Empty Capsules Market Size – By Type (Gelatin, Vegetarian Capsules), Source (Porcine Gelatin, Bovine Derived Gelatin, Bone Meal, Starch Materials & Pullulan), Functionality, Capsule Size, Application, End-user & Global Forecast, 2024 – 2032

Empty Capsules Market Size

Empty Capsules Market was valued at USD 3 billion in 2023 and is expected to register more than 7.7% CAGR between 2024 and 2032, driven by the rising popularity of dietary supplements and increase in strategic collaboration between players. In addition, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with the growing geriatric population contribute significantly to the business growth. Despite these, increasing burden of such diseases and surge in demand for capsule intake is projected to impel market demand.
 

Empty capsules, also known as gelatin capsules or hard capsules, are pharmaceutical dosage forms used to encapsulate powdered or granular substances. These are typically transparent or translucent, allow easy visibility of the encapsulated material. They are available in various sizes, colour, and compositions to suit different formulation needs.

Empty Capsules Market Trends

• Growing trend among consumers towards preventive healthcare and wellness, leading to increased consumption of dietary supplements and vitamins. Many individuals are incorporating these supplements into their daily routines to maintain overall health and address specific nutritional deficiencies.
   
• Empty capsules provide a convenient and easy-to-use dosage form. They allow consumers to customize their supplement regimens by combining different ingredients in a single capsule, making it easier to manage their intake and adhere to recommended dosages, thereby driving the market expansion.
   

Empty Capsules Market Analysis

Based on the type, the gelatin-based capsules segment held the highest share of 61.2% in the market.
 

• Continuous innovation in gelatin capsule technology is driving the development of capsules with improved properties, such as enhanced stability, dissolution characteristics, and moisture resistance. These advancements aim to address specific formulation and delivery challenges faced by pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies.
   
• Further, the growing demand for nutraceuticals and dietary supplements is driving the market for hard gelatin capsules, as they are commonly used for encapsulating vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and other nutritional ingredients. Thus, owing to such aforementioned factors, the segment is expected to spur the overall product demand.
   

Based on source, the porcine gelatin segment held the highest market share of 31.5% in 2023.
 

• Porcine-derived gelatin has traditionally been a widely utilized ingredient, sourced from the pork skin and bones. The National Health Service (NHS) indicates that the incorporation of porcine-based products as stabilizers in diverse vaccines and capsules is anticipated to be a key driver for market growth in the foreseeable future. Also, this application plays a crucial role in maintaining the effectiveness and safety of these products, particularly during storage and post-storage periods, that supports their dominance in the empty capsules market.
   

Based on functionality, the immediate-release segment is expected to hold the highest revenue up to 2032.
 

• Immediate-release empty capsules are commonly used in the production of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including pain relievers, cold and flu remedies, and digestive aids.
   
• The growing demand for OTC medications, driven by factors such as self-medication trends and consumer preference for convenience, contributes to the demand for immediate-release empty capsules, thereby augmenting the market growth.
   
• Further, immediate-release empty capsules facilitate the delivery of drugs that need to be absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, meeting the needs of patients requiring fast relief from symptoms. Thus, aforementioned factors are projected to drive the segmental growth.
   

Based on capsule size, the empty capsules market is classified into Size "000", Size "00", Size "0", Size "1", Size "2", Size "3", Size "4", Size "5". Size "0" segment held the highest CAGR of 8.4% through 2032.
 

• Size 0 empty capsules are commonly used in clinical trials for drug development due to their versatility and ease of use. Pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials often require large quantities of empty capsules in size 0 to encapsulate investigational drugs for administration to trial participants, thereby accelerating demand of size 0 capsules in the market.
   
• Further, the Size 0 segment is popular among nutraceutical manufacturers for encapsulating various nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbal extracts. Consumers prefer smaller-sized capsules for ease of swallowing, contributing to the demand for Size 0 empty capsules in the nutraceutical industry.
   

