Chitosan Market (By Source: Shrimps, Prawns, Crabs, Others; By Application: Water treatment, Cosmetics, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical, Food and Beverage, Others) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional Outlook, and Forecast 2024 - 2033
The global chitosan market size reached USD 12.25 billion in 2023 and it is expected to hit around USD 91.99 billion by 2033, estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22.31% due to the adoption of chitosan in the industry as it has unique properties.
The Asia Pacific chitosan market size was estimated at USD 5.75 billion in 2023 and is predicted to be worth around USD 44.16 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 22.59% from 2024 to 2033.
The Asia Pacific held the largest share in the Chitosan market. The easy availability of its raw material, obtained as a waste product from the fishery industry, is one of the key factors driving chitosan demand. Fishing is one of the most important industries in Asia Pacific. For a long time, Asia-Pacific has dominated the shrimp market.
In 2018, China produced 1,956.9 thousand metric tonnes of shrimp, with a CAGR of 1.6 percent over the forecast period. Shrimp production in China typically begins at the end of the calendar year.
The North America chitosan market size was calculated at USD 3.12 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand around USD 24.84 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 23.04% from 2024 to 2033.
| Year | Market Size (USD Billion) |
| 2023 | 3.12 |
| 2024 | 3.84 |
| 2025 | 4.74 |
| 2026 | 5.86 |
| 2027 | 7.25 |
| 2028 | 8.97 |
| 2029 | 11.11 |
| 2030 | 13.76 |
| 2031 | 17.07 |
| 2032 | 21.19 |
| 2033 | 24.84 |
The increasing demand of chitosan in the end user industries mainly in waste water treatment and food & beverages industry will proliferate the market growth. An important application is wastewater treatment with chitin or chitosan. For the removal of dyes from industrial wastewater (e.g., textile wastewaters), as well as other organic pollutants such as organochloride pesticides, organic oxidized or fatty impurities, and oil impurities. Chitosan has a number of appealing properties, including hydrophobicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and the presence of highly reactive amino (–NH2) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups in its backbone, which is effective in the waste water treatment.
Chitosan's antioxidant and antimicrobial activity allows it to be used to extend the shelf life of foods, and its excellent emulsifying properties allow it to replace synthetic surfactants in food technologies. Chitosan can also be used as a functional ingredient against hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and inflammations, as well as for nutrient encapsulation in functional food development. In 2021, revenue in the food & beverage industry is expected to reach USD 342,213 million. For the past two decades, the implementation of online retail in Food & Beverage has been lagging. It has, however, finally taken off, becoming the fastest-growing product category in eCommerce. Such factor will create a positive impact on the chitosan market.
| Report Coverage | Details |
| Growth Rate from 2024 to 2033 | CAGR of 22.31% |
| Market Size in 2023 | USD 10.00 Billion |
| Market Size by 2033 | USD 78.94 Billion |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Fastest Growing Market | North America |
| Base Year | 2023 |
| Forecast Period | 2024 to 2033 |
| Segments Covered | By Source, and By Application |
| Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa |
Based on the sources, the chitosan market is dominated by shrimp followed by crab. Shrimp is considered the primary source of chitosan because it contains approximately 25% to 40% chitin, whereas crab shell contains approximately 15% to 20%. The chitosan can be produced cheaply and easily from these sources.India is at the second rank when comes to the production of shrimp and largest exporter of shrimp globally after China. For instance, in 2019, the India produced 800, 000 MT shrimp which is double digit growth over the previous decade. The high production of shrimp will enhance the market growth of chitosan market in the near future.
The waste water segment is the most prominent segment in the market which contributed largest share in the chitosan market. According to a 2015 Bluefield Research, municipal wastewater reuse would expand by 61 percent by 2025, requiring USD 11 billion in capital. With over 247 reuse projects in various stages of preparation in the United States, which is a significant market trend. According to the UN, the world's population will exceed nine billion people by 2050. It is projected that global food production has to be boosted by 70% to ensure there is enough food for everyone. This will create a burden on the natural resources. So, in various application such agriculture, industrial application waste water utilization can solve the problems which in turn propel the growth of the chitosan market.
The improper discharge of wastewater effluents is strictly enforced, which can render factories noncompliant. Chitosan has many appealing properties, including hydrophobicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and the presence of highly reactive amino (–NH2) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups in its backbone, making it an effective adsorbent material for the removal of wastewater pollutants.
Further, the cosmetics industry has the considerable share in the market. Chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives are widely used in cosmetics, owing to their antioxidant, cleansing, protective, humectant, and antioxidant properties. In 2019, the global cosmetics market was valued at USD 380.2 billion. Cosmetics are now an essential component of most people's modern lifestyles. Furthermore, an increase in awareness of external beauty and an individual's internal intellect has driving the use of cosmetics in the global market. Along with women, men are increasingly using cosmetics in their daily lives, which are contributing to the market growth. Hence, such changing lifestyles, have led to growth of the global cosmetics market which in turn surge a market demand of chitosan in the forecast period.
Key Companies & Market Share Insights
Despite the fact that typical chitosan preparations are always mixtures of different chemical entities, natural impurities, and process-induced impurities, the biopolymer chitosan has shown great potential for a wide range of applications. The industry's major players invest in more cost-effective and safer production methods. Market leaders are also attempting to broaden their product portfolio by focusing on developing a diverse range of chitosan products based on purity levels that can be suitable for end-use industry applications. In order to have easy access to raw materials, the majority of key companies are located near coastal areas around the world.
Segments Covered in the Report
By Source
By Application
By Geography
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