Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) Market Report 2026

The carboxymethylcellulose (cmc) market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.81 billion in 2025 to $1.9 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in processed food consumption, expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing, increasing use in drilling fluids, rising demand for detergents and personal care products, availability of cellulose-based raw materials.

The carboxymethylcellulose (cmc) market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.35 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for clean-label ingredients, rising pharmaceutical production volumes, expansion of specialty chemical applications, growing focus on biodegradable polymers, increasing investments in high-purity cmc production. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for functional food additives, growing use as pharmaceutical excipient, expansion of oil and gas drilling applications, increased adoption in cosmetic formulations, enhanced focus on high-purity grades.

The growing food and beverage industry is expected to boost the growth of the carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) market going forward. The food and beverage industry encompasses the production, processing, distribution, and sale of food and drink products. The versatility of carboxymethylcellulose in enhancing texture, stability, and overall product quality across a wide range of food and beverage applications makes it a valuable ingredient, contributing to rising market demand. For instance, in July 2025, according to the Government of Canada, exports of processed food and beverage products reached a record $59.8 billion in 2024, reflecting a 3.8% increase compared to 2023. Therefore, the expanding food and beverage industry is driving the growth of the carboxymethylcellulose market.

Major companies operating in the carboxymethylcellulose market are actively pursuing business expansion, including the formation of new subsidiaries to increase production capacity and meet rising demand across multiple industries. Establishing new companies involves creating and registering a business entity, defining its structure, purpose, and operations. For instance, in February 2023, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., a Japan-based manufacturing company, announced the establishment of a manufacturing and sales subsidiary in Hungary for its SUNROSE MAC brand of CMC. This high-performance additive is used in coating processes for lithium-ion battery anodes, where demand has surged in recent years. SUNROSE MAC enables a uniform coating surface, improving the safety performance of lithium-ion batteries - a feature particularly valued by manufacturers producing batteries for electric vehicles, consumer electronics such as smartphones and PCs, and renewable energy storage systems.

In June 2024, Tate & Lyle, a UK-based global provider of food and beverage ingredients, partnered with CP Kelco to create a leading global specialty food and beverage solutions business. This collaboration aims to combine the companies’ expertise in innovative ingredient solutions, broaden product portfolios across key markets, and support sustainable growth in the global food and beverage sector. CP Kelco is a US-based specialty ingredient company specializing in hydrocolloids and functional ingredients for food, beverage, and industrial applications.

Major companies operating in the carboxymethylcellulose (cmc) market are Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Dow Inc., CP Kelco U.S., Inc., Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V., Lamberti S.p.A., Daicel Corporation, Sinocmc Chemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Ruitai Chemical Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Jinke Peroxide Co., Ltd., Chongqing Lihong Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd., Hebei Maoyuan Chemical Co., Ltd., Anqiu Eagle Cellulose Co., Ltd., Wealthy Chemical Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd., Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., Borregaard ASA, Henan HPMC Chemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Yiteng New Material Co., Ltd., Wuhan Senwayer Century Chemical Co., Ltd., Tianjin Zhongxin Chemtech Co., Ltd., DKS Co., Ltd.

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

The carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) market consists of sales of anionic carboxymethylcellulose, water-soluble carboxymethylcellulose, and cellulose derivative carboxymethylcellulose. 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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