The food grade butyric acid market is poised for significant growth between 2025 and 2035, driven by increasing demand for functional food ingredients, animal feed additives, and dietary supplements. The market was valued at USD 310 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1,240 million by 2035, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.0% over the forecast period.
Increasing consumer awareness about gut health and digestive fitness is fuelling the application of butyric acid as a prebiotic and probiotic booster in functional foods. Moreover, it has also seen an uptrend in this market due to its rising use in animal nutrition, especially for use in poultry and swine feed. Further driving its use in livestock feed formulations are butyric acid’s antimicrobial properties and its role in improving nutrient absorption.
The expansion of the food and beverage sector in emerging economies, as well as developments in microencapsulation technology, is helping to widen the adoption of products. In addition, regulatory approvals for natural and sustainable feed additives are also anticipated to contribute to the growth of the market.
Metric Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025E) | USD 310 Million |
| Market Value (2035F) | USD 1,240 Million |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 15.0% |
The food grade butyric acid market is witnessing a strong growth momentum, backed by active research, novel product development as well as the applications for clean-label ingredients. Market dynamics over the next decade will be driven by the growing incorporation of butyric acid into functional foods, nutraceuticals, and feed additives.
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The North American food grade butyric acid market is anticipated to gain significant growth, led by rising demand for functional food ingredients and animal feed supplements. The United States and Canada dominate the region because of their established food processing and livestock industries. Increasing consumer demand for gut health-probiotic food and beverage ingredients also supports market growth.
In addition, increasing awareness of the advantages of butyric acid in enhancing digestive health and increasing animal growth performance are propelling growth in the animal nutrition market. On the other hand, stringent regulation frameworks relating to food additives and uncertain raw materials pricing can hinder market growth.
Europe's tight regulations promoting the use of food ingredients that are natural and health-beneficial will keep food grade butyric acid in strong demand in the region. Butyric acid also finds a high demand in functional foods and dietary supplements across countries including Germany, France, UK and Italy.
The region’s strong livestock and dairy sectors further drive market growth, as butyric acid is commonly included in animal feed formulations to improve gut health and feed efficiency. Moreover, the growing consumer inclination towards clean-label and organic food products is propelling innovations in butyric acid applications. But regulatory complexities surrounding food additives could hinder market penetration.
Rapid expansion in Asia-Pacific food grade butyric acid market due to increasing populaces, rising disposable incomes and growing gut health awareness. China, India, Japan, and South Korea, meanwhile, are major markets due to growing food processing demands and expanding animal feed industries.
The rising demand for functional food products, probiotics, and prebiotics in this region is anticipated to provide significant opportunity for a butyric acid manufacturer. Moreover, the changing trend for premium animal feed for increasing livestock production is another factor driving market growth. Regional differences in food safety regulations and varying supply chain availability for raw materials may add to challenges.
Challenges - High Production Costs and Supply Chain Constraints
Fermentation-based manufacturing processes, on the other hand, result in high production costs due to the use of glucose or starch, which is acting as a fermentable substrate in butyric acid manufacturing process further limiting the overall growth of food grade butyric acid market. Bio-based butyric acid must be derived from raw materials, namely starch, sugar, molasses, etc., which are expensive to source and may increase overall costs. Moreover, disruptions in the supply chain, especially for essential feedstocks and logistics for transport, can affect product availability and market stability.
Opportunities - Growing Demand for Functional Food and Nutritional Supplements
Food grade butyric acid demand is being driven by consumer’s preference for functional foods and dietary supplements. Due to its role in gut homeostasis, digestive health, and regulation of metabolism, butyric acid is gaining applications in prebiotics, probiotics, and fortified food formulations. Its adoption in food and beverage applications is multiplying, driven by the growth of health-conscious consumer trends and clean-label ingredients.
Food grade butyric acid is witnessing a steady growth between 2020 and 2024 primarily due to increasing awareness around gut health and benefits associated with short-chain fatty acids. And with the rise of natural and bio-based ingredients, the butyric acid segment derived from fermentation attracted significant investment from manufacturers. But production scalability and regulatory compliance challenges hampered wider adoption.
2025 to 2035, the technological evolutions in bioprocessing and microbial fermentation will bring down the cost of food grade butyric acid. In addition, its use will grow in dairy alternatives, functional beverages, and sports nutrition products. This will help to improve product stability and increase shelf life through sustainable production methods, while innovations in encapsulation technologies also open further market opportunities.
