Beta Glucan Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Beta Glucan Market is projected to expand from USD 555.34 Million in 2025 to USD 834.35 Million by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 7.02%. Composed of glucose monomers, these biologically active polysaccharides are sourced from the cell walls of cereals like oats and barley, as well as from bacteria, mushrooms, and yeast. The market is fundamentally propelled by the increasing incidence of chronic lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, which has heightened consumer demand for preventive health solutions and functional foods. This shift toward wellness is supported by specific interest in immune health; according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition's 2024 data, 30% of dietary supplement users identified immune support as a primary motivation, highlighting the commercial need for immunomodulating ingredients.

Despite this strong demand, the sector faces significant hurdles related to the intricate extraction and purification processes needed to produce high-quality isolates. These technical challenges lead to high production costs that can limit widespread adoption, especially in price-sensitive developing markets where manufacturers struggle to balance affordability with the rigorous purity standards required for pharmaceutical and premium nutraceutical uses.

Market Drivers

The growing appetite for functional foods and fortified beverages serves as a major growth engine, as consumers increasingly favor preventive nutrition over reactive medical interventions. Manufacturers are actively adding beta glucans to various products, from clear functional waters to fortified snack bars, to meet this wellness-oriented demand. This expansion is highlighted by industrial forecasts; according to Glanbia Nutritionals' "US Functional Beverage Market Insights 2025" from February 2025, the US functional beverage sector is expected to reach $62 billion by 2027 with a compound annual growth rate of 4.5%. This growth encourages ingredient suppliers to develop high-purity, water-soluble beta glucan isolates that offer immunomodulatory benefits without negatively affecting the sensory qualities of premium goods.

Concurrently, the shift toward using beta glucans as antibiotic alternatives in animal feed is transforming the industry. As regulations limit prophylactic antibiotic use in livestock, producers are increasing their reliance on yeast cell wall derivatives to improve gut health and immunity in swine and poultry. This trend is visible in financial reports; Novonesis noted in its August 2025 "Interim Report for the First Half of 2025" that its biosolutions division achieved 9% organic sales growth, emphasizing the adoption of microbial and enzymatic feed technologies. This momentum is reinforced by changing end-user demands, as Beneo’s "Global Food & Drink Trends for 2025" report from May 2025 indicates that 55% of global consumers seek products supporting gut wellness, generating demand for healthier, antibiotic-free animal proteins.

Market Challenges

The complex extraction and purification workflows necessary to generate high-quality isolates represent a major obstacle to the Global Beta Glucan Market's growth. Attaining the purity levels required for premium nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications necessitates capital-heavy technologies and strict quality control, which inherently increase operational costs. These high expenses compel manufacturers to set higher prices for their ingredients, thereby limiting mass market uptake. As a result, food and beverage producers in price-sensitive areas are often reluctant to reformulate their products with beta glucans, as the subsequent rise in retail prices could deter cost-conscious consumers.

This economic strain is intensified by supply chain volatility regarding essential raw materials, particularly the cereal grains used as primary substrates. According to the International Grains Council, global barley production was projected to decrease to 145.7 million tons in 2024, marking a notable contraction from the previous season. Such limited availability of key feedstocks exerts upward pressure on input costs, compounding the financial burdens associated with complex purification processes and hindering the market's capacity to scale effectively in developing economies.

Market Trends

The repurposing of spent brewer’s yeast is becoming a pivotal trend for sustainable circular economy sourcing, significantly changing the raw material landscape for beta glucan production. To avoid the costs and volatility linked to primary cereal crops like barley and oats, manufacturers are increasingly upcycling this nutrient-dense brewing byproduct. This transition not only satisfies waste reduction requirements but also supplies a reliable, high-volume substrate for extracting yeast-derived beta glucans known for their immune-modulating effects. The industry's dedication to improving these processes is highlighted by strong intellectual property efforts; according to Angel Yeast’s "2024 Sustainability Report" from May 2025, the company filed 195 patents in 2024 alone, indicating a major strategic focus on optimizing extraction efficiencies and yeast biotechnology.

Simultaneously, the market is experiencing a surge in anti-pollution and microbiome-friendly cosmeceutical formulations, extending beta glucan applications from dietary ingestion to topical skin care. Cosmetic brands are integrating beta glucan isolates into premium skincare ranges, utilizing the ingredient’s capacity to strengthen the stratum corneum, alleviate irritation, and modulate skin bacteria against environmental aggressors. This trend is generating revenue growth for suppliers of evidence-based personal care ingredients; according to DSM-Firmenich’s "Half Year Results 2025" from August 2025, their Health, Nutrition & Care unit achieved 6% organic sales growth, driven by strong demand for their specialized personal care and dietary solutions.

Key Players Profiled in the Beta Glucan Market

• Tate & Lyle PLC
• Kerry Group PLC
• DSM-Firmenich AG
• Kemin Industries, Inc.
• AngelYeast Co., Ltd.
• Lallemand Inc.
• Leiber GmbH
• Associated British Foods PLC
• Biorigin
• Kirkman Group

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Beta Glucan Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Beta Glucan Market, by Category:

• Soluble
• Insoluble

Beta Glucan Market, by Source:

• Cereal & Grains
• Mushroom
• Yeast
• Seaweed

Beta Glucan Market, by Application:

• Food & Beverage
• Personal Care
• Cosmetics
• Others

Beta Glucan Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Beta Glucan Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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