Air compressors are widely used in numerous industrial fields such as machinery, metallurgy, electronic power, pharmaceuticals, packaging, chemicals, food, mining, textiles, and transportation. The following is an analysis of the air compressor market outlook in 2025.

Current Status of Market Scale: To Exceed RMB 72 Billion in 2025

According to the 2025-2030 China Air Compressor Market Special Research and Market Prospect Forecast Evaluation Report, the scale of China's air compressor market will exceed RMB 72 billion in 2025, continuing the steady growth trend in recent years. This growth is driven by the transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry, the rise of emerging industries, and the transfer of the global industrial chain to China.

From a historical data perspective:

• The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the market scale from 2016 to 2021 was 4.25%.
• In 2024, the market scale reached RMB 66.31 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.24%.
• The CAGR is expected to reach 5.34% in 2025.

Growth Differentiation in Segmented Markets: Screw Air Compressors Dominate the Market

1. Screw Air Compressors

As the leading product, screw air compressors occupy a dominant position in the market due to their advantages of high efficiency, stability, and low noise. Their market share exceeded 70% in 2022, and is expected to further increase in 2025. Technological progress has driven improvements in energy efficiency and cost reduction, enhancing their competitiveness in the market.

For example, permanent magnet variable frequency screw air compressors, equipped with intelligent speed regulation technology, have improved energy efficiency by 15%-20% compared with traditional models, and their market share is continuously expanding.

2. Piston Air Compressors

Affected by the growing awareness of environmental protection as well as their disadvantages of high energy consumption and high noise, the market share of piston air compressors has been squeezed, with relatively slow growth. The global piston air compressor market scale was USD 7.15 billion in 2023, and the CAGR is expected to be 3% from 2023 to 2029. The growth rate of the Chinese market is in line with the global trend.

3. Oil-Free Air Compressors

With the tightening of environmental protection requirements, the application of oil-free air compressors in fields such as food, pharmaceuticals, and electronics has gradually expanded. In 2025, the shipment volume of oil-free compressors produced by domestic enterprises in China will increase by 45% year-on-year, and their unit price is 30% lower than that of imported products, leading to a rapid increase in market share.

4. Other New-Type Air Compressors

New-type air compressors such as centrifugal and sliding vane air compressors have emerged in specific fields. Centrifugal air compressors are suitable for high-flow scenarios, while sliding vane air compressors feature a simple structure and easy maintenance. Their market scale is expected to gradually expand in 2025.

In the future, the air compressor industry will transform towards high-end, intelligent, and service-oriented development. Enterprises need to seize market opportunities, increase investment in technological research and development, adapt to market changes, and gain an advantage in the fierce market competition.