Market Shifts: A Comparative Analysis (2020 to 2024 vs. 2025 to 2035)
| Market Shift | 2020 to 2024 Trends |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Landscape | Strict regulations on food additives and labelling |
| Technological Advancements | Growth in microbial fermentation for sustainable production |
| Industry Adoption | Increasing use in functional food and dietary supplements |
| Supply Chain and Sourcing | Dependence on traditional raw materials for fermentation |
| Market Competition | Presence of synthetic and bio-based butyric acid manufacturers |
| Market Growth Drivers | Rising consumer interest in gut health and digestive wellness |
| Sustainability and Energy Efficiency | Focus on reducing carbon footprint in butyric acid production |
| Consumer Preferences | Preference for natural food additives with health benefits |
| Market Shift | 2025 to 2035 Projections |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Landscape | Harmonization of global food safety standards for bio-based butyric acid |
| Technological Advancements | Innovations in encapsulation for improved stability and bioavailability |
| Industry Adoption | Expansion into dairy alternatives, sports nutrition, and plant-based products |
| Supply Chain and Sourcing | Diversification of feedstock’s and development of cost-efficient production methods |
| Market Competition | Dominance of bio-based butyric acid due to clean-label demand |
| Market Growth Drivers | Growing preference for natural, non-GMO, and sustainably sourced ingredients |
| Sustainability and Energy Efficiency | Adoption of circular economy models in raw material sourcing |
| Consumer Preferences | Demand for clean-label, functional ingredients in food and beverages |
In the food grade butyric acid market, the United States is a major country due to the rising demand for functional food ingredients and animal feed additives. Butyric acid is gaining traction for food applications due to the strong penetration of food and beverage industry in the country along with increasing consumer awareness regarding gut health and digestive wellness.
The livestock industry is also a key driver of growth in the market, as butyric acid is used as a feed additive on a large scale to boost gut health and the absorption of nutrients in poultry and swine. Also positive, endorsements from bodies such as the FDA also promote use of butyric acid in a range of food formulations, paving the way for ongoing market growth.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United States | 15.2% |
Emergence of health ranging lifestyle and rising emphasis towards natural and organic food components is contributing towards the growth of food grade butyric acid in the UK. The region has a high demand for clean-label and functional foods that contributes to butyric acid adoption in the bakery, dairy, and nutritional supplements market.
The UK livestock industry is also looking at antibiotic-free animal nutrition and butyric acid is finding an important role in improving gut health and immunity. The increasing use of butyric acid in the food and feed markets is further supplemented by growing research into the prebiotic and post biotic applications of the compound.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 14.8% |
Increased demand from the animal feed and functional food industry drives the European Union as an important market for food grade butyric acid. Front-line adopters of butyric acid-based food and feed solutions include Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Strict European Union restrictions on antibiotic use in livestock feed have spurred the shift toward natural solutions such as butyric acid, which in turn has fuelled the growth of the market. In addition, the rising attention on the gut microbiome science in the region has also propelled the consumption of butyric acid in dietary supplements and fortified food products.
| Region | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| European Union | 15.0% |
Japan’s butyric acid market (food grade) is increasing, driven by the country’s interest in functional foods as well as probiotics and digestive health. Butyric acid is commonly employed in dietary supplements and fermented food products, as gut health is highly important for Japanese consumers.
Another driving factor is Japan's aging population and the increasing demand for digestive and metabolic health solutions. Moreover, investigations of gut-brain interactions and the beneficial impact of butyric acid on cognitive health are expanding its uses in nutraceuticals and organ-specific functional foods.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Japan | 15.3% |
South Korea is also fast becoming a key market for food grade butyric acid, especially as demand for premium health foods and functional ingredients is growing. The strong dairy industry in the country, as well as growing consumer interest in gut health products, has increased the use of butyric acid in food and beverage applications.
Furthermore, the adoption of butyric acid in animal husbandry is augmented by the nimble approach of South Korea towards animal nutrition considering the application of antibiotic-free feed solutions. Prebiotic and probiotic formulations are also anticipated to boost butyric acid market growth.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| South Korea | 15.5% |
In addition, the food grade butyric acid market is poised to expand as the food and beverage industry embraces natural and high-purity ingredients for better fertility and consumer safety. Butyric acid is a common flavoring agent, preservative, and animal feed additive and has gained increasing attention for its role in improving gut health and metabolism.
The rising choice for sustainable and bio-based chemicals has led to renewable butyric acid being the dominant segment. Moreover, 99% purity grade accounts for the major share of the market because industries prefer highly pure and refined butyric acid to use for wide use of applications. It also segments the market by Type (Synthetic and Renewable Butyric Acid) and Purity Level (Less than 99% and 99%).
| Type | Market Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| Renewable Butyric Acid | 61.4% |
Renewable butyric acid is anticipated to cover 61.4% of the market share in 2025 owing to the growing demand for sustainable food additives, particularly bio-based ones. As industries shift away from petroleum-based chemistry, manufacturers are pouring resources in the development of butyric acid with fermentation, a safer and more sustainable option. Working to assist this transition to renewable sources, regulatory bodies in both North America and Europe are enacting strict guidelines on synthetic chemicals for food applications.
