The Middle East is experiencing a surge in demand for fruit and vegetable processing equipment, driven by global market needs for processed produce and favorable crop prices. According to Ahmed Heiza, CEO of machinery supplier Misr Vision, three key sectors are witnessing the strongest growth in demand.
The citrus concentrate industry has seen the most significant expansion, particularly in Egypt, where several new factories were launched last season, with more expected to begin operations in the coming year. Heiza explains, “Due to the growing demand and a market gap in the citrus sector, substantial investments were made in citrus concentrate plants last year. However, only 50% of the planned facilities are operational, with the rest of the plants needing to finalize their lines before next season.”
Potato processing, including the production of French fries and potato chips, is also gaining momentum in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Heiza highlights, “The French fry industry in both countries is actively growing to meet global demand, while sweet potato fries are emerging as a popular product in Europe. Additionally, the market for potato chips continues to grow as they become the most affordable snack for consumers and a cost-effective processing line for manufacturers. The drop in potato crop prices this year, due to overproduction, has further encouraged investment in processing machinery.”
Finally, strawberry processing in Egypt is seeing rapid expansion, particularly in the frozen and freeze-dried segments. Heiza states, “Frozen strawberries remain attractive for investors due to their low-cost production lines, with many machinery options being imported from China for IQF and refrigeration systems. The growing interest in freeze-dried strawberries is also evident, as these products, requiring specialized farming practices, allow growers to sell them at higher prices.”
This growing demand for processing machinery is a clear sign of the Middle East’s expanding role in the global food processing market.