Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The global pharmaceutical excipients market size was valued at USD 8.37 billion in 2023 and it is expected to surpass around USD 14.72 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 5.81% from 2024 to 2033.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Key Takeaways

• The North America pharmaceutical excipients market size was estimated at USD 3.15 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around USD 5.66 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 6.04% from 2024 to 2033.
• The Europe pharmaceutical excipients market size was exhibited at USD 2.35 billion in 2023 and is predicted to reach around USD 3.95 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.30% from 2024 to 2033.
• The Asia Pacific pharmaceutical excipients market size accounted for USD 1.94 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.53% from 2024 to 2033, to reach around USD 3.65 billion by 2033.
• The MEA pharmaceutical excipients market size is expected to be worth around USD 454.85 million by 2033 from USD 294.40 million in 2023 and expanding at a CAGR of 4.44% from 2024 to 2033.
• By region, North America has accounted 38.32% revenue share in 2023.
• By excipient type, lactose-based excipients has held highest revenue share of around 41.26% in 2023.
• By functionality, binders & fillers has generated largest revenue share of 49.72% in 2023.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Size in U.S. 2024 to 2033

The U.S. pharmaceutical excipients market size was valued at USD 2.74 billion in 2023 and it is expected to surpass around USD 5.06 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 6.31% from 2024 to 2033.

North America accounted for the maximum share in the pharmaceutical excipients market in the year 2023 and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period, owing to growing demand for solid oral drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases.

Europe is also expected to witness a significant growth rate during the forecast period. Many European countries are focusing on the generics market owing to the expiration of the medicines patents in the upcoming years. Thus, due to this, the European countries such as Germany, UK, France and others are expected to witness significant growth rate during the forecast period which in turn is likely to drive the demand for pharmaceutical excipients in this region. Additionally, the growing government initiatives for reducing the prices of the drugs in the market are anticipated to drive the market for generic drugs in these countries. The aforementioned factors, along with the rising investments for the development of biologics as well as advanced dosage forms, are likely to increase the demand for new excipients and thereby contributing in the growth of the pharmaceutical excipients market in Europe. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to register the highest CAGR, owing to low cost of raw materials and availability of cost-effective workforce.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Growth Factors

Pharmaceutical excipients are inert substances, other than pharmacologically active medicines that are included in the production process or are present in pharmaceutical product dosage format. Excipients are extensively used in the formulation of drugin order to add bulkiness to solid formulations, provide long-term stability, and facilitate drugs absorption. Additionally, it also improves the overall safety or functional attributes of the product during usage or storage.

The global pharmaceutical excipients market is propelled by the growing demand for oral pharmaceutical medicines and the augment of novel therapeutics owing to the proliferation in the number of pharmaceutical industries across the globe. Additionally, the amalgamation of medicine formulation as well as nanotechnology in excipients has led to the formulation of nano-derived liposomes, nano-coated tablets, and vaccines. Moreover, many key players are targeting the developing economies for the growth of their manufacturing plants for pharmaceutical excipients, glycerin, preservatives, and Fatty Acids owing to low cost labor availability. However, high production cost and stringent government regulations are expected to restrain the overall market growth in terms of value sales. Applications such as topical formulation, parenteral formulation, and oral formulation are driving in huge investments in the market. Moreover, the target consumers such as drug manufacturers, consulting firms, and pharmaceutical excipients manufacturers, research & development companies and others are likely to offer immense opportunities for the growth of market during the forecast period in terms of value sales. Furthermore, the   market growth is majorly driven by the growing demand from the pharmaceutical sectors due to the outbreak of Covid19 pandemic. Additionally, the rising use of generic drugs coupled with the development in the field of biopharmaceuticals is other factors which are supporting the market growth in terms of value sales.

However, the rising pressure owing tothe strict guidelines set by the regulatory authorities about the approval of drugs and excipients is likely to hamper the market growth. The easy availability of low-quality excipients has adversely affected the effectiveness of the medicines that creates a requirement for quality control.

Moreover, according to the key market players in the industry, over the last three years there has been a continuous rise in the demand for cheaper quality excipients from the developing economies such as Asia Pacific and East Africa regions. This is attributable to the rise in the requirement in the local drug manufacturing industry. However, the trend is the opposite of the situation currently in developed countries with sophisticated manufacturing practices, where demand for superior quality excipients is increasing, but at a lower rate than that in emerging economies.

Report Scope of the Pharmaceutical Excipients Market

Functionality Insights

Based on the functionality, the pharmaceutical excipients market is divided into fillers & diluents, binders, suspending & viscosity agents, flavoring agents & sweeteners, coating agents, colorants, disintegrates, lubricants & glidants, preservatives, emulsifying agents, and other functionalities. In 2023, fillers & diluents hold the largest market share. This is because the demand for fillers and diluents is high among the end user industries as they are used in the formulation of capsules and tablets which are the most common type of formulations presently.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Value (US$ Mn), By Functionality, 2020-2023

Excipient Type Insights

The lactose-based excipients segment dominated the market with the largest market share in 2023. In order to create tablets with a suitable level of hardness while keeping appropriate disintegration qualities, lactose is frequently employed as a diluent or binder. Increasing launches of lactose-based products is expected to drive the lactose-based excipients segment growth.

A cellulose-based segment is estimated to at a remarkable CAGR. This segment is estimated to account for a 15.30% market share in 2023. Cellulose-based excipient products include microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), cellulose ethers, and cellulose esters. They are used as pharmaceutical excipients because of their porosity enhancer property which helps in liquid uptake, thus making swelling of the drug product faster and easier. The increasing launch of new products is expected to drive segment growth over the forecast period.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Value (US$ Mn), By Excipient Type, 2020-2023

Key Market Developments

• In 2020, Colorcon has launches the Acryl-EZE II film coating line which extends the pH range covered by its enteric coatings.
• In 2019, Ashland has introduced Aquarius Nutra TF that provides titanium oxide-based coating to tablets in the European market.
• In 2018, Roquette has signed an agreement with Thermo Fisher that provides Thermo the right to distribute Roquette’s products in the US and Canada. This will offer further market access to Roquette.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Companies

• Ashland Global Holdings
• BASF SE
• DuPont
• Roquette Feres
• Evonik Industries AG
• Associated British Foods
• Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Lubrizol Corporation
• Croda International
• Kerry Group 

Market Segmentation:

By Functionality

• Fillers and Diluents
• Suspending and Viscosity Agents
• Coating Agents
• Binders
• Disintegrants
• Colorants
• Lubricants and Glidants
• Preservatives
• Emulsifying Agents
• Flavoring Agents and Sweeteners
• Other Functionalities

By Excipient Type

• Lactose-based Excipients
  • α-lactose monohydrate
  • Anhydrous α-lactose
  • Anhydrous β-lactose
  • Amorphous Lactose
• Cellulose-based
  • Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)
  • Cellulose Ethers
  • Others
• Starches
• Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium (CCS)
• Sodium Starch Glycolate (SSG)
• Fine Chemicals
• Mannitol
• Biopharma Excipients
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• U.S.
• Canada
• Europe
• U.K.
• Germany
• France
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Latin America
• Brazil
• Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)
• GCC
• North Africa
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa