Citric Acid Global Market Report 2026

Citric acid is a weak organic acid that occurs naturally in citrus fruits such as lemons and limes. It serves as a natural preservative and flavor enhancer, and it is widely utilized in beverages, food, and cleaning products. Its sour flavor also makes it an essential component in many carbonated drinks and candies.

Citric acid is available in two main types such as liquid and anhydrous. Liquid Citric Acid, a food-grade weak organic acid, finds extensive applications in the food industry. Its key functionalities include serving as an acidulant, preservative, antioxidant, and sequestrant, with diverse applications across industries such as food and beverage, bakery, confectionery, dairy, pharmaceuticals, personal care, and other related sectors.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are impacting the citric acid market by increasing costs of imported fermentation feedstocks, processing equipment, and bulk packaging materials. Asia-Pacific producers are most affected due to export-oriented manufacturing, while North America and Europe face higher import prices for food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade citric acid. These tariffs are raising input costs for food and beverage manufacturers. However, they are also supporting domestic fermentation capacity, regional sourcing strategies, and investments in sustainable production technologies.

The citric acid market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides citric acid market statistics, including citric acid industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a citric acid market share, detailed citric acid market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the citric acid industry. This citric acid market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The citric acid market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $4.5 billion in 2025 to $4.69 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of processed food consumption, expansion of soft drink production, increasing use as preservative and flavor enhancer, availability of fermentation-based production methods, rising demand from personal care formulations.

The citric acid market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.64 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing preference for natural ingredients, expansion of functional beverage markets, rising pharmaceutical formulation demand, growing adoption in eco-friendly cleaning products, increasing focus on sustainable acid production. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of natural food acidulants, rising demand from beverage manufacturing, growing adoption in clean-label formulations, expansion of pharmaceutical grade applications, enhanced focus on shelf-life extension.

The increasing need for food safety is expected to propel the growth of the citric acid market going forward. Food safety refers to the practices and conditions that ensure food is handled, prepared, and stored in ways that prevent contamination and protect consumer health. The increasing need for food safety is primarily driven by the rise in foodborne illnesses, which pose serious health risks and highlight the importance of proper handling, processing, and monitoring of food. Citric acid enhances food safety by acting as a natural preservative that inhibits microbial growth and helps maintain product freshness. For instance, in December 2024, according to the European Food Safety Authority, an Italy-based government agency, in 2023, there were 148,181 cases of campylobacteriosis, corresponding to 45.7 cases per 100,000 people, marking a 4.3% increase in the notification rate compared to 2022. Therefore, the increasing need for food safety is driving the growth of the citric acid market.

The increasing demand for personal care products is expected to propel the growth of the citric acid market going forward. Personal care products refer to self-care items used for hygiene, cleaning, and grooming. Products such as skincare and cosmetics drive the demand for citric acid, as it is commonly used to adjust pH levels, act as an antioxidant, and enhance the stability and effectiveness of formulations. For instance, in September 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a US-based government agency, spending on personal care products and services increased by 9.7% from 2022 to 2023, while their share of total annual expenditures remained steady at 1.2% in both years. Therefore, the increasing demand for personal care products is driving the growth of the citric acid market.

In May 2025, Roquette Freres S.A., a France-based plant-based ingredients and pharmaceutical-excipients company, acquired IFF Pharma Solutions for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Roquette aims to expand its capabilities and global footprint in drug-delivery solutions and strengthen its position as a key partner to the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. is a US-based company specializing in providing citric acid as one of its organic acid ingredients.

Major companies operating in the citric acid market are Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Cofco Biochemical Co. Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill Incorporated, Gadot Biochemical Industries Ltd, Tate & Lyle PLC, Huangshi Xinghua Biochemical Co. Ltd., RZBC Group Co. Ltd., Weifang Ensign Industry Co. Ltd., S.A. Citrique Belge N.V., Yixing Biochemical Co. Ltd., Shandong Juxian Hongde Citric Acid Company Ltd., Foodchem International Corporation, Posy Pharmachem Pvt Ltd, Saudi Bio-Acids Company, Citrique Belge N.V., TTCA Co. Ltd., Laiwu Taihe Biochemistry Co. Ltd.

Europe and North America was the largest region in the citric acid market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the citric acid market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the citric acid market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

The citric acid market consists of sales of citric acid powder and citric acid crystals. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Citric Acid Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses citric acid market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for citric acid ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The citric acid market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Liquid; Anhydrous
• 2) By Key Function: Acidulant; Preservative; Sequestrant
• 3) By Application: Food And Beverage; Bakery; Confectionery; Dairy; Pharmaceutical; Personal Care; Other Applications
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Liquid: Citric Acid Solution; Concentrated Liquid Citric Acid
• 2) By Anhydrous: Granular Anhydrous Citric Acid; Powdered Anhydrous Citric Acid
• Companies Mentioned: Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG; Cofco Biochemical Co. Ltd.; Archer Daniels Midland Company; Cargill Incorporated; Gadot Biochemical Industries Ltd; Tate & Lyle PLC; Huangshi Xinghua Biochemical Co. Ltd.; RZBC Group Co. Ltd.; Weifang Ensign Industry Co. Ltd.; S.A. Citrique Belge N.V.; Yixing Biochemical Co. Ltd.; Shandong Juxian Hongde Citric Acid Company Ltd.; Foodchem International Corporation; Posy Pharmachem Pvt Ltd; Saudi Bio-Acids Company; Citrique Belge N.V.; TTCA Co. Ltd.; Laiwu Taihe Biochemistry Co. Ltd.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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