Home Food & Beverages Food Preservatives Market Size is Expected to collect $3.91 billion by 2031

Food Preservatives Market

Food Preservatives Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Label (Clean Label, Conventional), By Type (Natural, Synthetic), By Function (Anti-microbial, Antioxidant, Others), By Application (Meat and Poultry Products, Bakery Products, Dairy Products, Beverages, Snacks, Others) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2023-2031

Report Code: SRFB267DR
Study Period 2019-2031 CAGR 3.8%
Historical Period 2019-2021 Forecast Period 2023-2031
Base Year 2022 Base Year Market Size USD 2.8 Billion
Forecast Year 2031 Forecast Year Market Size USD 3.91 Billion
Largest Market North America Fastest Growing Market Europe
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Market Overview

The global food preservatives market size was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 3.91 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Synthetic food preservatives like propionates, sorbates, and benzoates dominate the North American industry. The need for longer-lasting food products and the rapidly expanding food processing sector in Asia-Pacific

Food preservatives are substances or additives used to prevent or inhibit the growth of microorganisms in food, such as bacteria, fungi, and yeast. They help extend the shelf life of food products by maintaining their freshness, quality, and safety for longer. Food preservation is essential to prevent spoilage, maintain flavor, texture, and appearance, and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. There are various types of food preservatives, including natural and synthetic preservatives. Natural preservatives are derived from natural sources, including salt, sugar, vinegar, spices, and plant extracts. These ingredients have been used for centuries to preserve food and inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

On the other hand, synthetic preservatives are chemical compounds artificially produced and added to food products. Common synthetic preservatives include sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, nitrite, and propionic acid. These preservatives have specific antimicrobial properties and are effective at inhibiting the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds. Food preservatives work through different mechanisms to prevent spoilage. They may inhibit the growth and activity of microorganisms, disrupt their cellular functions, or create unfavorable conditions for survival. Some preservatives act as antimicrobial agents, while others function as antioxidants, preventing the oxidation of fats and oils, which can lead to rancidity.

Market Dynamics

Global Food Preservatives Market Drivers

Need for Higher Shelf-Life Food Products

The number of people living in urban areas across the globe is increasing, and the majority of residents in urban areas comprise the working population. As per United Nations statistics, the global population is forecasted to increase from 7.7 billion in 2019 to 9.7 billion in 2050, which is likely to boost the demand for food. By 2050, the number of people living in urban areas will reach 70%. Rapid urbanization and an increased number of working women will likely drive the demand for convenience foods.

The majority of busy, on-the-go consumers prefer consuming portable and fresh foods. This factor is triggering food processing companies to add food preservatives to products to extend their shelf life without compromising quality. Artificial preservatives such as benzoic acid, nitrates, and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) were widely used in food preservation as they slow down maturation or spoilage. However, BHA and benzoic acid use has been regulated in many countries due to their toxic contents.

Rapidly Growing Food Processing Industry in Asia-Pacific

Food is one of the fastest-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific, majorly driven by the increasing population and consumption trends. India and China are the primary markets in the region. Governmental support, such as approving industrial licenses, foreign collaborations, export units, and joint ventures in the countries, has played an instrumental role in triggering the food market's growth. The food processing industry in India is poised to witness huge growth. It emerged as one of the highest-growing and high-profit sectors in the last decade. The food processing industry accounts for a significant share of the total food market in India. Indian food processing sector not only caters to the domestic demand and exports to other countries. It is well connected with Europe, the Middle East, and other Asian countries such as Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Thailand.

Global Food Preservatives Market Restraints

Increasing Demand for Preservative-Free Food Products

The demand for preservative-free food is increasing as several consumers become health conscious. Most U.S., Chinese, and European consumers are accustomed to reading the ingredients listed on the product label before purchasing. This factor is expected to restrain the market's growth to some extent. However, with the increasing demand for fast food and consumer preference for restaurant food, the market requires radical changes to avoid the usage of preservatives in the food.

The clean-labeled food trend has grown significantly since 2013, and many manufacturers now use natural claims on their products. Nongenetically modified organisms are popular among poultry, meat, and seafood products, whereas gluten-free is popular across bakery, snacks, and dairy categories. However, manufacturers meet these challenges by introducing a line of clean labeled preservatives, such as replacing malic acid with citric acid.

