In 2023, the global sugar-based excipients market is expected to hit USD 1068.41 million, expanding at a CAGR of 4.8%. By 2033, the market was estimated at USD 1707.46 million. The growth of this market is mainly due to the increased use of combination-processed excipients.
Increasing utilization of co-processed excipients, patent cliffs for sugar excipients, and advancements in orally disintegrating tablets (ODTS) are factors driving sugar-based excipients market growth. For instance, co-processed excipients are gaining traction in the pharmaceutical industry due to their cost-effectiveness and versatility in the drug delivery system.
As new drugs are developed and excipients and co-processed excipients are used more frequently. This is to enhance the bioavailability, dissolution, and disintegration of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), the growing geriatric and pediatric population is further driving the growth of the market. The sugar-based excipients market is expected to grow due to tight administrative demands that may cause a shortage of FDA-approved products.
In the forecast period, the growth of the sugar-based excipients market is expected to be hampered. This is due to rising administrative demands that may lead to a shortage of FDA-approved manufacturing facilities. Further, the ability of sugar-based excipients to be accepted by administrations may hinder the growth of the sugar-based excipients market. Also, regulatory approval for sugar-based excipients is a major obstacle.
Several opportunities are likely to be created as a result of a shift in concentration from pharmaceutical manufacturing to developing economies. This is likely to further facilitate the growth of sugar-based excipients. The strict quality control processes of prominent manufacturers and the pressure on costs are expected to pose the biggest challenges to the growth of the market.
| Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Sugar-based Excipients Size Value in 2023 | USD 1068.41 million |
| Sugar-based Excipients Forecast Value in 2033 | USD 1707.46 million |
| Sugar-based Excipients CAGR Global Growth Rate (2023 to 2033) | 4.8% |
Explore FMI!
Book a free demo
By 2033, the sugar-based excipients are predicted by FMI to reach over USD 1707.46 million. It is estimated that the global market share increased by 4% in the first half of 2023, which is a market share valued at USD 1043.66 million. Though not equally distributed throughout all regions, this growth is stronger in developing markets. It is predicted to reach the end of 2023 valued at USD 1068.41 million with a CAGR of 4.8%.
According to the Connecticut Department of Health's Review published in April 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine contains basic table sugar, also known as sucrose, which has positively impacted the market. During freezing, this component helps to maintain a molecule's form. Thus, during the pandemic, the market was significantly impacted.
| Historical CAGR | 4% |
|---|---|
| Historical Market Value (2022) | USD 1019.48 million |
| Forecast CAGR | 4.8% |
Sugar-Based Excipients Market:
| Attributes | Sugar-Based Excipients Market |
|---|---|
| CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 4.8% |
| Market Value (2023) | USD 1068.41 million |
| Market Value (2033) | USD 1645.45 million |
| Growth Factor | Growing popularity in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals due to their beneficial properties |
| Opportunity | Increasingly being used to improve the bioavailability of the drug molecule |
| Key Trends | Growing demand for low-dose products and growing requirements for drug delivery systems |
Pharmaceuticals Excipients Market:
| Attributes | Pharmaceuticals Excipients Market |
|---|---|
| CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 6.2% |
| Market Value (2023) | USD 8910 million |
| Market Value (2033) | USD 16261 million |
| Growth Factor | Advancements in functional excipients |
| Opportunity | Government investments are increasing in healthcare centers |
| Key Trends | Increasing adoption of binders. |
Nutraceutical Excipients Market:
| Attributes | Nutraceutical Excipients Market |
|---|---|
| CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 7.1% |
| Market Value (2023) | USD 2507.66 million |
| Market Value (2033) | USD 4979.25 million |
| Growth Factor | Increasing application in prebiotics and probiotics |
| Opportunity | Advancements in nanotechnology and drug delivery system addressing concerns related to drug toxicity |
| Key Trends | Adoption of nutritional food & dietary supplements |
Generic Drugs are Accessible Worldwide
Global access to generic drugs has become a major driver of market growth. A growing market has also been driven by the demand for supplementary excipients due to drug delivery and stability advantages. Moreover, the market is strengthening as the popularity of orally disintegrating tablets increases.
Excipients are essential ingredients to improve general pharmaceutical activity and performance. They directly affect the properties of pharmaceutical formulations. As the elderly population and pediatric patients increase, orally disintegrating tablets will become more popular.
