Food Colorants Market Report 2026

The food colorants market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.98 billion in 2025 to $5.32 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of processed food production, rising consumer demand for visually appealing foods, increased use of synthetic dyes, growth in beverage manufacturing, availability of food-grade color additives.

The food colorants market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.18 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing regulatory pressure on synthetic dyes, rising demand for natural and organic foods, expansion of functional and fortified food products, growing innovation in bio-based pigments, increasing adoption in beverage and confectionery industries. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of natural food colorants, rising demand for clean-label coloring solutions, growing use of plant-based pigments, expansion of heat-stable colorant applications, enhanced focus on color consistency and stability.

The growing demand for organic food is expected to propel the growth of the food colorants market going forward. Organic food refers to agricultural products produced through organic farming methods that avoid synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and certain processing techniques. Consumers who favor organic products tend to prefer natural colorants, aligning with clean-label trends associated with organic foods. Organic certification requirements, positive health and wellness perceptions, and supportive regulatory frameworks are contributing to the increased use of natural colorants in organic food production. As consumer awareness rises and transparency in food ingredients becomes more important, the market for natural colorants continues to expand. For instance, in May 2025, according to GOV.UK, a UK-based government website, the United Kingdom recorded 503 thousand hectares of organically farmed land in 2024, representing a 1% increase compared to 2023. Therefore, the increasing demand for organic food is driving the growth of the food colorants market.

Major companies operating in the food colorants market are concentrating on the development of advanced solutions, such as high-efficiency bio-based color production, to improve manufacturing yields, lower production costs, and enhance the sustainability of natural pigment ingredients. High-efficiency bio-based color production involves the use of precision fermentation, cell programming, and high-throughput screening technologies to significantly increase natural color output while reducing environmental impact. For example, in April 2025, Phytolon, an Israel-based biotechnology start-up, in collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks, a US-based biotechnology company, announced the completion of a full-project milestone that nearly tripled the manufacturing efficiency of Phytolon’s natural food colors using Ginkgo’s cell programming and high-throughput screening platform. This development enabled the production of two natural pigments, Beetroot Red and Prickly Pear Yellow, with higher yields, reduced production costs, and a lower carbon footprint, providing vibrant, high-quality colorants suitable for applications such as baked goods, snacks, toppings and icings, confectionery, dairy yogurts, ice creams, and frozen novelties, subject to regulatory approval.

In October 2025, ROHA, an India-based food color solutions company, acquired Tebracc for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, ROHA aims to strengthen its global presence in the food colorants market by integrating Tebracc’s range of natural coloring solutions and expanding its offerings for the food and beverage industry. Tebracc is a Brazil-based company specializing in natural food colorants.

Major companies operating in the food colorants market are Sun Food Tech Pvt. Ltd., Koninklijke DSM N.V., Florio Colori S.P.A., Chr. Hansen A/S, Cargill Incorporated, GNT Group, BASF SE, Riken Vitamin Co. Ltd., Wild Flavors Inc., Sensient Technologies Corporation, Naturex SpA, D.D. Williamson & Co. Inc., Döhler GmbH, Kalsec Inc., IFC Solutions, Kemin Industries Inc., Lycored Ltd., Symrise AG, Givaudan SA, Haarmann & Reimer GmbH.

Europe was the largest region in the food colorants market in 2025. The regions covered in the food colorants 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 food colorants market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The food colorants market consists of sales of beta-carotene, annatto extract, beet juice, purple carrot, and butterfly pea powder. 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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