Post-Harvesting Treatment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market is projected to expand from USD 1.55 Billion in 2025 to USD 2.44 Billion by 2031, registering a compound annual growth rate of 7.86%. These treatments encompass the chemical and physical interventions utilized immediately following harvest to preserve quality, prolong shelf life, and curtail spoilage. The market's upward trajectory is primarily driven by the escalating global appetite for fresh agricultural products and the urgent need to mitigate food wastage across increasingly complex international supply networks. These economic factors are compelling the industry to rely more heavily on preservation technologies to guarantee food security and maximize profitability, a trend underscored by the Global Cold Chain Alliance's report that top global operators added over 600 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled capacity in 2024.

Conversely, the market faces a substantial obstacle in the form of inadequate logistical infrastructure within developing regions. In these areas, the absence of reliable electricity and cohesive supply chain networks frequently hinders the successful implementation of sophisticated treatment solutions. This lack of essential infrastructure prevents high-production markets from fully leveraging advanced technologies to optimize agricultural output and effectively reduce losses, thereby limiting the broader expansion of the sector in regions where preservation is critical.

Market Drivers

The urgent requirement to reduce post-harvest food losses acts as a major catalyst for the implementation of advanced treatment methodologies throughout the agricultural industry. As global supply chains extend to reach distant consumer bases, perishable goods become increasingly susceptible to physiological degradation and microbial spoilage, creating a need for strong chemical and physical interventions. These treatments are vital not just for upholding the visual appeal of produce but also for preserving nutritional content and minimizing economic waste during transport. Highlighting this institutional push, the United States Department of Agriculture announced in August 2024 that it had awarded $72.9 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to support projects focusing on food safety and post-harvest handling to curtail waste.

Furthermore, the surging volume of international trade in perishable commodities intensifies the dependence on specialized post-harvest treatments to maintain produce viability amidst complex logistics. Exporters are increasingly obliged to apply sophisticated coatings, fungicides, and sanitizers to comply with strict quarantine regulations and the quality standards of importing countries. For instance, Frutas de Chile reported in September 2024 that Chilean fresh fruit exports hit 2.5 million tons, underscoring the vast scale of produce needing effective preservation. Additionally, to handle market volatility, there is a sharpened focus on inventory management; the World Apple and Pear Association forecast in August 2024 that European apple production would reach 10.2 million tonnes, a volume necessitating advanced storage treatments to prolong marketing periods and ensure stable supply.

Market Challenges

A major impediment to the growth of the Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market is the deficiency of logistical infrastructure in developing nations. Sophisticated preservation techniques, such as controlled-atmosphere systems and protective coatings, depend heavily on reliable electricity and seamless transport networks to function correctly. In regions plagued by unstable power grids and fragmented supply chains, stakeholders are unable to effectively utilize these temperature-sensitive treatments. Consequently, high-value preservation solutions become impractical for local producers because the fundamental physical framework necessary to ensure chemical stability and continuous monitoring is missing.

This inability to adopt modern treatment standards effectively locks high-production regions out of full integration with the global value chain, limiting the accessible market for technology vendors. This gap in essential facilities creates a significant disparity, stalling the rollout of preservation protocols where they are often most needed. Data from the Global Cold Chain Alliance illustrates this divide: in 2025, Latin America's total temperature-controlled capacity was recorded at just 16.4 million cubic meters, a figure that lags dramatically behind the 141.5 million cubic meters established in North America, highlighting the physical constraints that restrict the scalability of post-harvest technologies in emerging economies.

Market Trends

A prominent trend is the increasing shift toward plant-based and edible coating formulations, moving away from synthetic waxes in favor of sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. This evolution is driven by consumer concerns regarding chemical residues and regulatory pressures to eliminate plastic packaging, prompting manufacturers to create organic-certified barriers that preserve physiological stability while maintaining a "clean label." As reported by Postharvest Biz in January 2024, Citrosol's SunSeal Vegan and PlantSeal coatings have proven capable of reducing weight loss in citrus fruit by up to 45%, thereby optimizing commercial shelf life while adhering to ecological standards.

Concurrently, the deployment of automated and robotic sorting systems is revolutionizing quality control by combining artificial intelligence with optical inspection technologies to reduce physical handling errors. These innovations allow facilities to process delicate commodities with exceptional precision, detecting internal defects and removing debris that traditional mechanical methods frequently overlook. This level of automation is essential for ensuring consistent output quality and lessening dependence on manual labor. For example, Potato News Today highlighted in February 2024 that the TOMRA Neon blueberry pre-grader uses AI modeling to eliminate over 95% of clusters, ensuring consistent and efficient grading.

Key Players Profiled in the Post-Harvesting Treatment Market

• Syngenta Crop Protection AG
• Nufarm Ltd.
• Agrofresh Inc.
• Bayer AG
• BASF SE
• Citrosol SA
• Hazel Technologies Inc.
• Lytone Enterprises Inc.
• Shandong Aoweite Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
• Fine Chemicals Inc.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, by Type:

• Coating
• Ethylene Blockers
• Cleaners
• Fungicides
• Sprout Inhibitors
• Sanitizers
• Other

Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, by Crop Type:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Flowers & Ornamentals

Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, by Origin:

• Natural
• Synthetic

Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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