The global salicylic acid market size was valued at USD 418.49 million in 2024 and is projected to reach from USD 451.13 million in 2025 to USD 822.72 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.80% during the forecast period (2025-2033).
Salicylic acid is a naturally arising beta hydroxy acid found in plants. Salicylic acid, often known as orthohydroxybenzoic acid in the chemical community, is a phenolic acid having the formula C7H6O3. It can be extracted naturally from salix and willow trees or synthetically using sodium phenolate and carbon dioxide. It is an entirely white, crystalline, odorless, and moderately water-soluble chemical. It has a direct anti-inflammatory impact and functions as a topical antibacterial agent since it can promote exfoliation. It has comedolytic, keratolytic, antimicrobial, and fungicidal characteristics. This is used in medicine, most notably in the form of salicylate, to treat rheumatic and gouty illnesses, in addition to being used to produce aspirin and as a food preservative. The pharmaceutical and personal care industries utilize salicylic acid as an intermediary.
The global rise in packaged food and beverage consumption drives this market. This is increasingly used in the food and beverage industries because it helps keep packaged foods from fermenting and going bad. It is a preservative to prolong the shelf-life of products such as beer, wine, and sauces. Increasing demand for packaged food products has led to growth in the demand for it. In addition, the growing acceptance of salicylic acid as a flavor and preservative is expected to boost the development of this market during the forecast period.
Additionally, consumers have become health conscious and are particular about the food they consume and the ingredients used in its processing. The usage of salicylic acid in functional food helps to prevent diabetes, treat dermatitis and warts, and improve the health of patients. The demand for functional foods is high, mainly in Asia-Pacific and North America, as healthy living is growing in these regions. Due to its antiseptic property, there is a high demand for salicylic acid in the food and beverage industry. All these factors are anticipated to drive this market during the forecast period.
The use of salicylic acid as an ingredient in haircare and skincare cosmetic products has increased due to growing consumer awareness regarding its benefits. Its permissible level in cosmetics such as shower gels, creams, conditioners, and shampoos is 0.5% to 2%. The demand for salicylic acid is increasing in the cosmetics industry, as the market has a high demand for facial creams and acne reduction solutions. Furthermore, salicylic acid penetrates oily skin and therefore is preferred as the best choice for oily skin and for treating skin problems such as breakouts, blackheads, whiteheads, and acne. It is used in the personal care and cosmetics sector due to its oxidation property. In addition, increasing cases of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, warts, and zits are expected to drive growth for salicylic acid-based cosmetics. These developments in personal care products are expected to augment the growth of the salicylic acid market during the forecast period.
Salicylic acid harms the skin as significant exposure causes severe dryness, blistering, and skin irritation. Growing awareness among consumers regarding its ill effects and rising concerns regarding the side effects of aspirin are expected to hamper the growth of the salicylic acid market. Consumers are shifting toward using naturally derived products such as grape juice, tea tree oil, thyme, and rosemary as an alternative to salicylic acid, which is impeding the growth of this market. Overexposure to salicylic acid may also lead to heavy breathing, digestive disorder, lethargy, nausea, hearing impairment, and dizziness to consumers. Therefore, side effects caused by over usage of salicylic acid, coupled with increased consumer awareness about its harmful effects of salicylic acid, are expected to hamper the market growth, especially in the personal care and cosmetics industry during the forecast period.
Salicylic acid is an essential compound in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries due to its widespread applications in treating hair fall, dandruff, acne, psoriasis, or blemishes. Salicylic acid-based medicated cosmetics are used for the treatment of various skin-related disorders. The adoption of medical cosmetics is increasing due to the rising harmful effects of cosmetics on the human body, which has raised the demand for medicated moisturizers, body lotions, sun and sunscreen creams, and other skincare products. This is driving the market of this during the forecast period.
Additionally, the market for salicylic acid is expected to grow owing to the expanding skincare and haircare industry supported by increasing awareness about health and hygiene among consumers. Market prospects for salicylic acid are predicted to increase significantly over the forecast period as consumers, especially in emerging nations, become more health-conscious and aware of the need to maintain healthy skin and hair.
| Study Period | 2021-2033 | CAGR | 7.80% |
| Historical Period | 2021-2023 | Forecast Period | 2025-2033 |
| Base Year | 2024 | Base Year Market Size | USD 418.49 Million |
| Forecast Year | 2033 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 822.72 Million |
| Largest Market | Europe | Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
Europe is the most significant global salicylic acid market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. Europe accounts for the highest share of the global salicylic acid market due to the predominance of pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This region's major salicylic acid manufacturers include Novacap, J.M Loveridge Ltd., and Alfa Aesar GmbH & Co KG. They offer a wide range of salicylic acid formulations for various industrial applications. Increasing use in skincare and healthcare products, changing lifestyles, and growing awareness among consumers regarding the benefits of salicylic acid are the key drivers of the market in this region.
Additionally, the rising use of aspirin, a salicylic acid derivative for treating strokes and dementia, is projected to fuel market growth in Europe. Stringent regulations on the use of salicylic acid by the European Commission are a significant restraint for European market players. The market is predicted to grow substantially due to increasing mergers, acquisitions, and product launches. For instance, in 2014, Novacap launched YOS®H homosalate, a derivative of salicylic acid with solvent-boosting and stabilizing properties due to the increasing demand for salicylic acid in skincare products.
