L-Carnitine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Process (Chemical Synthesis, Bioprocess), By Products (Food and Pharma Grade, Feed Grade), By Applications (Animal Feed, Healthcare Products, Functional Food and Beverages, Medicines) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2023-2030

Market Overview

The global L-carnitine market was valued at USD 177 million in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 267.60 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period (2022–2030). Factors such as growing product penetration among consumers and improved animal food use of the product, significantly drives the L-carnitine market demand by 2030.

An amino acid that helps with fat metabolism is called L-carnitine. In patients with low energy levels, it is used as a supplement. Dairy products, peanut butter, salmon, and red meat naturally contain L-carnitine. L-carnitine is a dietary supplement for dieters, vegans, and premature babies. Additionally, L-carnitine may improve cardiovascular health, sports nutrition, weight management, and energy levels during pregnancy. L-carnitine is also a white, crystalline powder that can hold moisture due to its hygroscopic nature. L-carnitine has been demonstrated to aid older people in recovering from exercise more quickly. It also helps to improve mental performance and to lessen fatigue. The supplement helps to maintain lean muscle mass, slow down muscle deterioration, and encourage healthy aging.

Market Dynamics

Global l-carnitine market drivers

Growing Product Penetration among Consumers

People with low levels of L-carnitine production in their bodies take L-carnitine as a supplement. Some people have low levels of L-carnitine for various reasons, including medical conditions like skeletal myopathies, drug use, and genetic disorders. The L-carnitine market is anticipated to benefit from rising public awareness about the importance of regular checkups, growing public concern about health issues, and increasing the availability of treatments for various diseases and disorders.

Additionally, athletes take dietary supplements and energy drinks to maintain their energy levels and build muscle. L-carnitine is added to nutritional supplements and health drinks to help athletes perform better and increase their endurance. L-carnitine is a highly favored supplement among athletes due to its advantages, which include improved muscle repair, decreased muscle soreness, and muscle gain. The product also aids in minimizing muscle damage brought on by and following strenuous exercise. The market growth is anticipated to be aided by the increasing use of L-carnitine in functional foods, beverages, and supplements.

Improved Animal Food Use of the Product

The use of nutritional supplements in animal feed has increased due to growing worries about the safety and quality of meat. Adding L-carnitine as a supplement to animal feed has the potential to improve growth, performance, and the process of reproduction. L-carnitine is used by poultry, one of the fastest-growing segments of the agricultural industry, to increase chicken meat production. L-carnitine is also known to have improved ergogenic properties, which can lead to improved physical performance.

Due to the rise in chicken consumption, particularly among fitness enthusiasts, the demand for L-carnitine is anticipated to increase. Utilizing the product has improved the average daily gain in birds and decreased the amount of abdominal fat in broiler chicken. L-carnitine in feed helps racing pigeons perform better physically and reproductively. The use of feed is likely to be encouraged by the rise in pigeon-related sporting events, which is further anticipated to fuel market expansion.

Global l-carnitine market restraints

Rising Awareness of the Product's Side Effects and Misleading Advertisements

According to information released by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, adults who eat mixed diets get 60–180 milligrams of carnitine daily. Since red meat is a primary natural source of carnitine, vegans get much less of it. The value of carnitine in treating carnitine deficiencies has been recognized by the scientific community, underscoring the significance of the supplement. However, several controversies surrounding the product have raised people's awareness of its consumption. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a substance produced by gut bacteria, is linked to high cholesterol levels and high doses of carnitine. A high cholesterol level increases the risk of heart disease by oversaturating the artery walls. Therefore, it is likely that the threat of potential heart disorders such as coronary artery diseases, heart rhythm issues, and heart attacks will constrain the growth of the L-carnitine market.

