Food extrusion market seen topping $149 billion by 2030

The Business Research Company says the global food extrusion market is headed for rapid growth, driven by demand for processed foods, plant-based products and better extrusion technology. Western Europe is expected to lead regions, while Bühler Holding AG was the top seller in 2025 with a 3% share.

Why it matters: - Food extrusion is becoming a bigger piece of the global food and beverage supply chain as consumers buy more processed, convenience and plant-based foods. - The market is forecast to surpass $149 billion by 2030, making it a meaningful growth area for equipment makers, ingredient suppliers and food producers. - Western Europe and the U.S. are expected to be major demand centers, shaping where manufacturers invest capacity and technology.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released its Food Extrusion Global Market Report 2026, covering market size, regional trends, segment mix and leading competitors. - The report puts the food extrusion market at more than $149 billion by 2030. - The market is expected to account for about 80% of the broader “All Other Miscellaneous Food” category, which is projected to reach roughly $186 billion by 2030. - Food extrusion is projected to represent close to 2% of the wider food and beverages market, which is expected to reach $9,313 billion by 2030. - Bühler Holding AG led global food extrusion sales in 2025 with a 3% market share. - GEA Group AG held 2%, and Coperion GmbH held 1%. - The top 10 companies together accounted for about 6% of total revenue in 2025, showing a fragmented market. - The report says the market is growing at a 9% CAGR through 2030.

The details: - Western Europe is forecast to be the largest regional market by 2030 at $44.8 billion, up from $27.8 billion in 2025. - Western Europe’s growth rate is projected at 10%. - The region’s expansion is being driven by demand for processed and convenience foods, investment in modern food manufacturing, rising interest in plant-based and fortified products, and added production capacity. - Twin screw extruders are expected to dominate in 2030 with 69% of the market, equal to about $103 billion. - Single screw and twin screw systems are the two main extruder types. - The market also includes cold and hot extrusion methods. - End products include savory snacks, breakfast cereals, breads, flours and starches, textured proteins, functional ingredients and other food products. - Growth from processed and convenience foods is expected to add about 2.4% annually. - Demand for plant-based and functional foods is expected to add about 2.2% annually. - Technology upgrades are expected to contribute roughly 2.0% annual growth. - The U.S. is projected to be the largest country market in 2030 at $28.4 billion, up from $20.4 billion in 2025. - The U.S. market is projected to grow at a 7% CAGR. - Raw material suppliers named in the report include Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland and Ingredion. - Wholesalers and distributors named in the report include Brenntag SE and Univar Solutions. - End users named in the report include Nestlé, PepsiCo, Kellogg, General Mills and Mars.

Between the lines: - The market’s low concentration suggests smaller specialists can still compete if they bring technical expertise, application know-how and reliable production performance. - Food extrusion is benefiting from two parallel shifts: more demand for low-cost, shelf-stable food and more demand for reformulated products such as meat substitutes and fortified snacks. - The strong position of twin screw systems points to a market that values flexibility, precision and the ability to process diverse ingredients at scale. - Bühler’s lead underscores how automation, hygiene, monitoring and product versatility are becoming central selling points, not just machine throughput. - In May 2026, Bühler Holding AG introduced the Nutrex 7 Series, a twin-screw platform for cereals, snacks, pet food, meat alternatives and food ingredients. - The Nutrex 7 Series includes modular hygienic design, browser-based digital controls, integrated process monitoring and automated StepFlow technology.

What's next: - Manufacturers are likely to keep investing in high-moisture extrusion, AI-driven automation, energy-efficient systems and digital monitoring. - Capacity expansions and partnerships are expected as food makers pursue more plant-based, protein-rich and specialty products. - The report says its 2026 edition adds market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring graphics, Excel forecasting dashboards, hotspots infographics and updated trend analysis. - Request a free sample of the report - Access the detailed market report

The bottom line: - Food extrusion is moving from a niche manufacturing category to a key enabler of convenience, plant-based and functional food production, with growth concentrated in flexible twin-screw technology.