Single Cell Oil Global Market Report 2026

Single-cell oil refers to edible oils produced by microorganisms such as algae, yeast, and fungi. Single-cell oils are attractive feedstocks for biodiesel production because of their rapid production rates, low labor requirements, independence from seasonal and climatic variations, and ease of scaling for industrial processing.

The primary types of microorganisms for single-cell oil are bacteria, yeast, microalgae, and fungi. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that can be found in various environments, including soil and water. They are categorized into various grades, such as fuel oils, feed oils, and food oils. They are processed from various raw materials, including sugarcane mills and agro-industrial wastes, and are used in various applications such as biofuel feedstock, fish oil substitutes, functional oils, animal feed, infant formula, pharmaceutical products, and aquaculture.

Tariffs are influencing the single cell oil market by increasing the cost of imported fermentation equipment, bioreactors, and processing technologies used in large-scale SCO production. These impacts are affecting food-grade and fuel-grade SCO production, particularly in Asia-Pacific and Europe where cross-border equipment sourcing is common. Higher tariffs have increased capital expenditure and slowed facility expansion plans. At the same time, tariffs are encouraging domestic manufacturing of bioprocessing equipment and local sourcing of raw materials, supporting regional production ecosystems.

The single cell oil market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides single cell oil market statistics, including single cell oil industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a single cell oil market share, detailed single cell oil market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the single cell oil industry. This single cell oil 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 single cell oil market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $0.1 billion in 2025 to $0.12 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising demand for alternative oil sources, early adoption of microbial fermentation, limitations of conventional vegetable oils, growth of the aquaculture industry, and initial investments in biodiesel research.

The single cell oil market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $0.28 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for sustainable biofuels, advancements in microbial strain engineering, rising demand for infant nutrition ingredients, utilization of agro-industrial waste as feedstock, and scaling up of industrial fermentation facilities. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of microalgae-based oils, rising adoption of single cell oils for biodiesel, growing use of SCO as a fish oil substitute, expansion of fermentation-based oil production, and rising demand for functional and nutritional oils.

The increasing demand for sustainable and renewable energy is expected to propel the growth of the single-cell oil market in the coming years. Sustainable and renewable energy is defined as energy obtained from resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale and have limited negative environmental impacts. Demand for sustainable and renewable energy is increasing because growing concerns about climate change are encouraging governments and industries to reduce their dependence on carbon-intensive fossil fuels and transition toward cleaner energy sources. Single-cell oil, produced by oleaginous microorganisms such as microalgae and yeast, supports sustainable and renewable energy by providing a high-yield, rapidly growing, and environmentally friendly source of biofuel that reduces dependence on fossil fuels, minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, and utilizes waste substrates, thereby integrating energy production with circular bioeconomy principles. For instance, in April 2025, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a UAE-based intergovernmental organization, global renewable power capacity increased by 585 GW in 2024, representing a record annual growth rate of 15.1%, surpassing the 14.3% growth rate recorded in 2023. Therefore, the increasing demand for sustainable and renewable energy is driving the single-cell oil market.

The rise in people adopting vegetarian diets is expected to propel the growth of the single-cell oil market in the coming years. Adopting vegetarian diets refers to choosing to eliminate meat and fish from one's meals, generally emphasizing plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The adoption of vegetarian diets is often driven by health concerns, ethical considerations regarding animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and cultural or religious beliefs. Single-cell oil supports vegetarian diets by providing essential fatty acids, such as omega-3s, which are often limited in plant-based foods and are important for heart and brain health. For instance, according to the Good Food Institute Europe, a Belgium-based non-profit organization, in 2023, the value of plant-based food sales across six European countries reached €5.4 billion (approximately $5.83 billion), representing a 5.5% increase from 2022. Therefore, the rise in people adopting vegetarian diets is driving the single-cell oil market.

