The carboxymethyl cellulose market size is projected to reach US$ 2.3 billion by 2031 from US$ 1.7 billion in 2023. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 4% during 2023–2031. Rising demand for clean label ingredients and inclination toward using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in an eco-friendly packaging solution are likely to remain key trends in the carboxymethyl cellulose market.
The rising demand for carboxymethyl cellulose from the pharmaceutical industry due to its stabilizing and binding properties drives the carboxymethyl cellulose market growth. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a valuable ingredient in various pharmaceutical applications:
Thus, the wide range of applications of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in the pharmaceutical industry drives its demand.
Carboxymethyl cellulose is a cellulose derivative with a carboxymethyl group bound to one of the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose polymer. It is commonly used in pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, cosmetics, and other industries due to its excellent stabilizing, thickening, and emulsifying properties. In the food & beverages industry, carboxymethyl cellulose acts as an effective thickening agent, enhancing the texture and viscosity of various food products such as dressings, sauces, dips, and beverages. It helps stabilize the emulsions that prevent the separation of ingredients in products such as ice creams, salad dressings, and frozen desserts. In addition, carboxymethyl cellulose has water retention properties that help prevent the formation of ice crystals in ice creams and frozen desserts and improve moisture retention in bakery products. Therefore, the numerous benefits of carboxymethyl cellulose in food and beverage formulations propel its demand in the industry, which bolsters the carboxymethyl cellulose market growth.
Market players adopt various strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, new product developments, and plant capacity expansions to stay ahead of the competition and increase their carboxymethyl cellulose market share. In July 2021, Nouryon completed the acquisition of J.M. Huber Corp’s carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) business. The acquisition will help Nouryon to broaden its CMC product portfolio, which will help cater to a broader customer base across various geographies. Manufacturers are also expanding their manufacturing base across emerging economies to widen their customer reach and increase their market share in the carboxymethyl cellulose market. In February 2023, Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd announced the establishment of a carboxymethyl cellulose manufacturing facility in Hungary, which is one of the popular materials used in lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles. The expansion of its manufacturing and sales facility in Hungary will help the company strengthen its rapidly growing supply chain in Europe. Such strategies propel the carboxymethyl cellulose market growth.
There is a trend toward using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in an eco-friendly packaging solution with a growing emphasis on sustainability. CMC is biodegradable, which aligns with the increasing awareness of environmental sustainability. People are increasingly adopting products with biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging to reduce the environmental impact of conventional, fossil fuel-based packaging materials. This factor provides new opportunities for the carboxymethyl cellulose market development over the forecast period.
Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the carboxymethyl cellulose market analysis are application and geography.
The geographic scope of the carboxymethyl cellulose market report is mainly divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South America/South & Central America.
Asia Pacific held the largest carboxymethyl cellulose market share in 2023. The booming food & beverages industry due to increasing population, urbanization, and rising demand for convenience food provides strong growth potential to the carboxymethyl cellulose market across the region. Moreover, with the expansion of the pharmaceutical industry across Asia Pacific and rising awareness of health and well-being among people due to the increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases, the demand for pharmaceutical ingredients, including CMC, is increasing.
The regional trends and factors influencing the Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at Insight Partners. This section also discusses Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size in 2024 | US$ XX million |
| Market Size by 2031 | US$ XX Million |
| Global CAGR (2025 - 2031) | 4% |
| Historical Data | 2021-2023 |
| Forecast period | 2025-2031 |
| Segments Covered |
By Application
|
| Regions and Countries Covered | North America
|
| Market leaders and key company profiles |
The Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.
Market players density refers to the distribution of firms or companies operating within a particular market or industry. It indicates how many competitors (market players) are present in a given market space relative to its size or total market value.
Major Companies operating in the Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market are:
Disclaimer: The companies listed above are not ranked in any particular order.
The carboxymethyl cellulose market is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data post primary and secondary research, which includes important corporate publications, association data, and databases. The following is a list of developments in the market for carboxymethyl cellulose:
The “Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market Size and Forecast (2021–2031)” report provides a detailed analysis of the market covering below areas:
The growing demand for convenience food items is an emerging trend in the market,
Based on geography, Asia Pacific held the largest share of the carboxymethyl cellulose market due to the growing demand of convenience food products in the region.
The pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals application segment accounted for the largest market share in 2023.
The Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market is estimated to witness a CAGR of 4% from 2023 to 2031
The increased demand from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry is a key driver in the market.
Nouryon, Ashland, DKS Co. Ltd., Amtex, NIPPON PAPER INDUSTRIES CO.,, Lamberti S.p.A., Dow, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc, Daicel Miraizu Ltd, and Jining Fortune Biotech Co.,Ltd are some of the key players operating in the market.