PUBLISHER: MarketsandMarkets | PRODUCT CODE: 2152967
PUBLISHER: MarketsandMarkets | PRODUCT CODE: 2152967
The global pharmaceutical excipients market is projected to reach USD 15.99 billion by 2031 from USD 11.95 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period. The expansion of the pharmaceutical excipients market has been driven primarily by surging demand for pharmaceutical products and generic medicines, and R&D investments in novel excipient development.
| Scope of the Report | |
|---|---|
| Years Considered for the Study | 2026-2031 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026-2031 |
| Units Considered | Value (USD billion) |
| Segments | By Product, Functionality, Formulation, Functionality Application |
| Regions covered | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa |
Additionally, partnerships & collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and increased emphasis on patient-centric formulations will provide lucrative market growth opportunities. However, regulatory stringency and steep development costs are predicted to restrict the market.
In 2025, the fillers & diluents functionality held the highest share in the pharmaceutical excipients market.
The pharmaceutical excipients market, segmented by functionality, includes binders, suspending and viscosity agents, fillers and diluents, flavoring agents and sweeteners, colorants, coating agents, lubricants and glidants, preservatives, disintegrants, emulsifying agents, and other specialized roles. Among these, fillers and diluents play a critical role, especially in the production of solid oral dosage forms like tablets and capsules. Their importance continues to grow with the rising demand for oral medications, which remain the most preferred route due to ease of administration and patient compliance. Fillers and diluents provide bulk to formulations containing small amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients and help ensure accurate dosage and improved content uniformity. From a manufacturing perspective, they contribute significantly to formulation stability, ease of processing, and scalability in mass production. They simplify processes such as blending, tableting, and encapsulation while enhancing the mechanical strength of tablets. For patients, these excipients improve mouthfeel, taste, and handling, which are crucial factors for pediatric and geriatric populations. As drug formulations become more complex, the demand for high-performance, multifunctional fillers and diluents that support controlled release and bioavailability enhancement is also rising, presenting significant growth opportunities in this excipient category.
The oral formulations segment accounted for the highest share of the pharmaceutical excipients market in 2025.
The pharmaceutical excipients market is categorized based on formulation types into oral formulations, topical formulations, parenteral formulations, and other formulations. Among these, the oral formulations segment held the largest market share in 2025, reflecting its dominance as the most widely used and traditional drug delivery method. The convenience, cost-effectiveness, and high patient compliance associated with oral administration make it a preferred choice for patients and healthcare providers. This segment continues to expand due to the rising demand for tablets, capsules, and other solid oral dosage forms. Furthermore, the rapid growth of the biopharmaceutical and generics industries is playing a pivotal role in driving demand for high-quality excipients that enhance drug stability, solubility, and bioavailability in oral products. The increasing prevalence of chronic conditions requiring long-term medication and the trend toward self-administration of drugs also contribute to the growth of this segment. As a result, pharmaceutical companies are investing in innovative oral drug formulations, boosting the need for advanced excipients tailored to these needs.
Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the global pharmaceutical excipients market from 2026 to 2031.
The pharmaceutical excipients market in the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow robustly and register the highest CAGR among all regions during the forecast period. Several interrelated factors are driving this expansion. One of the key advantages is the region's cost-effective manufacturing capabilities, which make it an attractive hub for pharmaceutical production and outsourcing. Countries like India, China, and South Korea offer abundant raw material availability, skilled labor, and favorable government policies that support pharmaceutical R&D and export-oriented manufacturing. Additionally, the Asia Pacific region has relatively lenient regulatory frameworks compared to Western markets, which accelerates product development and time-to-market. The rapid rise in per capita income, growing awareness of health and wellness, and increased healthcare spending are further fueling demand for generic drugs and, by extension, pharmaceutical excipients. Moreover, a surge in lifestyle-related chronic diseases and expanding geriatric populations have led to greater demand for innovative drug formulations, including oral solids and topical applications. These trends create significant opportunities for local and global excipient manufacturers to expand operations, invest in infrastructure, and form strategic partnerships to meet the growing regional demand.
List of Key Companies Profiled in the Report
Key players in the pharmaceutical excipients market include Roquette Freres (France), ADM (US), , Evonik Industries AG (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Ashland Inc. (US), Kerry Group plc (Ireland), MERCK KGaA (Germany), Associated British Foods plc (UK), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany), Air Liquide (France), DOW (US), Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (US), Colorcon (US), DFE PHARMA (Germany), Actylis (US), Croda International Plc (UK), Gattefosse (France), JRS Pharma (Germany), and Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (Japan).
Research Coverage
This research report categorizes the pharmaceutical excipients market by Product [Organic (Oleochemicals, Carbohydrates, Petrochemicals, Proteins, and Other Organic Chemicals), Inorganic (Calcium Phosphate, Metal Oxides, Halites, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, Other Inorganic Chemicals), Other chemicals], by Functionality (Fillers & Diluents, Suspending & Viscosity Agents, Coating Agents, Binders, Flavoring Agents & Sweeteners, Disintegrants, Colorants, Lubricants & Glidants, Preservatives, Emulsifying Agents, and Other Functionalities), by formulation (Oral (Tablets, Capsules, Liquid Formulations and other oral formulations), Topical Formulations, Parenteral Formulations, and Other Formulations), by Functionality Application (Stabilizers, Taste Masking, Modified Release, Solubility & Bioavailability Enhancement and Other Functionality Applications), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa).
The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities, influencing the growth of the pharmaceutical excipients market. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, products, solutions, key strategies, collaborations, partnerships, and agreements. The report also covers new approvals/launches, collaborations, acquisitions, and recent developments associated with the pharmaceutical excipients market.
Reasons to Buy this Report
The report will help market leaders and new entrants by providing them with the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall pharmaceutical excipients market and its subsegments. It will also help stakeholders better understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and devise suitable go-to-market strategies. This report will enable stakeholders to understand the market's pulse and provide them with information on the key market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.
Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and product offerings of leading players. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their key strategies, product launches/ approvals, acquisitions, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, other recent developments, investment and funding activities, brand/product comparative analysis, and vendor valuation and financial metrics of the pharmaceutical excipients market.