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Chitosan Market Research Report Information By Source (Shrimps, Prawns, Crabs, Lobsters, Fungi, and Others), By Application (Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals, Cosmetics & Personal care, Agriculture, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) – Market Forecast Till 2030.


ID: MRFR/F-B & N/1668-HCR | 135 Pages | Author: Tejas Chaudhary| April 2024

Global Chitosan Market Overview


Chitosan Market Size was prized at USD 1.7 billion in 2022. The chitosan market industry is projected to grow from USD 2.1 Billion in 2023 to USD 8.5 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.90% during the forecast period (2023 - 2030). Growing demand for naturally derived goods and their widespread use in waste-water treatment, medicinal, and cosmetics applications are the key market drivers enhancing the market growth. The food and beverage industry anticipates significant demand for chitosan due to favorable regulatory support from developed countries and growing knowledge of the product's health advantages.Chitosan Market Overview


 Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review


Chitosan Market Trends



  • Increasing awareness regarding the use of wastewater to boost the market growth


The demand for wastewater treatment is predicted to rise globally, fueling the chitosan market's expansion. The process of purifying wastewater before it enters natural bodies of water or aquifers like lakes, rivers, and seas are known as wastewater treatment. Chitosan is frequently used in wastewater treatment because it aids in the removal of organic pollutants like organic oxidants, oil impurities, and organochloride insecticides, as well as removing dyes from industrial effluent. According to a study conducted by Utrecht University, a public research university in the Netherlands, and the United Nations University, a research and study university in Japan, the wastewater produced each year in 2021 globally will be 359 billion cubic meters, with approximately 48 percent of that water being released untreated into the environment. As a result, the growing need for wastewater treatment worldwide has enhanced the chitosan market CAGR globally in recent years.


The growing problem of overweight and obesity and rising health consciousness presents a substantial opportunity for the chitosan market. According to the International Obesity Federation's Obesity Atlas 2022, one billion people worldwide, including one in every five women and one in every seven males, will be obese by 2030. The growing trend for organic weight loss and beauty treatments is a key development factor for the chitosan industry. Chitosan is utilized as a weight-loss nutritional supplement because it inhibits the absorption of dietary fat. It binds to fat, preventing it from accumulating in the body. Chitosan promotes weight loss without imposing dietary or exercise constraints. Thus, the growing prevalence of obesity is another factor driving the growth of the chitosan market revenue.


Figure 1: Estimated number of states in the U.S. with obesity rate in percent from 2011 to 2021


Estimated number of states in the U.S. with obesity rate in percent from 2011 to 2021


Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review


Chitosan Market Segment Insights


Chitosan Source Insights


The chitosan market segmentation, based on source, includes shrimps, prawns, crabs, lobsters, fungi, and others. Over the forecast period, the shrimps dominated the market with respect to the chitosan market revenue. Chitosan, a polyelectrolyte biomaterial derived from shrimp shells, has a wide range of uses as an antibacterial, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly polyelectrolyte biomaterial, including use in chromatography, water treatment, cosmetic additives, and textile treatment for antimicrobial activity.


Figure 2: Chitosan Market, by Source, 2022 & 2030 (USD Billion)Chitosan Market, by Source, 2022 & 2030


Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review


The second fastest-growing segment in the chitosan industry is the white mushroom category. Mushroom waste is used as a source of chitosan in the food and beverage industry. Mushrooms are one of the most widely consumed food ingredients. Hence, rising applications of mushrooms for chitosan positively impact the market growth.


Chitosan Application Insights


The chitosan market segmentation has been bifurcated by application into food & beverages, pharmaceuticals & nutraceuticals, cosmetics & personal care, agriculture, and others. The food and beverage end-user segment is anticipated to develop at a rate of major growth rate. Chitosan's capacity to form films makes it useful for immobilizing enzymes and creating biodegradable films and coatings. Due to its antibacterial properties, the substance is frequently employed as a food preservative and shelf-life extender.


The second fastest-growing segment in the chitosan market data is the pharmaceutical sector. In the pharmaceutical business, chitosan is utilized more frequently as an excipient for tablet disintegration, direct tablet compression, sustained-release solid dosage forms, and drug dissolution enhancement.


March 2022: Bioavanta-Bosti, a pioneer in chitosan nanoparticle research, has introduced Novochizol, a novel chitosan nanoparticle technology capable of delivering and confining any prospective anti-COVID-19 medicine to the lungs of critically ill patients. This introduction has further broadened the growth opportunity for the chitosan industry.


Chitosan Regional Insights


By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The North America Chitosan market accounted for USD 0.77 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a significant CAGR growth during the study period. The market share North America is likely to occupy in the chitosan market is due to rising knowledge about water treatment, rising demand for cosmetics in the United States, and prominent players. The region's growing obesity and overweight problems and a rise in health consciousness present the chitosan market with tremendous growth potential. According to studies, Americans will be the most afflicted by obesity, with 81 million overweight and 113 million obese by 2022.


Further, the major countries studied in the market report are Canada, U.S, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.


Figure 3: CHITOSAN SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)CHITOSAN SHARE BY REGION 2022


Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review


Asia Pacific chitosan market accounts for the second-largest market share. Asia-Pacific is also anticipated to rise rapidly over the projection period due to the quick development of end-user industries in Japan, China, India, and South Korea. The simple accessibility of its raw material, obtained as a waste product from the fishing industry, is one of the major reasons influencing the demand for chitosan in the Asia-Pacific area. According to the most recent data from China Customs, the overall amount of vannamei shrimp imported this year from January 2022 to October 2022 was 645,000 tonnes, exceeding the total amount imported the previous year, 571,334 tonnes. Moreover, China's chitosan market held the largest market share, and the Indian chitosan market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.


