Single Cell Oil Market Report 2026

The single cell oil market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $156.62 billion in 2025 to $200.63 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising demand for alternative oil sources, early adoption of microbial fermentation, limitations of conventional vegetable oils, growth of aquaculture industry, initial biodiesel research investments.

The single cell oil market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $559.94 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for sustainable biofuels, advancements in microbial strain engineering, rising demand for infant nutrition ingredients, utilization of agro industrial waste as feedstock, scaling up of industrial fermentation facilities. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of microalgae based oils, rising adoption of single cell oils for biodiesel, growing use of sco as fish oil substitute, expansion of fermentation based oil production, rising demand for functional and nutritional oils.

The rising demand for sustainable and renewable energy is expected to drive the growth of the single-cell oil market in the coming years. Sustainable and renewable energy refers to energy sourced from naturally replenished resources that have minimal negative environmental impact. This demand is increasing as climate change concerns push governments and industries to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive fossil fuels and shift toward cleaner energy alternatives. The single-cell oil market contributes to these goals by providing a low-carbon, biologically derived feedstock that can be converted into biofuels, decreasing dependence on conventional petroleum sources. For example, in April 2025, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a UAE-based intergovernmental organization, reported that global renewable power capacity grew by 585 GW in 2024 - a record annual growth rate of 15.1%, exceeding the 14.3% growth rate recorded in 2023. Consequently, the increasing demand for sustainable and renewable energy is fueling the single-cell oil market.

The increasing number of individuals adopting vegetarian diets is anticipated to boost the growth of the single-cell oil market in the future. A vegetarian diet involves eliminating meat and fish from one’s meals, focusing instead on plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. This dietary choice is often motivated by health concerns, ethical considerations regarding animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and cultural or religious beliefs. Single-cell oils complement vegetarian diets by supplying essential fatty acids, such as omega-3s, which are commonly deficient in plant-based foods and are vital for heart and brain health. For example, the Good Food Institute Europe, a Belgium-based non-profit organization, reported that in 2023, the value of plant-based food sales across six European countries reached €5.4 billion (around $5.83 billion), marking a 5.5% increase from 2022. Consequently, the rise in vegetarian diet adoption is fueling the growth of the single-cell oil market.

Key companies in the single-cell oil market are concentrating on developing innovative solutions, such as high-potency algal-derived omega-3 oils like DHA, to offer sustainable, plant-based alternatives to conventional fish-sourced oils. Algal DHA is an edible oil derived from microalgae, rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids and consistent in quality, unlike traditional fish oil, which may face sustainability and contamination challenges. For example, in October 2024, DSM Firmenich N.V., a Switzerland-based health and nutrition company, introduced life’sDHA B54-0100, a naturally potent DHA algal oil providing approximately 545 mg of DHA and 80 mg of EPA per gram. This product allows for smaller, more convenient supplement formats with improved taste and no fishy odor, while also supporting broader applications in functional foods, gummies, and chews, positioning it as a sustainable, high-quality alternative to traditional fish-derived omega-3 oils.

Major companies operating in the single cell oil market are Royal DSM N.V., Goerlich Pharma GmbH, DIC Corporation, Cellana Inc., Cargill Incorporated, Alltech Inc., Xiamen Huison Biotech Co. Ltd., Qingdao Seawit Life Science Co. Ltd., Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., Novosana BV, Hubei Xinhe Biotechnology Co. Ltd., The Lubrizol Corporation, Corbion NV, Aurora Algae Inc., TerraVia Holdings Inc., Solazyme Inc., Algix LLC, Sapphire Energy Inc., Heliae Development LLC, Algenol Biofuels Inc., Blue Marble Biomaterials LLC, Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc., Solix Biofuels Inc., OriginOil Inc., Joule Unlimited Technologies Inc., Synthetic Genomics Inc., Genomatica Inc., LS9 Inc., Amyris Inc., Evolva SA, Solvay SA.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the single-cell oil market in 2025. The regions covered in the single cell oil market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the single cell oil market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The single-cell oil market consists of sales of biofuel, biodiesel, food and feed supplements, cosmetics, and personal care supplements that are derived from microorganisms. 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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