Chitosan Market - By Source (Shrimps, Prawns, Crabs, Lobsters, Fungi), By End-user (Water Treatment, Cosmetics & Toiletries, Food & Beverage, Healthcare/Medical, Agrochemical, Biotechnology) & Forecast, 2021-2027

Chitosan Market Size

Global Chitosan Market size was valued at USD 1.83 billion in 2020 and will grow at a CAGR of around 14.8% from 2021 to 2027 owing to product usage in a wide range of end-user industries including water treatment, healthcare, food & beverages, cosmetics, and others. Rapid growth in the food & beverage sector and a growing requirement for advanced packaging materials with eco-friendly characteristics will support the usage of chitosan-based packaging in this sector.
 

Chitosan is a long chain polymer found in aquatic animals such as shrimp, crabs, prawns, lobsters, etc. Growing water treatment activities in Asia Pacific along with rising R&D investments for the usage of chitosan in biomedical applications offer lucrative opportunities for chitosan market trends. The serious issue of heavy metal ion pollution due to industrial water wastes and discharge in freshwater sources are serious threats to human health and the environment. The product has shown over 50% efficiency in the removal of heavy metal ions from water compared to carbon quantum dots and semiconductors.
 

Rising consumer spending in emerging economies has led to strong growth in the cosmetics industry. For instance, the product is used to manufacture anti-aging creams, hair care products, and oral care products. It has the ability to form an elastic film on the hair, thereby imparting softness and physical strength to the hair fiber.
 

It is used in styling gels, shampoos, hair colorants, and hair sprays. In addition, it is also used to manufacture mouthwashes, toothpaste, and chewing gums owing to its anti-plaque and anti-decay properties. Moreover, the rising demand for organic ingredients in cosmetic products will augment the chitosan market share during the forecast timeframe.
 

Growing awareness about the adverse impact of chemical pesticides and rising demand for environmental-friendly measures for crop disease management are expected to drive the demand for natural components including chitosan. In agricultural applications, the product is largely used in fruit & vegetable coatings and seed coatings along with use as a fertilizer to control agrochemical release, thereby stimulating plant immunity and increasing plant production. Furthermore, the product possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties, which are highly effective against seed-borne pathogens. Chitosan in seed treatment forms physical barriers (films) around the seed surface, thereby maintaining seed properties.
 

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to showcase an adverse impact on the chitosan market. Countrywide lockdown across several economies along with lower demand for cosmetics & toiletries has shown a negative impact on the overall market. In the Asia Pacific region, China has entered the recovery phase in Q2 FY2020; however, the normalization of full-capacity operations was delayed owing to the halt in international trade. Other major countries in the region, such as Japan, India, etc., will witness sluggish the chitosan market growth in the short term.
 

Chitosan Market Analysis

Shrimps based chitosan market was valued at USD 700 million in 2020 and, with a CAGR over 15.5%, is anticipated to reach USD 1.7 billion by 2027. Shrimp shell-derived chitosan is used as antibacterial, biocompatible, and eco-friendly polyelectrolyte biomaterial with a wide range of applications including use in chromatography, water treatment, additives for cosmetics, and textile treatment for antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, shrimp-based chitosan is used as novel fibers in textiles, biodegradable films, photographic papers, and biomedical devices along with microcapsule implants for controlled release in drug delivery.
 

The food & beverage end-user segment will showcase significant growth and is expected to grow over 15% CAGR from 2021 to 2027. The film-forming ability of chitosan enables its application in the formation of biodegradable films & coatings and immobilization of enzymes. The product is widely used as a food preservative and shelf-life enhancer owing to its antimicrobial activities.
 

Additionally, the product is increasingly being used as a dietary supplement for weight loss owing to its hypocholesterolemia properties. Rising health concerns among youth have triggered demand for dietary supplements mainly in the U.S. and European countries, which will boost product demand and thereby likely contribute to the total chitosan market size during the forecast timeframe.

The North America will showcase a growth rate of around 13% CAGR from 2021 to 2027 and is expected to generate over USD 960 million in revenue by 2027. A strong presence in the North America pharmaceutical industry is expected to drive market growth. In the pharmaceutical industry, chitosan is used to manufacture pharmaceutical drugs, i.e., as a filler and carrier in controlled release drugs. In addition, it is used as a coating on pharmaceutical products to mask the unsavory medicine taste.
 

Strong investments in the healthcare & medical sector by key players present in the region for new developments will act as a potential for the market size in the coming years. Additionally, strong legislation and laws formulated by the EPA to save the environment from the harmful impact of wastewater released from the industrial sector will continue to trigger product demand owing to its excellent flocculant applications.
 

Chitosan Market Share

Key industry participants in the chitosan industry are

• DuPont Nutrition Norge AS
• Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg.
• Kraeber & Co. GmbH
• Golden Shell Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
• Foodchem International Corporation
• KitoZyme S.A.
• Primex ehf

Industry payers are engaged in strategic partnerships with research universities, followed by mergers & acquisitions and new distribution agreements, among others for expansion of their market share. For instance, in 2020, Austanz Chitin Pty Ltd. (Biomedical Chitosan) partnered with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for the establishment of a training center to enhance the capabilities in advanced manufacturing of antipathogenic materials.

The global chitosan market report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of volume in tons & revenue in USD million from 2021 to 2027 for the following segments:

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By Source

• Shrimps
• Prawns
• Crabs
• Lobsters
• Fungi
• Others

By End-user

• Water Treatment
• Cosmetics & Toiletries
• Food & Beverage
• Healthcare/Medical
• Agrochemical
• Biotechnology
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Poland
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • South Korea
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
• Middle East & Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE