The Empty Capsules market to expected grow from USD 2.3 billion in 2020 to USD 3.7 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.1 % during the forecast period. The major factors that are expected to be driving the empty capsules market are the growing adoption of capsule formulations among the growing geriatric population, the growth of the pharmaceutical market with the increasing R&D activities & clinical trial studies, and the advancements in capsule delivery technologies. The objective of the report is to define, describe, and forecast the empty capsules market size based on type, functionality, application, end user, and region.
Traditionally, capsules were made from gelatin for manufacturing solid dosage forms for the pharmaceutical industry. Technological advancements have provided the empty capsules industry with a growing range of functionality options for capsules-based formulations used by patients. Over the years, capsule delivery has witnessed a number of technological advancements in terms of product enhancements for better quality outcomes and patient comfort. These include the improvement of capsule shells, fill material, capsule-sealing techniques, and capsule systems to achieve modified drug release and the encapsulation of different materials. Another key technology is the development of capsule-in-capsule technology to protect gastric-sensitive active ingredients. This allows for the use of minimal excipients for formulation, improvement of upper gastrointestinal safety, differentiated pharmacokinetic performance, and improved product development. For instance,
Gelatin is the original and most common material used to produce capsules. However, gelatin is an animal by-product formed from collagen, obtained from the by-products of slaughtered animals including the bones, hides, and hooves of cattle, pigs, horses, fish, and poultry. Individuals with religious or dietary restrictions that forbid the consumption of animal products are not suited for traditional gelatin capsules. Therefore, capsules that contain this type of gelatin are not preferred by certain communities, owing to their cultural and religious practices. The popularity of vegetarian or vegan diets has also increased in recent years, which highlights the demand for vegetarian capsules. These capsules, being both the obvious choice for both vegetarian and vegan consumers, are also more acceptable for religious reasons as well.
Gelatin is a key ingredient in processed foods and hard and soft capsules for prescription drugs and vitamin supplements. Globally, over 45% of gelatin is derived from pork. This is a major concern to Muslim consumers due to the porcine nature of gelatin. Only 3% of the global gelatin production is from halal or permissible ingredients, implying a clear demand for greater production of halal gelatin. Halal gelatin is produced from the bones and hides of halal slaughtered animals (cattle) and is becoming increasingly important in the pharmaceutical sectors in emerging markets of the Middle East and Asia that have a large Muslim population have a substantial growth rate.
Globally, the demand for gelatin and its raw materials has witnessed a significant increase over the entire application spectrum—the pharmaceutical industry, in which the demand for capsules for pharmaceutical production has registered a vast increase, and the food processing, nutraceuticals, leather, cosmetics, dying & tanning, and paper production industries. All of these also utilize gelatin and raw materials used for its production on a large scale. The use of gelatin in the food preparations has increased six-fold in the last decade. Similar trends have been observed in the nutraceutical and cosmetic industry.
The key players operating in the global empty capsules market, such as ACG Worldwide, Bright Pharma Caps Inc., CapsCanada Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd. (Capsugel), Medi-Caps Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (Qualicaps, Inc.), Roxlor LLC, Snail Pharma Industry Co. Ltd, Suheung Co., Ltd, and Sunil Healthcare Ltd.
North America is expected to hold the largest market size in the empty capsules market during the forecast period, followed by the European region. The highest market share of North America can be attributed to the existing presence of major capsule manufacturers with large production capacities along with the presence of a number of pharmaceutical giants with large production capacities utilizing these capsules. The growing emphasis on superior pharmaceutical products and generics has also led to the increase in demand for empty capsules. With the significant growth in pharmaceutical manufacturing in the past few years in APAC, several factors are expected to drive the impressive growth of the region. The factors include the growing pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and the large patient pool in the region.
Traditionally, capsules were made from gelatin for manufacturing solid dosage forms for the pharmaceutical industry. Technological advancements have provided the empty capsules industry with a growing range of functionality options for capsules-based formulations used by patients. Over the years, capsule delivery has witnessed a number of technological advancements in terms of product enhancements for better quality outcomes and patient comfort. These include the improvement of capsule shells, fill material, capsule-sealing techniques, and capsule systems to achieve modified drug release and the encapsulation of different materials. Another key technology is the development of capsule-in-capsule technology to protect gastric-sensitive active ingredients. This allows for the use of minimal excipients for formulation, improvement of upper gastrointestinal safety, differentiated pharmacokinetic performance, and improved product development. For instance,
Gelatin is the original and most common material used to produce capsules. However, gelatin is an animal by-product formed from collagen, obtained from the by-products of slaughtered animals including the bones, hides, and hooves of cattle, pigs, horses, fish, and poultry. Individuals with religious or dietary restrictions that forbid the consumption of animal products are not suited for traditional gelatin capsules. Therefore, capsules that contain this type of gelatin are not preferred by certain communities, owing to their cultural and religious practices. The popularity of vegetarian or vegan diets has also increased in recent years, which highlights the demand for vegetarian capsules. These capsules, being both the obvious choice for both vegetarian and vegan consumers, are also more acceptable for religious reasons as well.
Gelatin is a key ingredient in processed foods and hard and soft capsules for prescription drugs and vitamin supplements. Globally, over 45% of gelatin is derived from pork. This is a major concern to Muslim consumers due to the porcine nature of gelatin. Only 3% of the global gelatin production is from halal or permissible ingredients, implying a clear demand for greater production of halal gelatin. Halal gelatin is produced from the bones and hides of halal slaughtered animals (cattle) and is becoming increasingly important in the pharmaceutical sectors in emerging markets of the Middle East and Asia that have a large Muslim population have a substantial growth rate.
Globally, the demand for gelatin and its raw materials has witnessed a significant increase over the entire application spectrum—the pharmaceutical industry, in which the demand for capsules for pharmaceutical production has registered a vast increase, and the food processing, nutraceuticals, leather, cosmetics, dying & tanning, and paper production industries. All of these also utilize gelatin and raw materials used for its production on a large scale. The use of gelatin in the food preparations has increased six-fold in the last decade. Similar trends have been observed in the nutraceutical and cosmetic industry.
The key players operating in the global empty capsules market, such as ACG Worldwide, Bright Pharma Caps Inc., CapsCanada Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd. (Capsugel), Medi-Caps Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (Qualicaps, Inc.), Roxlor LLC, Snail Pharma Industry Co. Ltd, Suheung Co., Ltd, and Sunil Healthcare Ltd.
North America is expected to hold the largest market size in the empty capsules market during the forecast period, followed by the European region. The highest market share of North America can be attributed to the existing presence of major capsule manufacturers with large production capacities along with the presence of a number of pharmaceutical giants with large production capacities utilizing these capsules. The growing emphasis on superior pharmaceutical products and generics has also led to the increase in demand for empty capsules. With the significant growth in pharmaceutical manufacturing in the past few years in APAC, several factors are expected to drive the impressive growth of the region. The factors include the growing pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and the large patient pool in the region.
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