Major companies operating in the single-cell oil market are focusing on developing innovative products such as high-potency algal-derived omega-3 oils like DHA to provide sustainable, plant-based alternatives to traditional fish-sourced oils. High-potency algal-derived DHA oils are edible oils produced from microalgae that are rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, offering consistent quality while avoiding sustainability and contaminant concerns associated with conventional fish oil. For instance, in October 2024, DSM Firmenich N.V., a Switzerland-based health and nutrition company, launched life'sDHA B54-0100, a naturally potent DHA algal oil providing approximately 545 mg of DHA and 80 mg of EPA per gram. This innovative algal oil enables smaller and more convenient supplement formats with improved taste and no fishy odor, while supporting wider applications in functional foods, gummies, and chews, positioning it as a sustainable and high-quality alternative to traditional fish-derived omega-3 oils.

Major companies operating in the single cell oil market are Royal DSM N.V., Goerlich Pharma GmbH, DIC Corporation, Cellana Inc., Cargill Incorporated, Alltech Inc., Xiamen Huison Biotech Co. Ltd., Qingdao Seawit Life Science Co. Ltd., Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., Novosana BV, Hubei Xinhe Biotechnology Co. Ltd., The Lubrizol Corporation, Corbion NV, Aurora Algae Inc., TerraVia Holdings Inc., Solazyme Inc., Algix LLC, Sapphire Energy Inc., Heliae Development LLC, Algenol Biofuels Inc., Blue Marble Biomaterials LLC, Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc., Solix Biofuels Inc., OriginOil Inc., Joule Unlimited Technologies Inc., Synthetic Genomics Inc., Genomatica Inc., LS9 Inc., Amyris Inc., Evolva SA, Solvay SA

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the single-cell oil market in 2025. The regions covered in the single cell oil market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

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

The single-cell oil market consists of sales of biofuel, biodiesel, food and feed supplements, cosmetics, and personal care supplements that are derived from microorganisms. 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.

Single Cell Oil 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 single cell oil 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.

Reasons to Purchase

• Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 16 geographies.
• Assess the impact of key macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies and tariffs, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
• Identify growth segments for investment.
• Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
• Understand customers based on end user analysis.
• Benchmark performance against key competitors based on market share, innovation, and brand strength.
• Evaluate the total addressable market (TAM) and market attractiveness scoring to measure market potential.
• Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high-quality data and analysis
• Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 2-3 working days of order along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
• All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for single cell oil ? 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 single cell oil 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 Micro-organism: Bacteria; Yeast; Microalgae; Fungal
• 2) By Grade: Fuel; Feed; Food
• 3) By Raw Material: Sugarcane Mill; Agro-Industrial Waste
• 4) By Application: Bio-Fuel Feedstock; Fish Oil Substitute; Functional Oils; Animal Feed; Infant Formulae; Pharmaceutical Products; Aquaculture
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Bacteria: Cyanobacteria; Acinetobacter; Methylobacterium
• 2) By Yeast: Saccharomyces Cerevisiae; Candida Oleophila; Pichia Pastoris
• 3) By Microalgae: Spirulina; Chlorella; Nannochloropsis
• 4) By Fungal: Mortierella; Rhizopus; Aspergillus
• Companies Mentioned: Royal DSM N.V.; Goerlich Pharma GmbH; DIC Corporation; Cellana Inc.; Cargill Incorporated; Alltech Inc.; Xiamen Huison Biotech Co. Ltd.; Qingdao Seawit Life Science Co. Ltd.; Bioriginal Food & Science Corp.; Novosana BV; Hubei Xinhe Biotechnology Co. Ltd.; The Lubrizol Corporation; Corbion NV; Aurora Algae Inc.; TerraVia Holdings Inc.; Solazyme Inc.; Algix LLC; Sapphire Energy Inc.; Heliae Development LLC; Algenol Biofuels Inc.; Blue Marble Biomaterials LLC; Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc.; Solix Biofuels Inc.; OriginOil Inc.; Joule Unlimited Technologies Inc.; Synthetic Genomics Inc.; Genomatica Inc.; LS9 Inc.; Amyris Inc.; Evolva SA; Solvay SA
• 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.
• Delivery Format: Word, PDF or Interactive Report
• + Excel Dashboard
• Added Benefits
• Bi-Annual Data Update
• Customisation
• Expert Consultant Support

Added Benefits available all on all list-price licence purchases, to be claimed at time of purchase. Customisations within report scope and limited to 20% of content and consultant support time limited to 8 hours.