Rise in Preference for Oral Disintegrating Tablets
Sugar-based excipients are expected to grow significantly since most of the medications that are used in oral medication are taken by special patients like children, who tend to take fewer medications. Children and other patients are easy to see and attractive depending on the form and testing of the drug. Sugar-based excipients can be easily used and coated with tablets, making them appropriate for most pharmaceutical industries.
As the popularity and development of orally disintegrating tablets grow, the market is booming. Orally disintegrating tablets differ from traditional tablets by dissolving on the tongue rather than swallowing them whole. As the number of geriatric and pediatric patients increases, so does the demand for orally disintegrating tablets.
The study was published in August 2022, entitled "Orally Dispersible Dosage Forms for Pediatric Use: Current Knowledge and Development of Nanostructure-based Formulations". It states that saccharides and sugar alcohols are known for their high-water solubility and taste-enhancing properties and have long been an imperative component of Oro dispersible formulations.
For this reason, several excipient combinations for Orally Dispersible Dosage Forms (ODx) contain monosaccharides and/or their respective alcohols. Sugars and sugar alcohols, along with other excipients, are used to ensure the tablets' uniformity and structural integrity. Therefore, owing to the above benefits of sugar-based excipients in orally dispersible tablets, it is expected that demand for these excipients will increase.
Even though sugar-based excipients are in high demand, increased regulatory requirements and a lack of FDA-approved manufacturing facilities are expected to inhibit their growth. The main challenges for this industry are strict quality control procedures and the price pressures faced by major players.
In general, sugar-based products do not have a fast dissolution rate, high compatibility, or compressibility. Market growth for sugar-based excipients is expected to be hindered by incompatibility with stringent government regulations regarding drug manufacturing and excipient use. According to the European Medicines Agency, excipients should be justified by their role and justification for inclusion.
Based on product, the global sugar-based excipients market is segmented into actual sugar, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweetener. With the highest share in the market, the actual sugars segment is projected to reach a revised size. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period.
The actual sugar segment is projected to reach a revenue share of USD 750.5 million by 2033. As a result of its increased use in oral prescription medicines, and pediatric formulations because of its low toxicity and high efficiency. Excipients derived from sugar have gained broad recognition as a component of pharmaceutical tablets.
As direct compression has become the preferred method of tablet manufacture, the demand for compressible sugar-based excipients has increased as they can hide the bitter taste of active agents, making them more palatable. It is the increasing birth rate and the growing pediatric patient pool that contribute most to the segment's growth. Sugars are mainly used in oral formulations due to their non-toxicity and negligible drug reactions.
A study published in March 2022 titled " Five-Year Trends in United States Children's Health and Well-being, 2016-2020" outlined in 2019 that there were 73 million children aged 0-17 in the United States, representing 22% of the population. In this way, the growing pediatric population is expected to boost the demand for sugar-based formulations. Furthermore, the strategic initiatives taken by the market players contribute to the segment's growth.
In terms of type, the sugar-based excipients market can be divided into powders, direct compression sugars, crystals, and syrups. The powder segment is expected to hold the largest share of the market throughout the forecast period.
Due to the use of powdered forms for pediatric formulations to bypass the taste of the product. This is because of the increasing number of pediatric patients. As a result, the market is growing.
For instance, the demand for powder excipients is high in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of pediatric formulations with better taste and texture. Also, the increasing geriatric population is boosting the demand for the powder segment.
North America is the largest region in the market and is projected to offer the largest absolute dollar opportunity with a CAGR of 4.1%.
During the forecast period, the North American sugar-based excipient market is expected to remain dominant. Throughout the projection period, the market expansion will be driven by factors such as the rapidly growing pharmaceutical sector, growing demand for functional excipients, the presence of significant players, and technological advancements.
Market growth is also accelerated by the introduction of technologically advanced or superior excipients. For example, Ingestion EMEA, a provider of starch and sugar syrup in the United States, developed sugar alcohol sweeteners in May 2020. It is marketed as ERYSTA Erythritol and can be used in low-calorie products.
