Chitosan Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Pharmaceutical, Water Treatment, Cosmetics, Biomedical, Food & Beverage), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global chitosan market size was valued at USD 10.88 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1% from 2023 to 2030. The growth is attributed to the increasing demand for naturally derived products coupled with their high penetration in waste-water treatment, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics applications.

Chitosan is expected to witness high demand from food & beverage industry owing to favorable regulatory support by the developed economies and increasing awareness concerning the health benefits offered by the product. In addition, surging demand for the product as a food preservative and stabilizer has contributed to the market growth. Furthermore, the rising utilization of the product as a clarifying agent in juices, as a thickening agent in beverages, and in packaging food products is anticipated to propel the demand.

Shrimp shells, crab shells, and squid pens are the most prominently used raw materials for the production of chitin and chitosan. The chitosan available in the market is in three varieties including alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha and beta chitosan are the most widely available products in the market and are manufactured using shrimp/crab shells and squid pens respectively. The various types of chitosan differ in their chitin strand structure, which determines the characteristics and properties of the chitosan manufactured.

Raw material availability is one of the primary factors affecting the market growth of chitosan. The growing shrimp industry in developing economies including India, China, and Thailand is expected to open new avenues for chitosan manufacturers. Shrimps contain about 25 - 40% chitin content and hence are considered one of the major source whereas, crab shell contains about 15 - 20% chitin content. Shrimps are an integral part of the food chain and are commercially available in two major groups including Dendrobranchiata and Car idea.

One of the drivers of growth for the chitosan market size, especially in the Asia-Pacific region is the abundant availability of raw materials. It is one of the most abundant biopolymers and is a major waste product of the fishery industry. Chitosan is primarily obtained from various materials including shrimp & crab shells and squid pens. Traditionally, these wastes were discarded or used directly as fertilizers. Additionally, remarkable research related to chitosan during the past few decades has revealed its significant importance in various applications including wastewater treatment, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage.

However, initiatives taken by the manufacturers and researchers to improve purity, in order to meet required product standards, are expected to open new avenues for the existing as well as new market players during the forecasted period. In addition, rising demand for chitosan as an antibacterial, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, and an anti-fungal agent in pharmacological applications is expected to drive demand during the forecast period.

Application Insights

The biomedical application dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 32.9% in 2022. This is attributed to the increasing demand for bio-based ingredients in drug manufacturing. High investments in the pharmaceutical & medical sector coupled with demand for advanced healthcare products are expected to have a positive impact on the market growth during the forecast period.

Several industry players in the market are focusing on developing new applications and are significantly investing in research and development activities towards the same. For instance, in March 2020, BIOAVANTA-BOSTI, a prominent player operating in chitosan research developed a manufacturing process named Novochizol TM which may be used to encapsulate any active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

On the other hand, increasing demand for bio-derived personal care products is expected to be a key driver for market growth. Bacteriostatic and fungi static properties offered by chitosan are expected to open new avenues for the product market in cosmetic applications. Increasing demand for chitosan used for skin and hair care cream manufacturing as a hydrating agent is likely to drive market growth.

The rising application scope of chitosan for manufacturing dental care products including mouthwash, toothpaste, and tooth gels is likely to increase demand for these products. Increasing chitosan application scope for manufacturing color cosmetics such as lipsticks, eye shadows, and nail polishes is expected to propel demand during the forecast period. Furthermore, the rising demand for chitosan for treating various skin problems including acne and scars is likely to drive the growth.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of nearly 46.0% in 2022. This is attributed to the rising consumer demand for bio-derived skin and hair care products in developed economies of the region. Furthermore, rising government spending on water purification technologies coupled with growing demand for naturally derived, nontoxic water treatment chemicals in the region is expected to propel the demand.

The pharmaceutical industry in Canada is considered one of the most profitable sectors and has been the fourth fastest-growing healthcare industry after China, U.S., and Spain. As a result, a positive pharmaceutical industry outlook in Canada is likely to fuel the demand. The robust manufacturing base of global cosmetic producers such as Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble in the U.S. is expected to promote demand for chitosan in the formulation of personal care products.

Asia Pacific is growing significantly during the forecast period. The growing demand for skin care products especially among women and teenagers is anticipated to have a positive impact on the product market during the forecast period. The growing fashion industry coupled with increasing demand for naturally derived hair and skin care products in the region is expected to propel demand throughout the forecasted period. Growing investments in municipal wastewater treatment coupled with the increasing use of bio-derived chemicals in the field are expected to drive the demand during the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is relatively fragmented with well-established and long-term operating players occupying a majority of the share in the market. These players are focusing on developing affordable, sustainable, and high-quality products. Raw material sourcing is one of the major factors influencing the manufacturing cost of the product. The primary and most common sources of raw materials for product production include wastes from the aquaculture and fishing industry. Wastes generated from marine organisms, including shrimp, crayfish, krill, crab, and squid, are widely used for this purpose.

The majority of the manufacturers are located near coastal areas across the world, in order to get easy access to raw materials. The ease of the manufacturing process and rapidly increasing demand for the product is expected to compel new market players to enter the market, which is likely to increase industry rivalry during the forecast period. Manufacturers across all regions are expected to focus more on product quality, increase production volumes, and lower product costs in order to sustain and strengthen their presence in the product market during the next few years.  Some prominent players in the global chitosan market include:

• Qingdao Yunzhou Biochemistry Co.

• Panvo Organics Pvt Ltd

• Advanced Biopolymers AS

• Meron Biopolymers

• Biophrame Technologies

• United Chitotechnologies Inc.

• Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH

• KitoZyme S.A

• Foodchem International Corporation

• Chitosanlab

• FMC Corporation

• Golden-Shell Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

• Primex EHF

• Nano3Bio

• Koyo World (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd.

• Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co. Ltd.

• KYTOSAN LLC 

Chitosan Market Report Scope

Global Chitosan Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels along with provides an analysis on the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global chitosan market report based on the application, and region:

• Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

  • Water Treatment

  • Pharmaceutical

  • Biomedical

  • Cosmetics

  • Food & Beverage

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Singapore

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia