Sodium Bicarbonate Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026

The sodium bicarbonate market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.95% to reach US$2.053 billion in 2026 from US$1.464 billion in 2019. Sodium bicarbonate is widely known as baking soda or sodium hydrogen carbonate. It is available in white crystalline powder or granules and is odorless and has a cooling and slightly salty taste. It is moderately soluble in the water. It is one of the key ingredients in bakery products and is widely used in many detergents and cleaning products. The growing bakery and rise in the consumption of detergent are expected to augment the market during the forecasted period. A rapid increase in the demand for OTC drugs is also expected to boost the sodium bicarbonate market growth.

Further use of sodium bicarbonate includes in the animal feed industry as an acidity regulator. It is used in the supplementation of feeds for dairy cows, pigs, broilers, and laying hen as it helps in improving digestion, make the eggshells stronger, enhance the milk fat percentage and increase the yield of the milk. The rise in the demand for animal feed for farm animals and other livestock and the rise in the demand for meat is expected to drive the market growth of sodium bicarbonate during the forecasted period. Other applications of sodium bicarbonate include in the treatment of flue gas, in pharmaceuticals, personal care, cosmetics among others.

Government policies and regulations regarding the sodium bicarbonate market are augmenting its demand and are providing opportunities to the market players to expand their market share. The European Union has devised E500(ii) and registered sodium bicarbonate as a food ingredient, which is used as the raising agent. E numbers are the codes for the substance that are permitted to be used as a food additive, for use in the European Union or European Free Trade Association. Also, the government has demonstrated its characteristics and functions for the proper utilization of the product.

However, the sodium carbonate market is facing environmental impact and health hazard challenges and the emergence of substitutes which are restraining the market growth. Companies are focusing on addressing these challenges to boost their market presence. Tata Chemicals Europe, in 2019, announced that it will be manufacturing sodium bicarbonate through its carbon capture & utilization (CCU) project. The project further aims for reducing the company’s carbon emissions. The United Kingdom’s first large-scale project represents the world’s first, in capturing and purification of carbon dioxide from the plant emissions for utilization as an important raw material for the manufacturing of high purity sodium bicarbonate. The project thus paves a path for decarbonizing industrial activity. This will further contribute to playing a major role in encouraging the Government’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by the end of 2050.

Market Drivers

Key factors driving the sodium bicarbonate market include its increasing use in animal nutrition, a surge in the demand in the food industry. Sodium bicarbonate is used in the animal feed industry as an acidity regulator. As per the USDA 2020 report for Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade, the global production of chicken remains higher in 2020. It has been noticed that the traditional pioneer suppliers, Brazil and the USA are predicted to withstand the trade disruptions due to the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis in comparison to the emerging exporters. The total chicken meat production grew from 91,148 (in 1,000 Metric Tons) in 2016 to 100,026 (in 1,000 Metric Tons) in July, 2020. On the other hand, the total domestic chicken meat consumption accounted for 89,614 thousand Metric Tons in 2016 and increased to 97,908 thousand Metric Tons in July 2020.

Growing population, improvement in the standards of living, and increasing awareness regarding health and hygiene are driving the market demand, especially in the Asia Pacific region. Furthermore, the expansion of the retail channels both online and offline are boosting the sodium bicarbonate market growth during the forecasted period. The growth of the e-commerce industry is further contributing to the increase in the market demand for sodium carbonate globally. The high demand for sodium bicarbonate is providing an opportunity for the growing use of baking soda as a deodorizing agent in personal care products.

Sodium bicarbonate is one of the main multipurpose ingredients in the food and beverage industry. It is utilized as the leavening agent and provides volume to the bakery formulations such as wafers, crackers, and cakes. The change in the consumer standard of living is shifting the consumer taste which is pressurizing the food industry to focus and provide innovative bakery products. Thus, the growth in the food and beverage industry is supporting the market growth of sodium bicarbonate during the forecasted period. Further, the growing adoption of ready-to-eat food is boosting the demand for sodium bicarbonate as it is used for the regulation and maintenance of the pH of the solution.

Segment Analysis.

