Ingredients Market Report 2026

The ingredients market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $234.72 billion in 2025 to $254.95 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of processed food consumption, expansion of packaged food manufacturing, rising demand for flavor and texture enhancement, increasing use of additives for shelf stability, growth of global food supply chains.

The ingredients market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $361.93 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for health-focused food products, expansion of fortified and functional foods, rising adoption of sustainable ingredient sourcing, growth of personalized nutrition trends, increasing regulatory focus on ingredient transparency. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for natural and clean-label ingredients, rising use of functional and nutritional ingredients, expansion of plant-based ingredient applications, growing focus on ingredient traceability, enhanced emphasis on product reformulation.

The rising popularity of fast-food trends among the millennial population is anticipated to drive growth in the ingredients market in the future. Fast foods are characterized as quick, convenient, and affordable alternatives to home-cooked meals, and their preparation involves various ingredients such as salt, sugar, processed chemicals, and more, which is expected to boost ingredient sales. For example, in October 2024, a report from Made in Canada, a certification platform dedicated to showcasing Canadian-made products, noted that Canada had 19,989 fast-food restaurants in 2023, reflecting a 0.5% increase from 2022. Additionally, 16% of Canadians reported purchasing food or snacks from fast-food outlets daily, with consumers aged 18-34 typically buying a meal or snack approximately twice a week on average. Therefore, the growing prevalence of fast-food trends is propelling the growth of the ingredients market.

Major companies in the ingredients market are prioritizing product innovation by developing clean-label options to cater to consumer demand for healthier and simpler ingredients. Clean-label products refer to foods and beverages made with straightforward, recognizable, and minimally processed ingredients, free from artificial additives, preservatives, colors, or flavors. For example, in June 2023, CarobWay, Ltd., an Israel-based food and agri-tech company, introduced a low glycemic sweetener. This sweetener is clean-label, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO (genetically modified organism), derived from whole carob fruit. It features a mild, caramel-like flavor and serves as a one-to-one sugar replacer in various food and beverage applications. The low glycemic index sweetener contains a blend of sugars, polyol D-pinitol, trace soluble fibers, and polyphenols, making it an ideal ingredient for clean-label products.

In November 2025, Nexture, an Italy-based integrated food ingredients company, acquired Frulact for approximately US$307 million. This acquisition aims to strengthen Nexture’s capabilities and global reach in fruit-based preparations and value-added ingredient solutions. Frulact is a Portugal-based manufacturer of specialty ingredients derived from fruits and vegetables.

Major companies operating in the ingredients market are Cargill Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Associated British Foods plc, Hermes Sweeteners Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., ICL Food Specialties Ltd., Kerry Group plc, Ingredion Incorporated, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Givaudan SA, Symrise AG, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Tate & Lyle plc, Corbion Purac N.V., Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, Tata Chemicals Limited, Palsgaard A/S, Essentia Protein Solutions, LycoRed Limited, Symega Food Ingredients Ltd., Glanbia plc, H.C. Brill AG & Co. KG, ABITEC Corporation, Parker Products Inc., Paulaur Corporation, Sweetener Supply Corp.

North America was the largest region in the ingredients market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global ingredients market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the ingredients 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 ingredients market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The ingredients market consists of sales of specialty food ingredients, personal care active ingredients, active pharmaceutical ingredients, nutraceutical ingredients, and cereal ingredients. 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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