Chitosan Market

Industry Overview

The global Chitosan Market was valued at USD 7.8 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 26.7 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 21.0% during 2025-2030. The global chitosan market is growing at a remarkable rate with its increasing demand in the pharmaceutical industry due to its various uses such as; It is used to treat complications such as kidney failure, anemia, loss of strength and appetite, and others. It is used to treat various medical conditions including high cholesterol and obesity.

Chitosan is a sugar that is obtained from the hard outer skeleton of shellfish including lobster, shrimp, and crab. It is a fibrous substance that might block the absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol. It is a natural biopolymer which is derived from chitin.

Market Segmentation

Insight by Grade

On the basis of grade, the market is bifurcated into industrial grade, food grade, and pharmaceutical grade. Among these grades, Industrial grade chitosan segment captured the largest market share in 2023. Industrial-grade chitosan is widely used in various applications including water treatment, agrochemicals, and textiles due to its low-cost advantage. Also, due to its physical and chemical properties, it is being used in a wide array of products and applications, wherein different properties are required for different applications, which change with the degree of acetylation and molecular weight.

Insight by Source Type

Based on source type, the Global Chitosan Market is segmented into Shrimps, Prawns, Crabs, Lobsters, Fungi. The market is dominated by segment Shrimps as shrimp shell derived chitosan is used as antibacterial, biocompatible and eco-friendly polyelectrolyte biomaterial with a wide range of applications in water treatment, additives for cosmetics, textile treatment and chromatography for antimicrobial activity.

Insight by Application Type

Based on end-user type, the Global Chitosan Market is segregated into food additive, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals and spa. Dietary supplements leads the market due to rising demand of health-conscious consumers. Chitosan products such as ChitoClear, MicroChitosan NutriCology, and Chitoseen-F are marketed as fat reducers, antioxidant agents, and cholesterol-lowering agents.

ChitoClear is recognized as a safe, natural, and effective weight loss supplement for a healthy lifestyle which help in the treatment of weight management and obesity.

Global Chitosan Market Report Coverage

Industry Dynamics

Growth drivers

Easy and abundant availability, unique properties, and growing awareness related to its health benefits are the major growth drivers identified in the chitosan market. Chitin is the second most abundant resource in the world following cellulose, which is becoming a major attraction for various industries. Chitin is estimated to be produced annually as much as cellulose in the coming years, as it is a high-potential resource. It is being commercially produced in countries such as Poland, India, Japan, the U.S., Norway, and Australia.   

Moreover, it has a number of biomedical uses, for instance, it is useful in bandages which can reduce the bleeding and can act as an antibacterial agent. The growing awareness about health across the globe is expected to drive the chitosan market growth.

Challenges

Stringent rules and regulations related to aquaculture are expected to pose a main restraint in the chitosan market growth. In some countries, rigorous shrimp farming has led to environmental degradation and threats to the long-term sustainability of the industry; hence various guidelines have been set by regulatory authorities to maintain the balance in the industry.

Geographic Overview

The APAC is the largest contributor to the chitosan market and holds the largest share of the market. The region market is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the presence of major producers in the region, which are fueling the market growth in the region. This is due to the increasing demand along with rising investment. Along with that, various research and development activities are ongoing for the commercial production of the product from non-aquatic sources such as algae, yeasts, and fungi are also expected to drive the chitosan market growth in the region.

Competitive Insight

The chitosan market is highly fragmented due to the presence of a large number of players in the market, which makes it a highly competitive market for the industry players. The players need to have a focused strategy to achieve a competitive advantage in the market. The various key players in the chitosan industry are investing heavily in carrying out research and development activities for the development of new and improved production processes and technologies for chitosan manufacturing.

Some of the key players operating in the chitosan market are Chitosan AS, Mahtani chitosan Pvt. ltd., AgraTech, JBIChem International, Primex Ehf, Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH, Vietnam Food, Advanced Biopolymers AS, G.T.C. Bio Corporation, and KitoZyme S.A.

Primary Research

VynZ Research conducts extensive primary research to understand the market dynamics, validate market data, and have key opinions from the industry experts. The key profiles approached within the industry include CEO, CFO, CTO, President, Vice President, Product Managers, Regional Heads, and Others. Also, end-user surveys comprising consumers are also conducted to understand consumer behavior.

The Chitosan Market report offers a comprehensive market segmentation analysis along with an estimation for the forecast period 2025–2030.

