GVR Report cover Lecithin Market Size, Share & Trends Report

Lecithin Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Source (Sunflower & Rapeseed), By End-use (Convenience Food & Bakery), By Form (Liquid, Powder), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

  • Report ID: GVR-1-68038-858-9
  • Number of Pages: 176
  • Format: Electronic (PDF)

Report Overview

The global lecithin market size was valued at USD 547.5 million in 2021 and is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7% from 2022 to 2030.  The growth is majorly driven by increasing application in baked goods, ready-to-eat, confectioneries, pasta, and instant foods because of its properties, such as emulsifier, viscosity reduction agent, and wetting agent.

U.S. lecithin market size, by source, 2020 - 2030 (USD Million)

Lecithin manufacturers contend on the ground of competitive pricing due to the existence of price-sensitive buyers. Manufacturers emphasize process innovation and low-cost raw material origins to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. In addition, the rapid growth of end-use industries such as food, beverage, feed, and pharmaceutical, as well as the rise in lecithin production, tends to overwhelm fills the gap between supply and demand, and moderate price increases are expected during the forecast period.

Phospholipids are cell membrane components that regulate cell activities, including protein production and cell migration to various parts of the body. Phospholipids, especially lecithin, are being widely utilized in food and beverage, dietary supplements, and cosmetic industries as emulsifiers and have been gaining adoption as natural antioxidants to control lipid oxidation.

The pharmaceutical end-use segments primarily utilize lecithin obtained from plant sources. It is used in numerous pharmaceutical applications, besides liquid dosage forms, solid dosage forms, and liposomal applications, because of its use as a revitalizing agent, emulsifier, dispersant, wetting agent (powder and tablet), and mold release agent. It also slows fat crystallization, aids skin penetration, increases bioavailability, and protects ingredients.

Changing consumer preferences towards the consumption of non-GMO and hypoallergenic food products has forced lecithin manufacturers to improve their product portfolio by introducing new products. For example, in 2018, Cargill Incorporated, one of the prominent contributors to the lecithin market, launched an entirely new portfolio of defatted lecithin products. Industry players are focusing on improving the quality of their products.

Source Insights

The soy segment dominated the lecithin market with the highest revenue share of over 79% in 2021. This is attributable to the growing food industry in regions of Europe and Asia Pacific due to the presence of extensive areas of land under soybean cultivation and production. It is mainly used for manufacturing dairy products, ice creams, dietary supplements, infant formulas, bread, margarine, and other convenience foods. However, growing concerns regarding increasing cholesterol levels and allergic properties of soybean are expected to lower its demand during the forecast period.

Lecithin extracted from sunflower seeds is expected to witness an increased demand in the growing product category of healthy foods, owing to the wide range of benefits provided by the product. Also, the demand for sunflower lecithin is expected to remain high on account of its growing consumption for manufacturing supplements.

End-use Insights

The animal feed segment has dominated the lecithin market with the highest revenue share of more than 40% in 2021. This is attributable to the ever-rising meat consumption by the majority of the population throughout the globe. In addition, the highly developed animal husbandry industry has also positively impacted the overall growth of the industry.

Convenience foods save time and energy when preparing food at home or in a restaurant. Lecithin is used in convenience food products to assist in binding fat and keeping it in suspension, improving hydration of high-protein ingredients, lowering the fat cap throughout the retort process, and enhancing dispersion of high-fat powders. Furthermore, its exceptional qualities to improve mouthfeel and texture, as well as facilitate the even distribution of ingredients, are expected to fuel its inclusion in the convenience food category.

The confectionery segment consists of products that are mainly rich in sugar, such as chocolates, ice cream, gums, and caramels. Enhanced surface properties provided by lecithin boost its consumption in the confectionery segment. It also aids in reducing the moisture content of foods, owing to which its demand in the end-use segment is expected to remain high during the forecast period.

Form Insights

Liquid form dominated the lecithin market with the highest revenue share of more than 86% in 2021. This high share is attributable to a sharp rise in demand for liquid form from multiple end-use application industries, such as industrial coatings, cosmetics, food processing, and confectionaries.

Global lecithin market share, by form, 2021 (%)

While liquid form is used in several food products, either as a food additive or naturally, it is also consumed as a dietary supplement. Liquid lecithin in the dietary supplement is frequently a mixture of choline, inositol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatide, and other compounds and is not merely phosphatidylcholine. Also, the liquid form tends to effortlessly disperse in oil as compared to its other forms.

Lecithin powder is utilized as an ingredient in several end-use industries, namely feed, food & beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, among others. The product is frequently used in bakery and confectionery products. The powder form is added to cooking sprays to prevent the sticking of baked goods to the pans. It also has the unique property of binding with non-lipids and lipids, consequently keeping ingredients with water and oil together. For the same reason, key manufacturers prefer powder in food products such as butter and candy over liquid.