Global l-carnitine market opportunities

Rising Investments in Research and Development

The market's presence of manufacturing behemoths who invest significantly in R&D to improve their products has led to intense competition in the sector. L-carnitine is a product of interest to many businesses, increasing competition. It is used in high-end applications, such as athletics, and has lucrative growth opportunities in the healthcare industry. For a larger customer base and a stronger global presence, the market players emphasize the distinction between nutritional statements and product ingredients in accordance with regulations and consumer expectations. It has helped to emphasize the importance of introducing new product lines and preserving a steady, high-quality raw material supply through mergers and acquisitions. In an effort to appeal to the growing vegan market, manufacturers are incorporating a line of vegan L-carnitine supplements into their product lineup. For instance, Lonza announced the release of a vegan ingredient formulation called MuscleGuard in October 2019. It contains a patented combination of four nutrients: L-carnitine, Leucine, Creatine, and vitamin D.

Regional Analysis

By region, the global L-carnitine market share is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North america dominates the global market

North America is the most significant shareholder in the global L-carnitine market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. The largest pharmaceutical market in the world is in North America, which has a strong market due to its high regional GDP, high per capita income, and increased healthcare awareness due to easy access to expensive medications. Due to numerous significant market players, including AbbVie Inc., the U.S. has the largest revenue share in the pharmaceutical industry. In recent years, the pharmaceutical and functional food and beverage industries have changed their research and economic activities, leading to higher adoption of new ingredients like L-carnitine in goods like power drinks. Additionally, consumer product awareness has fueled its use in various application fields. Despite the lack of evidence proving the product has anti-aging properties, it is frequently mentioned as an anti-aging ingredient in popular media. The trend is anticipated to grow in the global market over the forecast period.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9%, generating USD 84.40 million during the forecast period. Due to an increase in the purchase of supplements as a preventative measure for health issues, the nutraceutical industry in Europe is predicted to grow. Due to the side effects of pharmaceuticals, consumers also favor herbal remedies over them. The market for L-carnitine is anticipated to grow over the forecast period due to the increasing acceptance of nutraceuticals to enhance health without running the risk of severe health problems. The increased meat consumption in European nations like Germany and the U.K. is anticipated to encourage feed use to improve the growth and health of the animals. L-carnitine demand is anticipated to increase along with swine feed demand. L-carnitine aids in promoting pig growth and improves the process of conception. Increased swine feed demand in Germany is also anticipated to fuel the market's expansion for L-carnitine.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period. In the past ten years, consumption of functional food ingredients and dietary supplements has increased dramatically in developing nations like China and India. The nutraceuticals market has recently displayed an upward growth trajectory in developed nations like South Korea, Australia, and Japan. As a result of widespread health and wellness trends, Asia-Pacific has become a developing market for L-carnitine. The L-carnitine market in China is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by several factors, including the country's growing urban population, which has recently sparked interest in self-health using dietary supplements and preventive medicine. Additionally, the consumption of modern healthcare products is shifting away from traditional ones due to the growing number of middle-class households and rising consumer discretionary income. The trends are anticipated to stimulate the L-carnitine market's growth over the forecast period due to the product's advantages in weight management and heart health maintenance.

The industry for animal feed in Central and South America is predicted to grow due to rising demand for meat and meat products in nations like Brazil and Argentina. It is anticipated that factors like rising export opportunities, rising disposable income, and rising meat consumption will further accelerate the expansion of the animal feed industry in the region. L-carnitine demand in Central and South America is anticipated to increase due to the expanding animal feed industry. Brazil produces many nutraceuticals due to several factors, including rising disposable income and increased health consciousness. Additionally, it is anticipated that government initiatives promoting the use of nutraceuticals for a healthy lifestyle will accelerate market expansion.

The Middle East and Africa's pharmaceutical industry is anticipated to expand due to the rising incidence of sedentary-related diseases like obesity, diabetes, thyroid, and heart disorders. Additionally, the Middle East and Africa's L-carnitine market is expected to grow due to South Africa's new supervising authority for the country's drug and medicine market, which is anticipated to increase the country's pharmaceutical production and sales. The animal feed industry in South Africa is anticipated to grow due to factors like low raw material costs and efficient production methods. It is anticipated that a rise in the number of Muslims traveling to Saudi Arabia to visit their sacred sites will increase the nation's meat consumption. Due to the above factors, the region's animal feed industry is expected to grow, supporting market expansion.

