Softgel Capsule Market | Global Size & Industry Trends 2024

Softgel Capsule Market Synopsis

Softgel Capsule Market Size Was Valued at USD 5.33 Billion in 2024 and is Projected to Reach USD 9.32 Billion by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 7.23% From 2025-2032.

Softgel capsules are a type of oral dosage form composed of a gelatin or non-gelatin shell containing a liquid, semi-solid, or suspension formulation. These capsules are typically smooth, easy to swallow, and offer advantages such as enhanced bioavailability, improved stability, and precise dosing. They are commonly used for delivering pharmaceutical drugs, dietary supplements, and cosmeceutical formulations. Softgel capsules are favored for their versatility, allowing for the customization of formulations to meet specific patient needs.

The Softgel Capsule is increasing demand for convenient and easy-to-swallow oral dosage forms. These capsules, enclosed in a gelatin or non-gelatin shell and filled with liquid or semi-solid formulations, are gaining popularity across pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals industries. They have smooth texture and ease of ingestion and are widely preferred by consumers, contributing to their widespread adoption.

The Softgel Capsule market benefits from technological advancements that enhance product stability, bioavailability, and customization options. Pharmaceutical companies utilize softgel capsules to deliver both prescription and over-the-counter medications effectively. The nutraceutical sector is also influenced by these capsules for delivering dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbal extracts to its growing health-conscious consumer base.

Furthermore, the cosmeceutical industry utilizes softgel capsules to capture skincare and beauty formulations, capitalizing on consumer preferences for innovative and convenient beauty products. With various expanding applications and continual advancements, the Softgel Capsule market is rising for sustained growth in the predictable future.

Softgel Capsule Market Trend Analysis

Growing Demand for Natural and Vegetarian Alternatives

• There is a growing demand for ethical and dietary concerns perception for health and wellness in consumers. The is a rising demand for Vegetarian and vegan products free from animal-derived ingredients, such as traditional gelatin-based softgels. Consumers also have allergies or sensitivities to animal-derived ingredients, making non-gelatin alternatives safer. Traditional gelatin production has environmental concerns, such as animal farming and land-use issues.
• These concerns have created manufacturers an opportunity to develop a wider variety of non-Gelatin softgel options made from plant-based materials like carrageenan, pullulan, and starch-glycerin. Technological advancements are also enabling the development of improved non-Gelatin capsules with superior stability, functionality, and release properties. This diversification of the softgel capsule market presents a significant growth opportunity, especially in regions with high adoption of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. The softgel capsule manufacturers are capitalizing on the trend by offering a diverse range of natural and vegetarian formulations, and the evolving preferences of consumers in the market.

The Rising Demand for Personalization and Customization

• The rising demand for personalization and customization is due to consumers increasingly preference products tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Softgel capsules offer a versatile platform for customization, allowing manufacturers to formulate precise dosages and target-specific drug delivery, enhancing their appeal to consumers. This ability to tailor formulations to individual requirements can lead to increased consumer satisfaction and loyalty, driving sales and strengthening brand positioning.
• The demand for personalized healthcare products continues to grow, and there is an increase in the need for raw materials suitable for customized softgel formulations. Manufacturers can capitalize on this trend by sourcing high-quality ingredients that meet consumer demands for natural, vegetarian, or other specialized formulations. By offering a diverse range of customizable options, softgel capsule manufacturers can better address the evolving needs of consumers and differentiate themselves in a competitive market landscape, ultimately driving growth and profitability.

Softgel Capsule Market Segment Analysis:

Softgel Capsule Market Segmented based on Product Type, Source Type and Application.

By Product Type, Gelatin Softgel Capsules segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period

• The Gelatin capsules segment is widely used in pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements for their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and comfort of manufacturing. Gelatin, derived from animal collagen, possesses excellent gelling properties, ensuring the integrity of the capsule shell and protecting the encapsulated contents from environmental degradation. The gelatin softgels offer enhanced bioavailability, ensuring efficient absorption of the contained active ingredients by the body.
• Its characteristic makes them highly desirable for formulations requiring precise dosage delivery and rapid onset of action. The gelatin softgel capsules exhibit excellent stability, maintaining their structural integrity over extended periods, which is crucial for shelf-life and consumer trust. These attributes contribute to the dominance of the Gelatin Softgel Capsules segment in the Softgel Capsule market,

By Source Type, the Animal-based segment held the largest share in 2024

• The animal-based softgel capsules are typically sourced from gelatin, which is derived from collagen found in the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals. Gelatin offers superior properties such as excellent gelling ability, stability, and compatibility with a wide range of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), making it a preferred choice for encapsulation in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
• The Animal-based softgel capsules are widely favored due to their perceived safety and efficacy. Gelatin has a long history of safe use in pharmaceutical formulations and is recognized by regulatory authorities worldwide. Animal-based capsules' cost-effectiveness and availability of raw materials, allowing manufacturers to maintain a stable supply chain and competitive pricing help strengthen their market share in the forecast period.

Softgel Capsule Market Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific is Expected to Dominate the Market Over the Forecast Period

• The Asia Pacific region is experiencing industrialization, and urbanization, in the healthcare sector due to developing economies like China, and India. The growing health concerns, rising disposable incomes, and proactive government initiatives set the stage for substantial market expansion.
• The Asia Pacific region benefits from a flourishing scientific base and enhanced pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, supported by strategic investments and technological advancements. The regional ecosystem supports innovation and product development and enhances the region's competitiveness in global pharmaceutical markets.
• The presence of a vast patient pool in several Asian countries emphasizes the region's significance as a crucial market for softgel capsules. The presence of global pharmaceutical manufacturers is strategically establishing manufacturing facilities in the Asia Pacific, region and growth potential and cost efficiencies these factors place the Asia Pacific as the dominant in the softgel capsules market over the forecast period.

Softgel Capsule Market Top Key Players:

• Catalant Inc. (USA)
• Best Formulations Inc. (USA)
• Amneal Pharmaceuticals (USA)
• Capsugel (Lonza) (USA)
• Robinson Pharma Inc. (USA)
• Thermofisher Scientific Inc. (USA)
• Captek Softgel International Inc. (USA)
• Roquette (France)
• Curtis Health Caps (Poland)
• DCC Plc. (Ireland)
• Procaps Groups (Colombia)
• Aenova Group (Germany)
• PB Leiner (Germany)
• Fuji Capsule Co., Ltd. (Japan)
• Sirio Pharma Co. (China)
• Other Active Players.

Key Industry Developments in the Softgel Capsule Market:

• In May 2024, Roquette revealed its latest innovation: LYCAGEL® Flex, a hydroxypropyl pea starch premix tailored for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical softgel capsules. This cutting-edge product, based on Roquette’s pioneering pea starch technology, eliminates the need for plasticizers. Offering manufacturers flexibility in formulation customization, LYCAGEL® Flex sets new benchmarks in quality, stability, and performance for plant-based softgels.
• In December 2023, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Strides Pharma Science Limited, unveiled the launch of Icosapent ethyl acid soft gel capsules, branded as VASCEPA. Strides Pharma granted an in-license for the medication, marking its entry into the market in the fourth quarter of 2023. These capsules, containing ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), aim to serve as a dietary supplement for adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia (? 500 mg/dL).