Furthermore, strategic actions taken by market participants such as product launches, mergers, and acquisitions contribute to the market segment's growth. To consolidate its global leadership and underscore its commitment to innovation focused on customers, Roquette Group intensified its pharmaceutical business expansion in the Americas in December 2021.
| Country | Insights |
|---|---|
| United States | The United States has the highest growth rate in the market. Most players in the region focus on the development and innovation of sugar-based excipients. The USA sugar-based excipients market is expected to record a healthy CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period. For instance, the USA pharmaceutical company, Merck & Co., Inc., recently launched a comprehensive range of sugar-based excipients called 'Merck Millipore Direct Compress'. |
| Germany | There are several major pharmaceutical companies and advanced medical technology companies in Germany. Sugar-based excipients are used to develop better medications, which is expected to drive the growth of the market by 2.8%. For example, the German company Merck KGaA has developed the Xiril Xylitol excipient, which is used to improve the taste and stability of drugs without compromising their safety and efficacy. As investments in factors such as drug development and generic drug production have increased, favorable government policies have led Germany to dominate the market for sugar-based excipients. Moreover, the German government provides funds for research and development for excipient manufacturers, allowing them to create high-quality, competitively priced products. |
| China | China is projected to reach revenues of USD 258.5 million by 2033. This is expected to deliver the fastest CAGR of 6.7%. The Chinese pharmaceutical industry is likely to be a key driver of the sugar-based excipients market growth in the region, due to the increasing consumption of generic drugs. Chinese healthcare has experienced strong growth, and the pharmaceutical industry has advanced. Low manufacturing costs are one of the advantages of favorable policies such as those of the Chinese government. Growth policies in the medical and pharmaceutical industries are also helped by these policies. Generic drug production increased as a result of increased investment in drug development, and government initiatives in China also contributed to the growth of the market. |
Added an Edge to Sugar-based Excipient Dynamics for Emerging Companies
By introducing enhanced products, leveraging technological advances, and gaining a competitive advantage, emerging players are gaining a strategic edge in the sugar-based excipients market. To remain competitive, these firms invest continuously in research and development activities to meet consumer preferences and the needs of end-user industries.
Companies are also investing in developing new sugar-based excipients that are more stable, provide better taste, and have improved functional properties. Additionally, new products with enhanced solubility, viscosity, and other properties are being developed to meet the demands of various industries. For instance,
There are few barriers to entry into the global market, so domestic players will enter in increasing numbers. This will boost their visibility within the forum and contribute to its expansion.
This is because the global market is increasingly accessible, with technology advancing so rapidly and making international trade easier. This allows domestic companies to expand into new markets, increasing their visibility and contributing to the growth of the global market.
Key players operating the global sugar-based excipients market include:
Key Developments for Sugar-based Excipients Market
Sugar-based excipients market players undertake a variety of key activities, including product launches, expansions, and distribution network expansions, as well as establishing global footprints through subsidiaries and partnerships.
These activities enable the manufacturers to obtain a larger market share, as well as enhance their product portfolios and expand their reach to various regions. Additionally, their partnerships with other companies can help them access new markets and gain access to advanced technologies. Major players also diversify their portfolios, acquire companies, and merge.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Forecast Period | 2023 to 2033 |
| Historical Data Available for | 2018 to 2022 |
| Market Analysis | USD million for Value and MT for Volume |
| Key Regions Covered | North America; Latin America; Europe; East Asia; South Asia; Oceania; and the Middle East & Africa |
| Key Countries Covered | USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Poland, China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, GCC Countries, North Africa, South Africa, and Turkey |
| Key Segments Covered | Product, Type, Functionality, Formulation, Region |
| Key Companies Profiled | Ashland Inc.; Associated British Foods Plc; BASF SE; Colorcon, Inc.; Cargill, Inc.; DFE Pharma; FMC Corporation; MEGGLE AG; Roquette Group; The Lubrizol Corporation. |
| Report Coverage | Market Forecast, Company Share Analysis, Competition Intelligence, DROT Analysis, Market Dynamics and Challenges, and Strategic Growth Initiatives |
| Customization & Pricing | Available upon Request |
The market is valued at USD 1068.41 million in 2023.
Ashland Inc., Associated British Foods Plc, and BASF SE are the leading market players.
The market is estimated to reach USD 1707.46 million in 2033.
Worldwide access to generic drugs drives sugar-based excipients sales.
Actual sugars are likely to remain preferred through 2033.
Functional Mushroom Market Trends – Health Benefits & Industry Expansion 2025 to 2035
Frozen Snacks Market Growth - Convenience & Consumer Trends 2025 to 2035
Functional Milk Replacers Market Growth - Nutrition & Industry Demand 2025 to 2035
Amaranth Color Market Analysis by application, form and by region - Growth, trends and forecast from 2025 to 2035
Coconut Sugar Market By Form, Nature, Application and Region - Forecast from 2025 to 2035
Monk Fruit Sugar Market Analysis by Nature, Form, End Use, Packaging Type and Sales Channel Through 2035
Sugar-based Excipients Market
Thank you!
You will receive an email from our Business Development Manager. Please be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folder too.
