Food Amino Acids Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Food Amino Acid Market is projected to register a CAGR of 6.56% during the forecast period.

The increasing demand for amino acids as functional foods, coupled with the rising adoption of glutamic acid as a flavor enhancer in various foods and beverages, is likely to propel the market’s growth over the next few years. The wide range of applications of amino acids, ranging from flavor development and preservation to acting as a nutritional component or building block of protein to specialty ingredients, such as aspartame, is expected to drive the market.

Additionally, the increase in demand for amino acids for various nutraceutical and dietary supplements, owing to the health benefits offered by amino acids, is expected to fuel the demand for amino acids during the forecast period. The use of lysine in dietary supplements is expected to boost the market’s growth as well. The increasing demand for amino acids particularly, L-lysine and glutamic acid have triggered the fact that meeting the production demand with cost-effective raw material and recovery process is likely to be challenging in the upcoming years. The requirement of specific substrates in the enzymatic method limits the competitiveness of the method, as it is primarily dependent on the cost of manufacturing the substrate. Individual protein requirements, completeness/ amino acid profiles, the importance of other protein components, and new sources for protein consumption remain some of the prominent factors that companies are working on to target untapped markets. With several research & development activities, amino acids have been found to have multiple functional benefits in human nutrition. For example, glycine has been found to improve sleep quality; and leucine for its role in muscle protein synthesis, thus contributing to longer healthy life expectancy in the elderly population.

Additionally, in 2021, Ulrick & Short, a manufacturer of ingredients, added a new protein to its lineup to enable foods to have comprehensive amino acid profiles in addition to fortification. The increase in the international sporting event has also led to increased attention on the physiological effects of amino acids (BCAAs) on muscles- which is likely to offer a potential opportunity to amino acid ingredient manufacturers. There are products in the market, based on the physiological effects of amino acids, and are targeting as well as positioning their product of both recreational and professional athletes.

Food Amino Acids Market Trends

Increasing Usage of Amino Acids in Sports Nutrition

Sports nutrition products have increasingly gained popularity, mainly among athletes and individuals involved in vigorous physical activities. The growing emphasis on staying healthy and in shape, and rising participation in sports, health clubs, sports clubs, and gyms are some of the key drivers contributing to the growth of the sports nutrition industry, which boosts the application of amino acids in the segment. Many athletes use dietary supplements as a part of their regular training or competition routine. Protein is one of the most popular dietary supplements marketed to athletes and physically active individuals. Amino acids enhance performance in various ways, such as increasing the secretion of anabolic hormones, modifying fuel use during exercise, preventing adverse effects of overtraining, and preventing mental fatigue.

Manufacturers are introducing new products with essential amino acids for better performance during sports and physical activities. For instance, in June 2021, aminoVITAL, by Ajinomoto, an advanced sports nutrition product based on a proprietary blend of plant-based amino acids that supports the optimal performance of athletes. aminoVITAL products are specially formulated to help athletes enhance their power, stamina, and recovery by utilizing amino acids to promote cellular-level muscle recovery and repair, leading to an immediate increase in energy and focus.

Asia-Pacific Holds the Major Market Share

The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share, followed by North America. The increase in the use of food amino acids as a flavor enhancer in the food industry and the growth in concern for a healthy diet among consumers are fuelling the demand for food amino acids in the Asia-Pacific market. Major demand for food amino acids from the dietary supplement industry has been seen due to the growing trend of adding dietary supplements to consumer diets in this region. The major importers of food amino acids include China and Indonesia, among others, in the Asia-Pacific region. Owing to the increasing consumption of processed and convenience food, imports and export in developing countries is growing steadily. The rapid growth in demand for food amino acids in Southeast Asia's malnourished and deprived population is further boosting the market’s growth in this region.

According to Canstar Blue, with 58% of respondents indicating they recently purchased a powdered protein supplement, protein powders made up the majority of protein supplements bought in Australia in 2021. In comparison, only 13% of consumers bought ready-to-drink protein products. The rising trend of including protein as a part of a regular diet has been creating opportunities for the growth of food amino acids across the region.

Food Amino Acids Industry Overview

The global food amino acids market is fragmented owing to the presence of many players in the market. It consists of international players and local manufacturers at different levels of the value chain. Some of the major players in the market are Nagase America LLC (Prinova), Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Daesang Corporation, and Brenntag AG, among others. These companies are focused on providing differentiated products to customers. The food amino acid ingredient suppliers are extending their product line to diversify their presence geographically by collaborating with other players in the market. Product innovation is a key strategy to gain a significant share in the food amino acids market. Expansions into various regions and research and development are some of the major strategies adopted by the key players to gain a competitive advantage. These companies are developing new product grades to be used in food products.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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