Regional Insights

Europe dominated the lecithin market with the highest revenue share of more than 30% in 2021. This is attributed to the existence of a significant number of lecithin producers in the region. Additionally, ample raw materials and growing health awareness among consumers in the region are driving demand.

The demand in the North American region is driven by the presence of key end-users and the easy availability of raw materials. The presence of large soy fields in the U.S. and canola fields in Canada are boosting the market growth in this region. Soybeans are one of the major sources used in the manufacturing of lecithin. Large-scale cultivation of soybean, coupled with the increasing number of small-scale crushing facilities, is augmenting the production of soybean in North America.

Asia-Pacific has emerged as a key regional market. The growth in the region can be attributed to increasing demand from India and China, which are experiencing a rapid increase in population, and changing demographic trends. The presence of large areas of land for oilseed cultivation is expected to further boost the market growth. The growing number of small-scale food manufacturers is expected to drive the demand for lecithin in application segments such as convenience foods, bakery, and confectionery. The rapid new product development in these application segments is expected to boost the demand further in the food & beverage industry.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global lecithin market is highly fragmented in nature and is facing intense competition. Market players are investing heavily in R&D activities related to technological advancements for process optimization, new product development, existing product portfolio expansion, and regional expansion. The competitive edge in the market lies in increased regional presence and establishing tie-ups with major end-users. Mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures can enable key players to expand their global presence.

The competition in the market is expected to intensify during the forecast period, owing to the ascending demand for naturally sourced products. Moreover, the presence of large and established participants has led to a high degree of rivalry in the market. Key players are focusing on purity, quality, price differentiation, and continuous product development to maintain a foothold in the market. Industry players are collaborating with major end-use industries to understand the specific requirements of the consumers. Some prominent players in the global lecithin market include:

  • Cargill, Inc.

  • ADM

  • Lipoid GmbH

  • Bunge Limited

  • American Lecithin Company

  • Global River Food Ingredients

  • DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

  • Stern-Wywiol Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG

  • Haneil Soyatech Pvt. Ltd.

  • NOW Foods

  • Thew Arnott & Co. Ltd.

  • GIIAVA

  • AKK Soya International

  • Imcopo Food Ingredients B.V.

  • Sun Nutrafoods

  • Lasenor EMUL., S.L.

  • Sime Darby Unimills B.V.

  • LECICO GmbH

  • Wilmar International Ltd.

  • Yugen Chemicals

  • Barentz

  • Tianjin Hexiyuan Lecithin Technology Co., Ltd.

  • Orison Chemicals Limited

Lecithin Market Report Scope

Report Attribute

Details

Market size value in 2022

USD 574.5 million

Revenue forecast in 2030

USD 1068.8 million

Growth Rate

CAGR of 7.7% from 2022 to 2030

Base year for estimation

2021

Historical data

2018 - 2020

Forecast period

2022 - 2030

Quantitative units

Revenue in USD million, volume in kilotons, and CAGR from 2022 to 2030

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Segments covered

Source, end-use, form, region

Regional scope

North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Central & South America; Middle East & Africa

Country scope

U.S.; Canada; Mexico; Germany; UK; France; China; India; Japan; Australia; Brazil

Key companies profiled

Cargill, Inc.; ADM; Lipoid GmbH; Bunge Limited; American Lecithin Company; Global River Food Ingredients; DuPont de Nemours, Inc.; Stern-Wywiol Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG; Haneil Soyatech Pvt. Ltd.; NOW Foods; THEW ARNOTT & CO. LTD.; GIIAVA; AKK Soya International; Imcopo Food Ingredients B.V.; Sun Nutrafoods; Lasenor EMUL. S.L.; Sime Darby Unimills B.V.; LECICO GmbH; Wilmar International Ltd.; Yugen Chemicals; Barentz; Tianjin Hexiyuan Lecithin Technology Co., Ltd.; Orison Chemicals Limited

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Segments Covered in the Report 

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

  • Source Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; Volume, Kilotons; 2018 - 2030)

    • Soy

    • Sunflower

    • Rapeseed

    • Others

  • End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; Volume, Kilotons; 2018 - 2030)

    • Convenience Food

    • Bakery

    • Confectionary

    • Pharmaceutical

    • Personal Care And Cosmetics

    • Animal Feed

    • Other Industrial

    • Others

  • Form Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; Volume, Kilotons; 2018 - 2030)

    • Liquid

    • Powder

    • Granules

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

    • North America

      • U.S.

      • Canada

      • Mexico

    • Europe

      • Germany

      • UK

      • France

    • Asia Pacific

      • China

      • India

      • Japan

      • Australia

    • Central & South America

      • Brazil

    • Middle East & Africa

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