Segmental Analysis

The global L-carnitine market is segmented by process, product, and application.

Based on process, the global market is bifurcated into chemical synthesis and bioprocess.

The bioprocess segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. Manufacturers of L-carnitine have been forced to enhance their procedures to increase production yield due to growing commercial demand. Most biological processes that involve enzymes and microorganisms are asymmetric. Most often, achiral precursors like 3-dehydrocarnitine, crotonobetaine, butyrobetaine or racemic mixtures like D, L-carnitine, D, L-acyl carnitine, and D, L-carnitinamide are biotransformed to produce L-carnitine, which has the highest yield. Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Bacillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus are among the additional microorganisms.

L-carnitine can be produced through chemical synthesis on an industrial scale, so it is steadily gaining popularity. Asymmetric synthesis, chemical multistep racemization, enzymatic techniques, resolution through diastereomeric derivatives, and synthesis using chiral materials are some chemical processes that can be used to create L-carnitine. However, because they require numerous time-consuming steps, many of these processes are impractical for industrial-scale production. The most widely used chemical synthesis method for producing L-carnitine is called chemical multistep racemization, which yields a racemic mixture with D-carnitine as a byproduct. Typically, a racemic mixture is separated by fractioned crystallization after starting with raw materials like epichlorohydrin and trimethylamine.

Based on the product, the global market is bifurcated into food and pharma grade and feed grade.

The food and pharma grade segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. Humans primarily consume L-carnitine of the food and pharmaceutical grade for various uses, such as post-exercise recovery, weight control, infant nutrition, male fertility, and healthy aging. Although it is naturally present in some foods, such as meat, avocados, and beans, a specific amount of L-carnitine is required to keep the body's level at an adequate level, depending on factors like age, diet, and other factors. The product can be consumed orally, through dietary supplements, medications, functional foods and beverages, and injections, among other ways. It is crucial in facilitating the body's response to physical activity, which is recovery.

L-carnitine of the feed grade is frequently used as the main component in animal feed and pharmaceuticals. It is a crucial element of animal energy metabolism and provides a variety of advantages to different species, such as healthy weight management and heart and liver function. The livestock industry, pet food manufacturers, and makers of food for racing animals all make extensive use of feed-grade L-carnitine. The ingredient is frequently used in dog and cat treats and dry foods. For working dogs, it is also used as an antioxidant and for muscle recovery.

Based on application, the global market is bifurcated into animal feed, healthcare products, functional food and beverages, and medicines.

The healthcare products segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. Demand for L-carnitine is anticipated to increase over the forecast product due to its expanding use in various healthcare products, including supplements and nutraceutical products. L-carnitine is crucial for supporting the body's metabolic processes. The medication positively affects several illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension. Athletes use the product as part of their post-workout recovery to speed up recovery time, improve blood flow, and lessen metabolic stress and muscle soreness.

Globally, there is a rising demand for wholesome foods and beverages. L-carnitine is primarily consumed by energy drinks, which are marketed to college students, athletes, and people between the ages of 21 and 35. These beverages are classified as functional because they contain L-carnitine, caffeine, glucose, and ginseng, all of which work together to improve endurance, focus, and performance. The product is also used in sports drinks, including L-CARNITINE DRINK by Biotech USA, Muscle Blaze Liquid L-Carnitine, and GAT Sport by GAT. The primary purposes of these beverages are to replenish electrolytes and prevent dehydration.

Recent Developments

• July 2022- The pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nutrition industries' global development and production partner Lonza announced plans to erect a sizable commercial medicinal product fill and finish facility in Stein (CH). With the investment, the business will be able to provide customers with a thorough and integrated end-to-end solution, including the production of commercial pharmaceutical products for a sizable market supply.
• October 2022- At its location in Martillac, France, Merck, a well-known science and technology company, inaugurated a commercial facility for its new Millipore CTDMO Services offering. In a fully integrated facility with cutting-edge single-use equipment and on-site regulatory, quality, and technical experts, the 2,700-square-meter facility will supply commercial drug substances, including mAbs and other recombinant proteins, to markets worldwide.