Proteases Market Report 2026

The proteases market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.6 billion in 2025 to $3.88 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of enzyme usage in food processing, increasing adoption in animal feed, growth in pharmaceutical enzyme applications, improvements in enzyme extraction techniques, rising awareness of digestive health.

The proteases market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.3 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for bio-based ingredients, expansion of enzyme use in therapeutics, growing adoption in specialty nutrition, rising focus on sustainable enzyme production, increasing investment in enzyme innovation. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of microbial-derived proteases, rising use in functional food applications, growing demand for plant-based enzymes, expansion of enzyme applications in healthcare, enhanced focus on high-purity enzyme formulations.

The growth of the animal feed industry is expected to propel the growth of the proteases market going forward. Animal feed refers to food provided to domesticated animals, primarily in agricultural settings, to meet their nutritional requirements for growth, development, productivity, and overall health. Proteases play a critical role in animal feed as enzymatic additives that enhance protein digestion, improve nutrient absorption, and increase feed efficiency, thereby supporting better animal performance. For instance, in January 2023, Alltech, a US-based animal feed, meat, brewing, and distilling company, reported that feed production increased across several regions, including Latin America by 1.6%, North America by 0.88%, and Oceania by 0.32%. Pet feed production recorded the highest growth among all sectors, with a global average increase of 7.25%. Therefore, the expansion of the animal feed industry is driving the growth of the proteases market.

Major companies operating in the proteases market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as advanced protease enzyme portfolios for laundry and cleaning applications, to address rising demand for efficient stain removal, sustainable cleaning solutions, and enhanced detergent performance. Proteases are enzymes that break down protein-based stains, including food, blood, and sweat, by hydrolyzing peptide bonds, delivering superior stain-removal performance compared to conventional non-enzymatic detergents that rely solely on surfactants or harsh chemicals. For instance, in March 2025, Novonesis, a Denmark-based global biosolutions company, launched an advanced protease portfolio designed for fast and efficient stain removal in modern detergent and household-care formulations. The portfolio, which includes variants such as Progress Beyond and Progress Go, is engineered to perform effectively across a wide range of washing conditions, including cold-water cycles and diverse detergent formats.

In March 2024, Novus International Inc., a US-based animal nutrition and feed-additive company, acquired BioResource International Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Novus aims to strengthen its enzyme-based feed solutions, accelerate innovation in animal nutrition and gut health management, expand its portfolio of high-performance feed additives, and enhance its global market presence. BioResource International Inc. is a US-based enzyme company specializing in feed additives.

Major companies operating in the proteases market are Advanced Enzymes Technologies Limited, Amano Enzymes Inc., Biocatalysts Limited, Koninklijke DSM NV, Dyadic International Incorporated, Specialty Enzymes & Biotechnologies Company, Associated British Foods Plc, BASF SE, Rossari Biotech Limited, Jiangsu Boli Bioproducts Company Limited, Creative Enzymes Inc., Kemin Industries Inc., AB Enzymes GmbH, Lallemand Inc., Novozymes A/S, Chr. Hansen Holdings A/S, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Enzyme Development Corporation, Enzyme Solutions Inc., Enzyme Supplies Limited, Genencor International Inc., Kerry Group PLC, Lumis Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Megazyme International Ireland Ltd., Sunson Industry Group Co. Ltd., VTR Bio-Tech Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the proteases market share in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the proteases market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the proteases market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The proteases market consists of sales of glutamic, metalloproteases, cysteine, serine, threonine, and aspartic proteases. 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.

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