North America is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.7% over the forecast period. North America is one of the world's leading markets of salicylic acid. The major manufacturers of salicylic acid and its derivatives are Simco QC, Salvona Technologies, Inc., and Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC. In addition, healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries in North America. Increasing applications of salicylic acid in the healthcare sector is the key driver of the salicylic acid market in this region. The prominent strategies market players adopt in this region are acquisition and product launch. Additionally, technological advancements have contributed to the market growth in this region. Introducing new products and efficient and effective technologies in the healthcare and skincare sectors drives market growth. For instance, in 2012, Salvona Technologies, Inc. introduced MultiSal, which decreases blemishes and enhances and revitalizes the skin. MultiSal™contains 30% salicylic acid, the highest of all available products, and is skin-friendly due to the use of the time-release technique. Increasing use of salicylic acid for manufacturing aspirin and other formulations also drives the market growth in this region.
Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing salicylic acid market in the world due to increasing demand in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries for shampoos, lotions, creams, moisturizers, and oral care lotions. China, Japan, and India are significant contributors to the growth of this region. Zhenjiang Gaopeng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hebei Jingye Group, Shandong Xinhua Longxin Chemical Co. Ltd., SiddharthCarbochem Products Ltd., and Alta Laboratories Ltd. are some of the prominent salicylic acid manufacturers in this region. In addition, the large-scale use of salicylic acid for different dermatological conditions and an increase in the production of salicylic acid derivatives such as aspirin, sodium salicylate, and salicylic acid amine for use in the pharmaceutical sector are the primary drivers of the market in this region. The rapid development of novel technologies has increased the number of patents registered for salicylic acid in this region. Product launch and expansion are the key strategies companies use in this region.
The demand for salicylic acid has increased in the LAMEA region due to rising awareness of salicylic acid's health, skin, and hair benefits among consumers. The key strategies companies in this region are R&D investment and collaboration. The growing demand for salicylic acid in the food and beverages industry drives the market in this region. In addition, increased demand for packaged or frozen foods has fueled the growth of food preservatives in LAMEA. It is an active ingredient in food preservatives due to its antimicrobial and fungicidal properties in this region. Further, an increase in the use of it and its derivatives to treat ailments such as Hughes syndrome and dementia in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products is expected to drive the salicylic market in this region.
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The global salicylic acid market is segmented into pharmaceuticals, hair care, skin care, food preservatives, and others. The pharmaceutical segment owns the highest market share and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period. This is used in the pharmaceutical sector for manufacturing drugs for cardiovascular diseases, skin disorders, and Hughes syndrome. It is used as a conjugation with other ingredients such as benzoic acid, resorcinol, coal tar, and sulfur to treat seborrheic dermatitis, calluses, corns, ichthyosis, and warts. These include aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), sodium salicylate, salicylic acid amine, wintergreen oil (methyl salicylate), and phenyl salicylate, the significant drugs produced using salicylic acid in the pharmaceutical sector.
Additionally, increasing salicylic acid use for manufacturing aspirin drives the market's growth. Salicylic is used in pharmaceutical formulations due to its therapeutic, keratolytic, fungicidal, anti-inflammatory, and comedolytic properties. Aspirin, a derivative of salicylic acid, is being considered for utilization in treating cardiovascular diseases. The leading players in the market are investing in R&D activities to expand the use of existing products and launch better products. The demand for it has increased due to its rise in usage in the treatment of skin disorders. It is one of the two active ingredients approved by the FDA for treating psoriasis. The pharmaceutical segment is further sub-segmented into prescription drugs (PC) and Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs.
The skin care segment has witnessed exponential growth during the past few years. Skin care products include moisturizers, cleansers, facial care products, anti-UV products, skin whitening products, anti-aging hand and body lotions, sun care bar soaps, liquid soaps, and personal wash products are in high demand in the market. Skincare products maintain skin integrity by providing nutrition to the skin. Salicylic acid is commonly used in skin care products for treating acne and oily skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It is a remarkably effective exfoliating agent and is also used in anti-aging treatment to improve skin appearance.e
Haircare is a term for defining hygiene and cosmetology involved in caring for hair and scalp. Haircare products help in controlling the properties and behavior of hair. Hair conditioners, hair sprays, hair straighteners and relaxers, permanent waves, shampoos, rinses, tonics, and dressings are some of the popular products in the market. Salicylic acid is used in hair care products, mainly shampoo and conditioners, as it exhibits keratinolytic properties. It is applied topically to treat hyperkeratotic and scaling conditions such as dandruff, ichthyosis, and psoriasis. The concentration of salicylic acid used in such products ranges from 2% to 6%. In addition, haircare products have gained widespread acceptance in the market due to changing weather conditions, increasing pollution, eating and drinking habits, and lifestyle. Salicylic acid is used in shampoos and conditioners for treating dandruff as an exfoliating agent due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Food preservatives are chemicals added to food to prevent decomposition due to microbial growth. They keep food fresh and prolong the net shelf life of food products. Salicylic acid is extensively used as a preservative in food, cider, beer, wine, and other products, owing to its antimicrobial and fungicidal properties. It exhibits bacteriostatic, fungicidal, and karyolitic actions. It provides Vitamin S to the human body. Salicylic acid in food products helps in blood thinning, pain reduction, and acne benefits. In addition, the food and preservatives industry is the second largest consumer of salicylic acid. Lifestyle changes increased consumer dependence on packaged food, increasing the demand for salicylic acid as a food preservative. It prevents the fermentation of food. Growing acceptance of salicylic acid as a flavoring agent and preservative in this industry is expected to drive this market. Salicylic acid is an ingredient in food preservatives due to its antiseptic property. It is used in the salicylate form of soda to treat rheumatism. The growing demand for frozen and packaged foods is expected to drive the market.
