Glutamic Acid Market Report 2026

The glutamic acid market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $13.22 billion in 2025 to $14.58 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of processed food consumption, growth of animal feed supplementation, increasing pharmaceutical manufacturing volumes, availability of fermentation technologies, rising consumer awareness of amino acid benefits.

The glutamic acid market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $21.23 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for clean-label food ingredients, expansion of plant-based amino acid production, increasing use in neurological health products, rising investments in bioprocess optimization, growing application in sports nutrition. Major trends in the forecast period include growing use of glutamic acid in nutraceutical formulations, rising demand from food additive applications, expansion of fermentation-based production methods, increased focus on pharmaceutical-grade amino acids, improved process efficiency in biosynthesis.

The rising demand in the food service industry is expected to drive the growth of the glutamic acid market in the coming years. The food service industry encompasses the preparation, distribution, and sale of food and beverages to consumers outside their homes. Glutamic acid, commonly in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG), is widely used to enhance flavor in processed and convenience foods, meat and seafood products, and international cuisines. As consumers increasingly seek diverse, flavorful, and convenient food options, the demand for glutamic acid continues to grow. It provides a cost-effective way to improve taste, aligns with consumer preferences, and supports food innovation and product development. For example, in August 2024, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS), spending on food away from home in the United States rose by 12% in 2023 compared with 2022. This increase brought total food spending to $2.57 trillion in 2023, with food-away-from-home accounting for 58.5% of total food expenditures - the highest share recorded. Therefore, the expanding demand in the food service sector is expected to boost the growth of the glutamic acid market.

A notable trend in the glutamic acid market is the emergence of strategic collaborations and partnerships among major companies. These collaborations aim to enhance business sustainability and leverage complementary expertise. For example, in March 2023, Corteva, Inc., a US-based agricultural chemical company, and Bunge Limited, a US-based food company, announced a collaboration focused on developing more nutritious soybean meal for the animal feed industry. This partnership combines Corteva's expertise in germplasm, gene editing, and trait discovery with Bunge's capabilities in processing and merchandising. The goal is to create soybean varieties with increased protein content, optimized amino acid profiles, and reduced levels of anti-nutritional factors. This collaboration aims to reduce the use of synthetic additives in animal feed, lower costs, and decrease carbon emissions, demonstrating a trend of strategic partnerships shaping the future of the glutamic acid market.

In November 2023, Grand Pharma, a pharmaceutical company based in China, acquired 100% equity of Hubei Bafeng Company. This acquisition positions Grand Pharma as the pharmaceutical company with the highest number of registration numbers for amino acid Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in China, thereby expanding its portfolio. Hubei Bafeng is a manufacturer of glutamic acid located in China.

Major companies operating in the glutamic acid market are AMINO GmbH, Evonik Industries AG, Fufeng Group, Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Bio Co Ltd., Medinex Laboratories Pvt Ltd., Sichuan Tongsheng Amino acid Co Ltd, Wuhan Amino Acid Bio-Chemical Co Ltd., Global Bio-chem Technology Group Company Limited, Ningxia Yipin Biological Technology Co Ltd., Akzo Nobel N.V., Iris Biotech GmbH, Luojiang Chenming Biological Products Co Ltd., Ajinomoto Co Inc., Haihang Industry Co Ltd., Avenit AG, Suzhou Yuanfang Chemical Co Ltd., CJ CheilJedang Corp, Meihua Holdings Group Co Ltd., Ningxia Eppen Biotech Co Ltd., Shandong Linghua Monosodium Glutamate Incorporated Company, COFCO Biochemical, Cargill Incorporated, Ambuja Group, Roquette Frères.

North America was the largest region in the glutamic acid market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the glutamic acid market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the glutamic acid market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The glutamic acid market consists of sales of glutamic acid that is used in the body to build proteins. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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