The Europe Chitosan Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030. One of the most prosperous industries in this region, the European food and beverage industry has an annual turnover of around USD 1242 billion and employs about 4.57 million people, according to information provided by Food & Drink, Europe. The market for chitosan in Europe will probably expand as one of the top users grows. Further, the German chitosan market held the largest market share, and the UK chitosan market was the fastest-growing market in the European region.


Chitosan Competitive Insights & Key Market Players


Major market players are investing huge amounts of money in R&D to expand their product portfolios, which will spur further growth in the chitosan market. With significant market developments like introducing new products, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, increased investments, and collaboration with other organizations, market participants are also undertaking various strategic initiatives to expand their footprint. Chitosan industry competitors must provide affordable products to grow and compete in a market that is becoming increasingly competitive.


Manufacturing locally to cut operational costs is one of the main business methods manufacturers use in the chitosan industry to benefit customers and increase the market sector. The chitosan industry has recently given medicine some of the most important advantages. The chitosan market major player, including Dupont Corporation (US), Advanced Biopolymers AS (Norway), Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH (Germany), G.T.C. Bio Corporation (China), and others, are attempting to increase market demand by funding R&D initiatives.


Axio is a medical technology firm specializing in biomaterials-based medical devices for pre-hospital, intra-operative, and post-operative clinical needs. Their primary focus is trauma, surgical, and chronic wound treatment devices. The company creates, develops, and sells innovative biopolymer platform-based wound care products. In April 2020, Axio Biosolutions Private Limited introduced MaxioCel, a next-generation chitosan-based wound dressing. Maxiocel Wound Gel is a hydrogel based on protonated chitosan that gently rehydrates necrotic wound tissue, allowing for autolytic debridement.


Also, Tidal Vision is a maker of a bio-degradable industrial biopolymer designed to suit industry requirements sustainably and cost-effectively. The company is the world's only vertically integrated chitosan producer, with proprietary technologies for extracting and processing chitosan into drop-in solutions for the water treatment, textile, and agriculture industries, allowing clients in the textile and related industries to introduce a cost-effective and environmentally friendly product. In April 2022, Tidal Vision Products, Inc. announced the acquisition of ViaeX Technologies Inc. This Bay Area start-up developed many novel chitosan-based technologies for replacing non-biodegradable and toxic materials with biomolecular solutions in various significant industrial applications.


Key Companies in the chitosan market include



  • Primex ehf (Iceland)

  • Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH (Germany)

  • KitoZyme S.A. (Belgium)

  • Advanced Biopolymers AS (Norway)

  • BIO21 Co. Ltd. (Thailand)

  • G.T.C. Bio Corporation (China)

  • Taizhou City Fengrun Biochemical Co. Ltd. (China)

  • Zhejiang Golden-Shell Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (China)

  • Panvo Organics Pvt. Ltd. (India)

  • Xianju Tengwang Chitosan Factory (China)

  • Dupont Corporation (US)

  • Golden-Shell Pharmaceutical Co. (China)

  • PT Biotech Surindo. (Indonesia)

  • Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals (Japan)

  • Jinan Haidebei Marine Bioengineering Co. Ltd. (China)


Chitosan Industry Developments


September 2021: KitoZyme will showcase new vegan chitosan variations. KitoZyme has discovered a method for producing chitin and chitosan from fungus on an industrial scale. This groundbreaking discovery changed how people thought about and used this class of biopolymers.


March 2021: The VESTA clinical experiment was carried out in partnership with the Universities of Brasilia and Campinas, as well as the Hospital da Regio Leste (HRL), the Hospital Universitário de Brasil (HUB/UnB), the Hospital Regional da Asa Norte (HRAN), and the Centro de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia Ltda. The clinical trials were conducted to assess the efficacy of a novel respirator fitted with chitosan nanoparticles in reducing Covid-19 infection in healthcare practitioners.


Chitosan Market Segmentation


Chitosan Source Outlook



  • Shrimps

  • Prawns

  • Crabs

  • Lobsters

  • Fungi

  • Others


Chitosan Application Outlook



  • Food & Beverages

  • Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals

  • Cosmetics & Personal care

  • Agriculture

  • Others


Chitosan Regional Outlook




  • North America

    • US

    • Canada




  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • UK

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Rest of Europe




  • Asia-Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Rest of Asia-Pacific




  • Rest of the World

    • Middle East

    • Africa

    • Latin America



Report Attribute/Metric Details
Market Size 2022 USD 1.7 billion
Market Size 2023 USD 2.14 billion
Market Size 2030 USD 8.52 billion
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) 25.90% (2023-2030)
Base Year 2022
Market Forecast Period 2023-2030
Historical Data 2019 - 2021
Market Forecast Units Value (USD Billion)
Report Coverage Market Competitive Landscape, Revenue Forecast, Growth Factors, and Trends
Segments Covered Source and Application
Geographies Covered Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World
Countries Covered Canada, U.S, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil
Key Companies Profiled Dupont Corporation (US), Advanced Biopolymers AS (Norway), Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH (Germany), and G.T.C. Bio Corporation (China).
Key Market Opportunities Production of chitosan from non-aquatic sources
Key Market Dynamics Unique properties of chitosan Availability of abundant raw material


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :

The chitosan market size was prized at USD 1.7 Billion in 2022.

The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25.90% during the forecast period 2022-2030.

North America had the major share of the market.

The key players in the market are Dupont Corporation (US), Advanced Biopolymers AS (Norway), Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH (Germany), and G.T.C. Bio Corporation (China).

The shrimp category dominated the market in 2022.

The food and beverage sector had the largest share of the market.

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