Segments Covered in the Report

• Grade
  • Industrial
  • Food
  • Pharmaceutical
• Source Type
  • Shrimps
  • Prawns
  • Crabs
  • Lobsters
  • Fungi
• Application Type
  • Food Additive
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Spa

Region Covered in the Report

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • U.K.
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC)
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Rest of the World
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • South America

Source: VynZ Research

Source: VynZ Research

1.  Research Overview 

    1.1.  The Report Offers
    1.2.  Market Coverage
        1.2.1.  By Grade
        1.2.2.  By Source Type
        1.2.3.  By Application Type
        1.2.4.  By Region
    1.3.  Research Phases
    1.4.  Limitations
    1.5.  Research Methodology
        1.5.1.  Data Sources
            1.5.1.1.  Primary Research
            1.5.1.2.  Secondary Research
        1.5.2.  Methodology
            1.5.2.1.  Data Exploration
            1.5.2.2.  Forecast Parameters
            1.5.2.3.  Data Validation
            1.5.2.4.  Assumptions
        1.5.3.  Study Period & Data Reporting Unit

2.  Executive Summary

3.  Industry Overview

    3.1.  Industry Dynamics
        3.1.1.  Market Growth Drivers
        3.1.2.  Market Restraints
        3.1.3.  Key Market Trends
        3.1.4.  Major Opportunities
    3.2.  Industry Ecosystem
        3.2.1.  Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
        3.2.2.  Recent Development Analysis
        3.2.3.  Value Chain Analysis
    3.3.  Competitive Insight
        3.3.1.  Competitive Position of Industry Players
        3.3.2.  Market Attractive Analysis
        3.3.3.  Market Share Analysis

4.  Global Market Estimate and Forecast

    4.1.  Global Market Overview
    4.2.  Global Market Estimate and Forecast to 2030

5.  Market Segmentation Estimate and Forecast

    5.1.  By Grade 
        5.1.1.  Industrial
            5.1.1.1.  Market Definition
            5.1.1.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030
        5.1.2.  Food
            5.1.2.1.  Market Definition
            5.1.2.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030
        5.1.3.  Pharmaceutical
            5.1.3.1.  Market Definition
            5.1.3.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030
    5.2.  By Application
        5.2.1.  Water Treatment 
            5.2.1.1.  Market Definition
            5.2.1.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030
        5.2.2.  Food & Beverage
            5.2.2.1.  Market Definition
            5.2.2.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030
        5.2.3.  Cosmetics
            5.2.3.1.  Market Definition
            5.2.3.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030
        5.2.4.  Medical & Pharmaceuticals
            5.2.4.1.  Market Definition
            5.2.4.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030
        5.2.5.  Agrochemicals
            5.2.5.1.  Market Definition
            5.2.5.2.  Market Estimation and Forecast to 2030

6.  North America Market Estimate and Forecast

    6.1.  By Grade 
    6.2.  By Application
    6.3.  By Country
        6.3.1.  U.S. Market Estimate and Forecast
        6.3.2.  Canada Market Estimate and Forecast
        6.3.3.  Mexico Market Estimate and Forecast

7.  Europe Market Estimate and Forecast

    7.1.  By Grade 
    7.2.  By Application
    7.3.  By Country
        7.3.1.  Germany Market Estimate and Forecast
        7.3.2.  France Market Estimate and Forecast
        7.3.3.  U.K. Market Estimate and Forecast
        7.3.4.  Italy Market Estimate and Forecast
        7.3.5.  Spain Market Estimate and Forecast
        7.3.6.  Rest of Europe Market Estimate and Forecast

8.  Asia-Pacific Market Estimate and Forecast

    8.1.  By Grade 
    8.2.  By Application
    8.3.  By Country 
        8.3.1.  China Market Estimate and Forecast
        8.3.2.  Japan Market Estimate and Forecast
        8.3.3.  India Market Estimate and Forecast
        8.3.4.  South Korea Market Estimate and Forecast
        8.3.5.  Singapore Market Estimate and Forecast
        8.3.6.  Rest of Asia-Pacific Market Estimate and Forecast

9.  Rest of the World (RoW) Market Estimate and Forecast

    9.1.  By Grade 
    9.2.  By Application
    9.3.  By Country
        9.3.1.  Brazil Market Estimate and Forecast
        9.3.2.  Saudi Arabia Market Estimate and Forecast
        9.3.3.  South Africa Market Estimate and Forecast
        9.3.4.  Other Countries Market Estimate and Forecast

