PUBLISHER: The Insight Partners | PRODUCT CODE: 1885268
PUBLISHER: The Insight Partners | PRODUCT CODE: 1885268
The empty capsules market size is expected to grow from US$ 7.79 billion in 2024 to US$ 13.68 billion by 2031; it is projected to register a CAGR of 8.5% during 2025-2031. The rising geriatric population, increased demand for empty capsules across industries, and growing preference for capsule-based medications are noteworthy factors contributing to the expansion of the empty capsules market size. Additionally, the integration of smart and functional capsules is projected to bring new empty capsules market trends in the near future.
The worldwide shift towards a health-conscious consumer behavior has not only had an impact on the production of basic nutrition but also on the market of probiotics and functional foods, which are substantially more expensive and designed for technology-based health benefits. The empty capsules market has reached a point where the trend cannot possibly be any more powerful, as capsules are and will remain the most efficient, convenient, and effective delivery system for bioactive compounds. Empty capsules are getting more and more accepted as the favored carrier of probiotic strains and functional food ingredients, especially when made of plant materials like HPMC or pullulan. Capsules, being the modern form of food, not only deliver the active ingredients but also protect them from degradation due to moisture, light, and stomach acid, thus guaranteeing better bioavailability and targeted release. Such advantages are particularly crucial to probiotic supplements, as the bacteria must be alive until they reach the intestines. Major players like Garden of Life use HPMC (plant-based) empty capsules for their Dr. Formulated Probiotics line, thus providing 50 billion CFUs of various strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium for gut balance. This is the 42% increased probiotic innovation; hence, the targeted applications for women's vaginal health or immune-boosting formulae can be opened. Likewise, NOW Foods uses size zero-gelatin capsules in their Probiotic-10, which supports 25 billion CFUs for daily digestive aid, taking advantage of the 14.1% CAGR in probiotic foods and beverages. Just like this, functional ingredients such as turmeric, ashwagandha, spirulina, and collagen are being more and more often provided in the form of capsules for their convenience and dosage accuracy.
The functional food alliance- which is clearly seen in the case of yogurts and drinks fortified with nutrients- is also making use of empty capsules, which allow powdered or microencapsulated probiotics to be blended in easily, thus making them more accessible and available in terms of their shelf life and bioavailability. Therefore, the rising trend of using probiotics and functional food applications is simultaneously pushing the empty capsules market for innovation and growth. With natural, convenient, and effective health solutions being the consumer's priority, the capsule delivery systems will prove to be an indispensable part in fulfilling the current demands of wellness, and are expected to emerge as a significant trend in the empty capsules market.
End User-Based Insights
Based on end user, the empty capsules market is segmented into the pharmaceutical industry, the nutraceutical industry, the cosmetics industry, and research laboratories. The pharmaceutical industry segment held the largest empty capsules market share in 2024. Pharmaceutical companies use empty capsules as a vehicle for a wide range of drugs such as antibiotics, anti, inflammatory drugs, antacids, vitamins, and combination therapies. The benefits of capsules like easy swallowing, better bioavailability, and the capacity to hide the unpleasant taste, make them a dosage form of choice, especially for oral drug delivery. Besides that, the ability of capsules to be used for both immediate and controlled release formulations increases their attractiveness to pharmaceutical manufacturers who are looking for innovative and flexible drug delivery technologies.
Over the past years, the pharmaceutical industry has gradually adopted vegetarian or plant-based capsules, such as HPMC and pullulan, to cater to the growing consumer demand for non-animal products and to comply with the regulations that are changing in some regions. These capsules provide better stability, longer shelf life, and are suitable for moisture-sensitive and hygroscopic drugs. Besides that, pharmaceutical companies are turning to capsule, in-capsule, and multi-particulate systems to facilitate complex drug delivery profiles, such as delayed release and targeted delivery, thus empty capsules as a vehicle for drugs are becoming more and more used in different therapeutic areas. With the help of Pfizer, which is very much involved in the use of capsules as a part of its prescription product portfolio, and Johnson & Johnson, which utilizes capsule-based formulations in several therapeutic segments, including oncology and infectious diseases, we can have a clearer view of the scenario. On top of that, Novartis and Roche have implemented capsule technologies in order to improve patient compliance and maximize drug performance in both clinical and commercial settings. The pharmaceutical industry's consistent prioritization of innovation, patient adherence, and compliance with regulations is the main factor that is driving the demand for empty capsules, thereby fueling the empty capsules market growth.
The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are among the primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the empty capsules market report.