The sodium bicarbonate market is segmented by grade as food grade, pharma grade, feed grade, and technical grade. Feed grade is leading the global sodium bicarbonate market and is expected to grow during the forecasted period due to a rise in animal feed production with a high requirement of sodium bicarbonate. While Food grade segment is expected to grow at high CAGR during the forecasted period due to a surge in the usage of baking soda in the bakery and confectionary items.

The sodium bicarbonate market is segmented by form as slurry, crystal/powdered crystal, and liquid. Crystal/powdered crystal is holding a larger market share.

The sodium bicarbonate market is segmented by application as food, personal care/cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flue gas treatment, animal feed, cleaning agent/detergent, chemical, and others. One of the key uses of sodium bicarbonate is in the food segment as a chemical leaving agent, odor absorbent, and cleaning agent. The rise in the application and demand of the packaged food products is triggering the market growth for sodium bicarbonate. In the U.S., the Federal regulatory authorities have declared sodium bicarbonate as an ingredient through section 184.1736, permitting the use of sodium bicarbonate in flood flavorings, food enzymes, and additives. Therefore, the sodium bicarbonate market will accelerate in the coming years due to government support and increasing applications in the food industry.

The sodium bicarbonate market is segmented by type as sodium carbonate method type, sodium hydroxide method type, and nahcolite extraction type.

Regional Analysis

Sodium Bicarbonate based on region is segmented as North America, South America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia. The Asia Pacific holds the largest market share in 2019 and is expected to offer several growth opportunities during the forecasted period. Positive demand is majorly demanded from China and India on account of a growing population that utilizes the sodium bicarbonate product on the large scale.

Furthermore, the surging demand for the new pharma products, detergents & soaps, cosmetics & personal care products, and the chemical raw material is driving the market growth of the sodium bicarbonate in this region during the forecasted period. Meanwhile, in Europe, countries such as Russia, Germany, and the UK are exhibiting strong demand for liquid detergents. Demand for detergents and cleaning agents is also increasing in other countries such as Brazil, Canada, the US, and Mexico. Solvay announced in 2019 to increase the production capacity of sodium bicarbonate and soda ash in Bulgaria and the United States. The company is poised to enhance the sodium bicarbonate production capacity by 200-kilo tonnes in its Devnya plant situated in Bulgaria. This growth is a part of the company’s expansion strategy to address the global demand for the treatment of flue gas for improvement of the air quality. The total investment is accounted for USD202 million dollars for the next three years. The sodium bicarbonate capacity growth is a part of the company’s current joint operation with Sisecam. It is poised for the production of SOLVAir sorbents, solutions that are sodium-based for the treatment of exhaust gases from the factories, ships, NaHCO3 buffer for animal nutrition, and incineration plants.

COVID-19 Impact.

The sodium bicarbonate sector’s major influence was due to the Covid-19 pandemic scenario. Amidst the pandemic, high utilization of sodium bicarbonate in the varied end-user sector was witnessed. However, the market remained restrained but production of the sodium bicarbonate continued. Thus, coronavirus did not have any major negative impact on the market growth of the global sodium bicarbonate market.

The key players in the sodium bicarbonate market include Solvay, Tata Chemicals Ltd, Pfizer Inc, Genesis Energy, LP, Tosoh Corporation, Natrium Products Inc, Tokuyama Corporation, Trade House Bashkhim, Joint-stock company “Bashkir soda company”, Natural Soda, LLC, AG CHEMI GROUP s.r.o., GHCL Limited, CIECH S.A. and Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Companies are expanding the production capacity of the sodium bicarbonate which is expected to fuel the sodium bicarbonate market growth during the forecasted period.

Segmentation:

By Grade

• Food Grade
• Pharma Grade
• Feed Grade
• Technical Grade

By Form

• Slurry
• Crystal/Powdered Crystal
• Liquid.

By Application

• Food
• Personal Care/Cosmetics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Flue Gas Treatment
• Animal Feed
• Cleaning Agent/Detergent
• Chemical
• Others

By Type

• Sodium carbonate method type
• Sodium hydroxide method type
• Nahcolite extraction type

By Geography

• North America
• US
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Others
• Europe
• UK
• Germany
• France
• Poland
• Others
• Middle East and Africa
• UAE
• Israel
• Saudi Arabia
• Others
• Asia Pacific
• Japan
• China
• India
• Australia
• Others