Based on application, the antibiotic and antibacterial drugs segment was worth more than USD 943.6 million in 2023.
 

• Antibiotics and antibacterial drugs are commonly administered orally, and capsules are preferred dosage form due to their ease of administration, patient compliance, and stability of the drug formulation. This preference for oral dosage forms drives the demand for empty capsules for antibiotics and antibacterial drugs.
   
• In addition, developing regions are witnessing an expansion of healthcare infrastructure, leading to improved access to healthcare services, including antibiotics and antibacterial drugs. This expansion drives the demand for pharmaceuticals, thereby increasing the need for empty capsules as a drug delivery system.
   

Based on end-user, the pharmaceuticals industry segment is expected to hold the highest revenue share by 2032.

• The pharmaceutical industry is witnessing advancements in capsule manufacturing technologies, leading to improved product quality, increased production efficiency, and reduced manufacturing costs. These advancements are attracting pharmaceutical companies to invest in empty capsules.
   
• Further, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing in research and development activities to introduce innovative drugs and formulations. This trend is expected to fuel the demand for empty capsules as they are essential for the encapsulation of new drug formulations.
  
   

In 2023, North America secured a substantial market share in the global empty capsules market and is expected to dominate during 2024 and 2032.
 

• Increasing preference for capsule-based nutraceutical formulations and the heightened consumption of these nutraceuticals, driven by their preventive capabilities against major health issues like cancer, obesity, and arthritis will supplement the market. Furthermore, capsules emerge as the preferred solid oral dosage forms, contributing to a increased demand for empty capsules within the regional nutraceutical industry.
   
• Additionally, the region has sophisticated and organized healthcare system that fosters research and development initiatives. This environment also promotes the entry of international players into these countries. Consequently, the region is benefited from the significant presence of global market players. With the high demand being effectively addressed by these international participants, the market is poised for further growth throughout the forecast period.
   

Empty Capsules Market Share

The competitive landscape of the empty capsules industry is characterized by the presence of established pharmaceutical companies vying for market share. Key players are engaging in strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships to strengthen their product portfolios. The companies are actively adopting a multi-pronged approaches to address the rising demand for effective empty capsules.
 

Empty Capsules Market Companies

Prominent players operating in the empty capsules industry are as mentioned below:

• ACG
• Bright Pharma Caps Inc.
• CapsCanada Corporation
• Erawat Pharma Limited
• HealthCaps India
• Lonza Group
• Medi-Caps Ltd.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation
• Nectar Lifesciences Ltd.
• Qingdao Yiqing Biotechnology Co., Ltd
• Seoheung Co., Ltd.
   

Empty Capsules Industry News

• In November 2023, CapsCanada Corporation received investment of USD 5 million from FedDev Ontario. This investment helped company to expand its facility and diversify its empty capsule manufacturing.  
   
• In April 2020, Qualicaps the capsule manufacturing company expanded its presence in Middle East & Africa after signing Agency & Distribution partnership agreements with a several market leading companies in the region. These partnerships helped company to strengthen its presence in MEA region.
   

This empty capsules market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD Million from 2018 - 2032 for the following segments:

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Market, By Type

• Gelatin based capsules
  • Hard capsules
  • Soft capsules
• Vegetarian capsules

Market, By Source

• Porcine gelatin
• Bovine derived gelatin
• Bone meal
• Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC)
• Starch materials & pullulan

Market, By Functionality

• Immediate release
• Sustained release
• Delayed release

Market, By Capsule Size

• Size "000"
• Size "00"
• Size "0"
• Size "1"
• Size "2"
• Size "3"
• Size "4"
• Size "5"

Market, By Application

• Antibiotic and antibacterial drugs
• Vitamins and dietary supplements
• Antacid and antiflatulent preparations
• Cardiovascular therapy drugs
• Other therapeutic applications

Market, By End-user

• Pharmaceuticals industry
• Nutraceuticals industry
• Cosmetics industry
• Research laboratories

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East and Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Rest of Middle East and Africa