How Is Food Processing Sector Supporting MEA Industrial Refrigeration Systems Market Growth?

 The growth of the food processing industry in countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia will play a vital role in the advancement of the MEA industrial refrigeration systems market. In the coming years, the region will witness a substantial rise in consumption of ready-to-eat meal and number of food outlets, owing to which the demand for refrigeration systems will surge exponentially. The industrial refrigeration systems will be used by the food processing sector and restaurants to retain the freshness and nutrition of food items and drinks. 

Moreover, booming demand for refrigeration solutions from the chemical and oil refining industries will also drive the market in the forecast years. The oil refining industry require refrigeration for preservation of compounds, dehumidification of air, and condensation of gases. The Middle Eastern nations like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran are some of the largest suppliers of petrochemicals in the world, due to the presence of numerous oil fields. Whereas, the chemical industry needs refrigeration systems to maintain the temperature of finished and semi-finished products and raw materials. 

Currently, the practice of using natural refrigerants, such as water and carbon dioxide (CO2), is providing lucrative opportunities to companies operating in the MEA industrial refrigeration systems market. This is because the application of CO2 offers higher efficiency than the other refrigerants like chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). Moreover, the non-hazardous property of CO2 makes it a more viable option than other chemicals. Unlike other refrigerants, CO2 does not lead to ozone layer depletion.  

The equipment segment of the MEA industrial refrigeration systems market is categorized into controls, compressors, evaporators, condensers, and others including, vessels, pumps, auxiliary equipment, and valves. Among these, the compressors category accounted for the largest market share in 2017, owing to the highest cost of this equipment. Whereas, the controls category is expected to display the fastest growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the cost advantages offered by the controls by enhancing overall efficiency, while offering additional customization features. 

Geographically, the U.A.E. dominated the MEA industrial refrigeration systems market in 2017 and it is expected to register the highest growth in the forecast years. This can be ascribed to the hot climate and huge influx of tourists in the country. A surge in the number of tourists has a positive impact on the food and beverages sector, which further supports the market growth. Additionally, the expansion of the food and beverages industry in the country is also driven by the increasing purchasing power and rising expats. 

Thus, the expansion of food processing, chemical, and oil refining industries in MEA countries will boost the market growth in the near future.