Global Food Preservatives Market Opportunities

Increasing Demand for Natural Food Preservatives

The growing consumer preference for clean-label products drives the increasing demand for natural food preservatives. Consumers are paying closer attention to ingredients in their food and seeking products free from artificial additives and preservatives. They are looking for natural alternatives perceived as healthier and safer for consumption. This shift in consumer preferences has created significant opportunities for manufacturers in the food preservatives market.

Natural food preservatives are derived from various sources, including plant extracts, herbs, and spices. These natural ingredients have inherent antimicrobial properties that can help inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds in food products. For example, natural preservatives such as rosemary extract, citric acid, and vinegar have been used for centuries to preserve food.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global food preservatives market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global food preservatives market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% over the forecast period. The North American market is largely dominated by synthetic food preservative types such as benzoates, sorbates, and propionates. However, consumers demanding clean-labeled products have considerably increased in the past decade. As a result, many food preservative manufacturers are investing in R&D to formulate natural preservatives that meet the performance of synthetic preservatives in extending the shelf life of food products. The demand for natural preservatives is higher than the supply, and it is expected to gain a large market share throughout the predicted time. Food preservatives with antimicrobial function were estimated to dominate the market in 2018 due to their demand for meat, snacks, and bakery products. Preservatives with antimicrobial properties are expected to continue to witness high demand because of the rise in food wastage due to food contamination caused by microbes in North America.

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 2.8% over the forecast period. The food and beverage industry is the largest contributor to the food preservatives market in Europe. Germany, France, and the UK are the top three countries dominating the European food and beverage industry. Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland also contribute significantly to turnover. The top trends driving the food and beverage industry are flavor varieties, ease of handling, and natural products. Europe's food and beverage industry is driven by innovation in dairy products, biscuits, soft drinks, ready-made meals, chocolate products, cheese, frozen foods, and condiments. Lithuania, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Hungary are among the countries that have higher consumer expenditure on food.

The Asia-Pacific food preservatives market is expanding rapidly, and the industry that is driving this expansion is the food and beverage sector, particularly in China and India. Increasing food consumption and the demand for ready-to-eat food by the working population drive the market. The countries in Southeast Asia are growing at a faster GDP compared with those other developed economies of the globe. Rapid urbanization and increasing purchasing power parity of the middle-class population for premium-priced foods are also augmenting the growth of the market in the Asia-Pacific.

South American countries are among the highest meat-consuming countries in the world. Meat consumption in Brazil and Argentina is higher than the global average consumption. Fish is largely consumed in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The growing food preservatives market opportunities in South and Central American countries are observed in dairy products, soft drinks, ready-to-eat meals, and bakery products.

The Middle East and Africa's expanding need for food preservatives is driven by the growth of the food and beverage industry in South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Innovations in technology for the food and beverage sector and increasing consumer expenditure in the country are expected to drive the food preservatives market in the Middle East and Africa.

Report Scope

Report Metric Details
Segmentations
By Label
  1. Clean Label
  2. Conventional
By Type
  1. Natural
  2. Synthetic
By Function
  1. Anti-microbial
  2. Antioxidant
  3. Others
By Application
  1. Meat and Poultry Products
  2. Bakery Products
  3. Dairy Products
  4. Beverages
  5. Snacks
  6. Others
Company Profiles Cargill Inc. Kemin Industries Inc. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) Tate and Lyle plc Koninklijke DSM N.V. BASF SE Celanese Corporation Corbion N.V. Galactic S.A.
Geographies Covered
North America U.S. Canada
Europe U.K. Germany France Spain Italy Russia Nordic Benelux Rest of Europe
APAC China Korea Japan India Australia Singapore Taiwan South East Asia Rest of Asia-Pacific
Middle East and Africa UAE Turkey Saudi Arabia South Africa Egypt Nigeria Rest of MEA
LATAM Brazil Mexico Argentina Chile Colombia Rest of LATAM
Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Environment & Regulatory Landscape and Trends
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Segmental Analysis

The global food preservatives market is bifurcated into labels, types, functions, and applications.

Based on the label, the global market is bifurcated into clean labels and conventional.