Moreover, increasing consumer awareness about natural ingredients and clean-label food products has propelled the consumption of renewable butyric acid. Its widespread application in food flavoring, dietary supplement development, and animal feed formulations highlights the need for sustainable and food-safety oriented, bio-based solutions. The growing categories of plant-based and organic food sectors have further encouraged adoption as companies pursue naturally sourced additives to meet changing market trends.
| Purity | Market Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| 99% | 68.7% |
The food grade butyric acid market is segmented into three segments based on purity, with 99% purity market leading the table and anticipated to account for 68.7% of the entire market share by the year 2025. Food manufacturers and feed producers generally favour high-purity butyric acid because it’s higher effectiveness, consistency, and safety in a range of applications. For example, can be sure to get minimum contamination, improved stability, and efficacy for improving food flavors or probiotics or animal nutrition, with the higher purity.
Another factor are the rising cosmetic and personal care products that contain butyric acid and the increasing demand for functional food products and nutritional supplements, which are driving the uptake of 99% pure butyric acid. Demand for these gut health solutions is rising, and microbiome food formulations need highly refined ingredients that offer precision and reliability.
Stringent food safety standards coupled with growing awareness regarding the consequences of low-purity additives on health and shelf life are further supporting the multi-national preference for high purity butyric acids.
Food grade butyric acid market growth, the growing demand for natural preservatives, gut health enhancers, and animal feed additives. The market is being boosted by increased awareness about digestive health, clean-label food ingredients, and probiotic-filled products. To address changing consumer preferences, manufacturers are placing emphasis on fragrances made from sustainable production methods like bio-based butyric acid and new formulation techniques.
Market Share Analysis by Key Players & Manufacturers
| Company/Organization Name | Estimated Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Eastman Chemical Company | 12-18% |
| Perstorp Holding AB | 10-15% |
| OQ Chemicals GmbH | 8-13% |
| Blue Marble Biomaterials | 7-11% |
| Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. | 6-10% |
| Other Manufacturers (Combined) | 33-42% |
| Company/Organization Name | Key Offerings/Activities (Month & Year) |
|---|---|
| Eastman Chemical Company | Expanded bio-based butyric acid production capacity in January 2024 to support clean-label food trends. |
| Perstorp Holding AB | Launched high-purity butyric acid for animal nutrition and functional food applications in April 2024. |
| OQ Chemicals GmbH | Introduced enhanced microencapsulated butyric acid for improved gut health benefits in July 2024. |
| Blue Marble Biomaterials | Developed fermentation-derived butyric acid for natural food preservation in September 2024. |
| Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. | Released food-grade butyric acid blends for probiotic-enriched food formulations in November 2024. |
Key Market Insights
Eastman Chemical Company (12-18%)
Eastman is a frontrunner in the food grade butyric acid market, emphasizing bio-based and sustainable production methods. It further strengthen its differentiation in the market by investing in clean-label and high-purity formulations.
Perstorp Holding AB (10-15%)
Perstorp focuses on high-purity butyric acid for animal feed and human nutrition to improve digestive health and metabolic efficiency.
OQ Chemicals GmbH (8-13%)
OQ Chemicals is a leader in butyric acid encapsulation technologies, enabling enhanced stability and gut health benefits and controlled release in food product applications.
Blue Marble Biomaterials (7-11%)
Blue Marble utilizes fermentation-derived, natural butyric acid for clean-label food preservation.
Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (6-10 percentage index)
Functional foods, probiotics, and fermented food formulations by Tokyo Chemical Industry offer tailored requirements to be incorporated in food-grade butyric acid.
Other Important Contenders (33-42% Combined)
Food grade butyric acid is used in various sectors, including animal feed, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals, making it a valuable commodity in the market landscape. Other major players include:
The overall market size for the food grade butyric acid market was USD 310 million in 2025.
The food grade butyric acid market is expected to reach USD 1,240 million in 2035.
The demand for food grade butyric acid is expected to rise due to its increasing applications in functional foods, animal feed additives, and dietary supplements, along with growing consumer awareness of gut health benefits.
The top five countries driving the development of the food grade butyric acid market are the USA, China, Germany, India, and France.
Renewable butyric acid and 99% purity grade are expected to dominate the market due to their rising adoption in poultry and livestock nutrition for improved gut health and feed efficiency.
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