manufacturers are focusing on developing new product designs to address problems in terms of product placement in harsh operating conditions.

• In 2020, Malnutrition Matters and SolarFlex Inc. created a novel solar fruit and vegetable dryer that is flexible in design and available for end users at an affordable price.
• In 2022, Rudra Solar Energy introduced a hybrid solar dryer. One unique feature of this dryer is that in certain circumstances when there is no sunlight, it can be operated by switching on an electric heater that consumes only 1 unit/hr of electricity.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the price points of key manufacturers of solar dryers positioned across regions, sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of Solar Dryer Industry Research

• By Product Type :

  • Box Type
  • Cabinet
  • Tunnel

• By Design :

  • Natural Convection Dryers
  • Forced Convection Dryers

• By Mode :

  • Direct
  • Indirect
  • Mixed

• By End-use Industry :

  • Textile Industry
  • Agro-Industry
  • Food Processing Industry
  • Paper Industry
  • Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Other Discrete Manufacturing

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Oceania
  • MEA