Single Cell Oil Market Global Report 2026

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.

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