10.  Company Profiles

    10.1.  Chitosan AS 
        10.1.1.  Snapshot
        10.1.2.  Overview
        10.1.3.  Offerings
        10.1.4.  Financial Insight
        10.1.5.  Recent Developments
    10.2.  Mahtani chitosan Pvt. ltd.
        10.2.1.  Snapshot
        10.2.2.  Overview
        10.2.3.  Offerings
        10.2.4.  Financial Insight
        10.2.5.  Recent Developments
    10.3.  AgraTech
        10.3.1.  Snapshot
        10.3.2.  Overview
        10.3.3.  Offerings
        10.3.4.  Financial Insight
        10.3.5.  Recent Developments
    10.4.  JBIChem International
        10.4.1.  Snapshot
        10.4.2.  Overview
        10.4.3.  Offerings
        10.4.4.  Financial Insight
        10.4.5.  Recent Developments
    10.5.  Primex EHF
        10.5.1.  Snapshot
        10.5.2.  Overview
        10.5.3.  Offerings
        10.5.4.  Financial Insight
        10.5.5.  Recent Developments
    10.6.  Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH
        10.6.1.  Snapshot
        10.6.2.  Overview
        10.6.3.  Offerings
        10.6.4.  Financial Insight
        10.6.5.  Recent Developments
    10.7.  Vietnam Food
        10.7.1.  Snapshot
        10.7.2.  Overview
        10.7.3.  Offerings
        10.7.4.  Financial Insight
        10.7.5.  Recent Developments
    10.8.  Advanced Biopolymers AS
        10.8.1.  Snapshot
        10.8.2.  Overview
        10.8.3.  Offerings
        10.8.4.  Financial Insight
        10.8.5.  Recent Developments
    10.9.  G.T.C. Bio Corporation
        10.9.1.  Snapshot
        10.9.2.  Overview
        10.9.3.  Offerings
        10.9.4.  Financial Insight
        10.9.5.  Recent Developments
    10.10.  KitoZyme S.A.
        10.10.1.  Snapshot
        10.10.2.  Overview
        10.10.3.  Offerings
        10.10.4.  Financial Insight
        10.10.5.  Recent Developments

11.  Appendix

    11.1.  Exchange Rates
    11.2.  Abbreviations

Note: Financial insight and recent developments of different companies are subject to availability of information in secondary domain.

List of Tables

Table 1 Sources
Table 2 Study Periods
Table 3 Data Reporting Unit
Table 4 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 5 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 6 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 7 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 8 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Region, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 9 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Region, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 10 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 11 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 12 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 13 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 14 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 15 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 16 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 17 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 18 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 19 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 20 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 21 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 22 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 23 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 24 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 25 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 26 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 27 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 28 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 29 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 30 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 31 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 32 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 – 2023 (USD Billion)
Table 33 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2025 – 2030(USD Billion)
Table 34 Snapshot – Chitosan AS
Table 35 Snapshot – Mahtani chitosan pvt. ltd.
Table 36 Snapshot – AgraTech
Table 37 Snapshot – JBIChem International
Table 38 Snapshot – Primex ehf
Table 39 Snapshot – Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH
Table 40 Snapshot – Vietnam Food
Table 41 Snapshot – Advanced Biopolymers AS
Table 42 Snapshot – G.T.C. Bio Corporation
Table 43 Snapshot – KitoZyme S.A.

List of Figures

Figure 1 Market Coverage
Figure 2 Research Phases
Figure 3 Secondary Sources for Different Parameters
Figure 4 Methodology
Figure 5 Data Mining & Exploration
Figure 6 Data Triangulation
Figure 7 Assumptions for Market Estimation and Forecast
Figure 8 Market Synopsis
Figure 9 Global Chitosan Market - Growth Drivers and Restraints
Figure 10 Competitive Benchmark
Figure 11 Global Chitosan Market Highlight
Figure 12 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 13 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 14 Global Chitosan Market Size, by Region, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 15 North America Chitosan Market Highlight
Figure 16 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 17 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 18 North America Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 19 Europe Chitosan Market Highlight
Figure 20 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 21 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 22 Europe Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 23 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Highlight
Figure 24 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 25 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 26 Asia-Pacific Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 27 RoW Chitosan Market Highlight
Figure 28 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Grade, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 29 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Application, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)
Figure 30 RoW Chitosan Market Size, by Country, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)