Vegetarian Capsules Global Market Report 2025

The vegetarian capsules market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.57 billion in 2024 to $1.76 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3%. Factors contributing to this historical growth include increasing awareness regarding health and wellness, heightened concerns over synthetic ingredients and gelatin-based capsules, expansion of the vegetarian and vegan population, rising demand for natural and plant-based supplement options, and supportive regulations and labeling initiatives for vegetarian products.

The vegetarian capsules market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.76 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.9%. Key drivers of this projected growth include growing adoption of environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging solutions, rising development in the nutraceutical and functional food sectors, increased interest in personalized nutrition among consumers, and expanding access through various sales channels. Notable trends anticipated during this period involve a shift toward clean-label and plant-based solutions, innovations in plant extraction methods, broader acceptance of vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, increased emphasis on environmental sustainability, and the merging of digital health technologies with customized supplementation.

The increasing adoption of vegan lifestyles is expected to propel the growth of the vegetarian capsules market going forward. A vegan lifestyle excludes all animal-based products, emphasizing plant-based foods and ethical, cruelty-free choices for health and environmental benefits. The rise in vegan lifestyles is due to growing concern for animal rights, with more people choosing to avoid animal products to prevent harm. Vegetarian capsules offer a plant-based substitute for gelatin capsules, aligning with vegan dietary and ethical standards. They enable vegans to take supplements without using animal-derived ingredients. For instance, in January 2024, according to Finder, a US-based personal finance comparison site, approximately 2.5 million individuals in the UK are vegan, making up 4.7% of the population, up from 1.4 million vegans (2.5%) in 2023. Therefore, the increasing adoption of vegan lifestyles is driving the growth of the vegetarian capsules market.

Major companies operating in the vegetarian capsules market are focusing on developing advanced products, such as plant-based polymer capsules, to meet the growing demand for clean-label, vegan-friendly supplements. Plant-based polymer capsules are made from natural, animal-free materials such as cellulose or starch, offering a biodegradable and vegan-friendly alternative to traditional gelatin capsules. For instance, in February 2025, ACG Capsules, an India-based pharmaceutical company, introduced the world’s first fully vegan printed capsules. These capsules are made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and are certified by Vegan Action and The Vegetarian Society, ensuring that the capsule shell and the printing process are entirely free from animal-derived ingredients. This innovation addresses the growing demand for sustainable, cruelty-free, and transparent options in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, offering brands the ability to customize their messaging with vegan-compliant inks in green, black, or brown colors, and marking a significant advancement in ethical and eco-conscious healthcare solutions.

In March 2023, Vantage Nutrition LLC, an India-based pharmaceutical company, acquired ComboCap and BioCap for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen Vantage Nutrition’s global leadership by securing exclusive rights to ComboCap’s patented Sidebyside capsule technology, enabling simultaneous delivery of wet and dry ingredients in one capsule. ComboCap is a US-based pharmaceutical and nutraceutical company. BioCap is a South Africa-based manufacturer of vegetable capsules.

Major players in the vegetarian capsules market are Lonza Group, ACG Worldwide, SIRIO Pharma Co. Ltd., Robinson Pharma Inc., Hunan Er-Kang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Procaps Laboratories, Qualicaps Inc., HealthCaps India Ltd., Zhejiang Yuexi Capsule Co. Ltd., Farmacapsulas S.A., CapsCanada Corporation, Natural Capsules Limited, Bahrain Pharma, Sunil Healthcare Limited, Bright Pharma Caps, PATCO EXPORTS PVT. LTD, Horbaach, Shaoxing Kangke Capsule Co. Ltd., Dah Feng Capsule Co. Ltd., Anhui Huangshan Capsule Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the vegetarian capsules market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in vegetarian capsules report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the vegetarian capsules market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Vegetarian capsules serve as plant-based alternatives to traditional gelatin capsules and are typically formulated using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) or pullulan. These capsules are designed to encase powders, liquids, or granules in dietary supplements and pharmaceutical applications. Being free from animal-derived ingredients, they are ideal for vegetarians, vegans, and individuals with dietary restrictions or religious limitations. They are tasteless and odorless, and they dissolve efficiently in the stomach, enabling optimal release of the active ingredients.

The primary product variants of vegetarian capsules include hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and pullulan. HPMC capsules, derived from plant cellulose, are flavorless, odorless, and resistant to heat and moisture. They dissolve rapidly within the stomach, making them well-suited for use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products tailored for vegans, vegetarians, and those with specific dietary needs. These capsules may contain various ingredients such as plant-based extracts, herbal substances, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, and probiotics. They are available in multiple formats, including hard-shell, soft-gel, liquid-filled, and delayed-release capsules. Distribution is carried out through several channels, including online platforms, pharmacies, health food retailers, and supermarkets, catering to applications in dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products, nutraceuticals, and functional foods and beverages.

The vegetarian capsules market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides vegetarian capsules market statistics, including the vegetarian capsules industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the vegetarian capsules market share, detailed vegetarian capsules market segments, market trends, opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the vegetarian capsules industry. This vegetarian capsules market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The vegetarian capsules market consists of sales of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules, pullulan capsules, starch-based capsules, pectin capsules, and agar capsules. 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 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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