Empty capsules are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for oral administration of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). They provide effective drug delivery and improve bioavailability of drugs along with easy administration. Empty capsules are available in various sizes ranging from size 000 to size 5 based on the quantity of drug to be delivered. The growing nutraceuticals industry has been driving the demand for empty capsules as they are used to encapsulate vitamins, minerals, probiotics and other dietary supplements. The
Global empty capsules market is estimated to be valued at US$2.3 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the empty capsules market are ACG Worldwide, Capsugel, Qualicaps Inc., Bright Pharma Caps Inc., Sunil Healthcare Ltd., CapsCanada Corporation, Roxlor LLC, Snail Pharma Industry Co. Ltd., Suheung Co. Ltd., and Medi-Caps Ltd. The nutraceuticals industry offers lucrative growth opportunities for empty capsule manufacturers with the rising health consciousness among consumers. Technological advancements like two-piece capsules provide improved functionality, stability and lower production costs.
Market drivers
Growing geriatric population prone to various diseases is a major factor boosting the demand for dietary supplements and medicines requiring empty capsules. According to WHO, the population aged over 60 years is estimated to double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050. Rising lifestyle diseases due to sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits also propels the nutraceutical industry’s growth. This positively impacts the empty capsules market.
Challenges in Empty Capsules Market
The empty capsules market is facing various challenges like increasing competition from alternate drug delivery solutions, stringent government regulations, and high cost of raw materials. Substitution threat from tablets and other softgel-based delivery forms is a major challenge as they offer better dosing accuracy. Additionally, requirements around safety and quality by regulatory bodies have made the approval process lengthy and resource intensive. Raw material prices, especially for hypromellose, a key polymer used in capsule making, are highly volatile which impacts production costs.
SWOT Analysis
Strength: Shell material innovations expanding applications. Many capsule manufacturers are developing innovative shell compositions to enable delivery of new classes of drugs.
Weakness: Significant R&D investments required to develop advanced capsules. Producing value-added capsules demand high upfront investments and technical expertise.
Opportunity: Growth in biologics and nutraceuticals driving demand. Increasing uptake of oral drug delivery for large molecule drugs and nutritional/dietary supplements present opportunities.
Threats: Stringent regulations around new facility approvals. Approval timelines for setting up new production sites have increased owing to tightening norms.
Geographical Regions
North America accounts for the largest share of the empty capsules market currently. This is attributed to factors like rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases, presence of major pharmaceutical companies, and strong healthcare infrastructure and R&D investments in the region. Europe is the second largest market driven by high pharmaceutical outsourcing and manufacturing activities.
Asia Pacific is poised to be the fastest growing region over the forecast period owing to rapidly expanding pharmaceutical industry in India and China. Rising affordability, growing middle class population especially in India, and shift of manufacturing activities to Asia further support market growth in this region.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