The clean labels segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period. Clean labels are increasingly becoming popular with increasing consumer knowledge of the negative implications of conventional food preservatives on the health of humans and animals. Therefore, manufacturers are shifting toward trusted and better-understood ingredients by consumers without any impact on flavor or taste. From the manufacturing point of view, the preservatives need to be cost-effective with low complexity, extend the product shelf life, and protect from spoilage. The ultimate value of food preservatives is to increase revenue by lowering loss through product recalls, attaining longer shelf life, and maintaining corporate and brand reputation.

The global market is bifurcated into natural and synthetic based on the types.

 The natural segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecast period. Natural food preservatives include salt, sugar, vinegar, edible oil, rosemary extracts, natamycin, and nisin. Natural preservatives such as salt, sugar, honey, and vinegar were traditionally used in Southeast Asian countries. The demand for traditional natural food preservatives is increasing globally due to the growing demand for natural products. Asia-Pacific countries are the major hubs for producing spices, honey, vinegar, and other natural products. As a result, numerous companies are expanding and commissioning their production facilities in the region.

Based on the function, the global market is bifurcated into anti-microbial, antioxidant, and others.

 The anti-microbial segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.1% over the forecast period. Lactic acid, mold, acetic acid, and yeast are associated with alcoholic fermentation, spoilage, malolactic fermentation, and deacidification of alcoholic beverages. Sorbates, benzoates, and propionates have antimicrobial properties that help inhibit the growth of microorganism species such as Torulaspora, Candida, Brettanomyces, and Saccharomyces, among others. Natural antimicrobial agents are becoming increasingly popular globally due to consumers' rising concerns regarding chemical preservatives.

Antimicrobial properties against pathogens and microbes can be found in herbal plants, medicinal plants, and edible oils. These natural sources of antimicrobial properties are expected to increase the shelf life of packaged food. Lipids, chitosan, niacin, defensin, and lactoferrin also exhibit antimicrobial activity against many bacteria species, parasites, and fungi. Rapidly ascending consumption of packaged food worldwide is projected to propel the demand for natural preservatives with antimicrobial properties over the forecast period.

Based on the application, the global market is bifurcated into meat and poultry products, bakery products, dairy products, beverages, snacks, etc.

 The meat and poultry products segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.2% over the forecast period. The phenomenal growth of processed meat industries in Asia and North America largely drives the demand for food preservatives. Factors such as increasing demand for processed food and availability of technology that can extend the shelf life of processed meat are attributing to the expansion of the food processing industry, thereby driving the demand for food preservatives.

Moreover, using food preservatives that can retain the natural flavor and aroma of the meat is the current trend in the meat and poultry industry. Consumers in North American and European developed countries, such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, and France, consume meat daily as a significant portion of their diet. Companies, including Galactic S.A. and Corbion N.V., have developed products containing low sodium and nitrite levels in the preservative formulations owing to the increasing demand for low-sodium food products.

Market Size By Label

Recent Developments

  • March 2023-DuPont announced the launch of its new line of natural food preservatives. The new preservatives are made from plant-based ingredients and are designed to be more effective and safer than traditional ones.
  • February 2023-Brenntag announced the acquisition of Kemin's food preservation business. The acquisition will give Brenntag a broader portfolio of food preservatives and a stronger position in the global market.

Top Key Players

Cargill Inc. Kemin Industries Inc. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) Tate and Lyle plc Koninklijke DSM N.V. BASF SE Celanese Corporation Corbion N.V. Galactic S.A. Others

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the growth rate for the Food Preservatives Market?
Food Preservatives Market size will grow at approx. CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period.
Some of the top industry players in global market are, Cargill Incorporated (U.S.), Danisco A/S (Denmark), Akzo Nobel N.V. (Netherlands), Hawkins Watts Limited (New Zealand), Kemin Industries Inc. (U.S.), Tate & Lyle (U.K.), Univar Inc. (U.S.), Galactic (Belgium), Celanese Corporation (U.S.), etc.
North America has been dominating the Food Preservatives Market, accounting for the largest share of the market.
The Asia Pacific region has experienced the highest growth rate in the Food Preservatives Market.
The global Food Preservatives Market report is segmented as follows: By Type, Function, Application


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