Food Preservatives Market Report 2026

The food preservatives market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $3.06 billion in 2025 to $3.21 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of packaged food consumption, expansion of global food supply chains, rising need for spoilage prevention, widespread use of synthetic preservatives, increasing food processing capacity.

The food preservatives market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.92 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing regulatory pressure on chemical preservatives, rising adoption of natural preservation methods, expansion of ready-to-eat food products, growing demand for minimally processed foods, increasing innovation in preservative formulations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of natural and clean-label preservatives, rising demand for shelf-life extension solutions, growing adoption of antimicrobial preservation techniques, expansion of multi-functional preservative blends, enhanced focus on food safety and quality maintenance.

The growing consumption of ready-to-eat foods driven by busy lifestyles is expected to support the expansion of the food preservatives market in the coming years. Ready-to-eat foods utilize a range of natural and synthetic preservatives to reduce the risk of spoilage caused by microbial activity and to enhance overall food quality. The rising demand for processed and ready-to-eat foods is largely attributed to the increasing working population, which prefers convenient meal options over home cooking. For example, in July 2024, according to the American Frozen Food Institute, a US-based national trade association, frozen food retail dollar growth increased from 1.6% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 2.9% in the first quarter of 2024. Therefore, the high consumption of ready-to-eat foods is driving the growth of the food preservatives market.

Prominent enterprises within the food preservatives domain are actively engaged in pioneering advancements, particularly in the realm of clean-label preservatives. These innovations are geared towards preserving the natural flavors and textures of finished food products. An illustration of this pursuit unfolded in July 2023 when BioVeritas, a U.S.-based ingredients company, introduced a clean-label mould inhibitor. This novel inhibitor was specifically crafted to tackle the persistent challenge of balancing consumer preferences for effective non-petrochemical-based ingredients while ensuring that end-products maintain their intended flavor profiles and textures.

In April 2024, Syensqo, a Belgium-based materials company, acquired Azerys for an undisclosed amount. The purpose of the acquisition is to gain full control of Lock&Lock Co. to enhance management and tackle declining earnings resulting from competitive pressures. Azerys is a South Korea-based natural products company that specializes in extracting high-value elements from endemic plants, particularly using advanced extraction technologies.

Major companies operating in the food preservatives market are Kerry Group, DuPont de Nemours Inc., BASF SE, Cargill Incorporated, Celanese Corporation, Corbion N.V., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Galactic SA, Kemin Industries Inc., DSM, Tate & Lyle PLC, Danisco A/S, ABF Ingredients Ltd., Ajinomoto Co Inc., Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Chr Hansen Holding A/S, Naturex SA, MAYASAN Food Industries AS, BTSA Biotecnologías Aplicadas SL, Kalsec Inc.

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

The food preservatives market consists of sales of salt, vinegar, sugar, sorbates, nitrites, and other food preservatives. 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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