The global lactic acid market was valued at 1.81 Million Tons in 2024 and is forecast to reach 3.71 Million Tons by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.60% during the period 2025-2033. The market expansion is driven by rising demand for biodegradable plastics, clean-label food ingredients, and natural personal care products. Increasing use of polylactic acid (PLA) production supported by renewable feedstocks and sustainable practices is fueling growth across various industrial and consumer applications.
The global Lactic Acid Market Forecast indicates strong growth in the coming years, driven by rising demand for biodegradable plastics, sustainable packaging solutions, and natural food additives. Lactic acid is increasingly used in producing polylactic acid (PLA), a popular bioplastic supporting global sustainability initiatives and regulations aimed at reducing plastic waste. The food and beverage sector remains a major consumer due to lactic acid’s role as a preservative, flavor enhancer, and pH regulator. Additionally, expanding applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial processes are contributing to market growth. Technological advancements in fermentation processes and increased adoption of bio-based materials are expected to accelerate the market’s expansion further.
Study Assumption Years
- Base Year: 2024
- Historical Year/Period: 2019-2024
- Forecast Year/Period: 2025-2033
Lactic Acid Market Key Takeaways
- Current Market Size: 1.81 Million Tons in 2024
- CAGR: 7.60%
- Forecast Period: 2025-2033
- North America led the market in 2024 with over 35.0% share due to large bioplastics and pharmaceutical sectors.
- Sugarcane is the dominant raw material feedstock, favored for its sugar content and cost efficiency.
- Liquid form dominates due to its usability in food, personal care, and chemical industries.
- Polylactic acid (PLA) accounted for 34.6% market share in 2024, driven by sustainable packaging demand.
- United States represents 88.10% of North America's market, with major investments in biodegradable polymers.
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Market Growth Factors
The lactic acid market growth is propelled by increasing global focus on sustainable materials and eco-friendly manufacturing. Rising demand from food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial packaging sectors is driving production and innovation. In food applications, lactic acid acts as a natural preservative and flavor enhancer, aligning with the clean-label trend. Demand for biodegradable materials in packaging and agriculture is propelling the adoption of polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer derived from lactic acid, further supporting market expansion.
Consumer preference shift toward natural ingredients boosts lactic acid use in personal care formulations. It serves as an exfoliating and moisturizing agent in skincare products, enhancing skin texture and reducing wrinkles. Lactic acid is widely used as a pH adjuster and acidifier to improve ingredient efficacy. Its adoption in moisturizers, serums, anti-aging products, and masks increases hydration and promotes collagen synthesis. Scientific studies demonstrate its efficacy in improving photoaging and skin health, reinforcing market uptake.
Extensive RD is advancing production techniques, including next-generation fermentation technologies like consolidated bioprocessing and continuous fermentation. These innovations simplify production, reduce costs, and increase yields. Advanced purification techniques, such as membrane separation and chromatography, enable isolation of specific isomers for targeted applications. Genetic engineering to enhance lactic acid bacteria productivity and metabolic optimization further contribute to improved manufacturing efficiency and growing industry capacity.
Market Segmentation
Raw Material:
- Corn
- Sugarcane
- Cassava
- Others
*Sugarcane dominates due to high sugar content, cost-efficiency, and availability in major producing countries. It supports sustainable fermentation and bio-based product demand globally.*
Form:
- Liquid
- Solid
*Liquid form leads with applications in food processing, beverages, personal care, and chemicals due to solubility and usability. Solid form is preferred in animal nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics for stability and dosage control.*
Application:
- Industrial
- Food and Beverages
- Pharmaceuticals
- Personal Care
- Polylactic Acid (PLA)
- Others
*PLA holds the largest segment share, driven by its use in sustainable packaging, disposable products, and biodegradable materials, supported by regulatory pushes and demand for compostable alternatives.*
Regional Insights
North America dominates the global lactic acid market with a 35.0% share in 2024, underpinned by corn feedstock availability, robust fermentation infrastructure, and expanding bioplastics and pharmaceutical applications. The U.S. accounts for 88.10% of this regional market, boosting domestic biodegradable polymer production and natural preservative adoption in foods. Supportive policies and RD investments amplify regional leadership and global export capacity.
Recent Developments News
- November 2024: Mirailab Bioscience launched Biotin and Clostridium Butyricum Plus, a supplement combining 50µg biotin with 25 Billion lactic acid and butyric acid bacteria per capsule, targeting skin, hair, and gut health.
- August 2024: Brenntag acquired Brazil-based PIC and PharmaSpecial, entering the soft gel capsule market and enhancing specialty chemicals offerings, including lactic acid.
- April 2024: SK Geo Centric introduced microbial fermentation technology producing lactic acid with reduced byproducts and costs, enhancing PLA sustainability.
- April 2024: ICHIMARU PHARCOS launched Fermentage ALOEVERA, a lactic acid bacteria-fermented aloe vera ingredient approved by COSMOS for improving skin moisture and reducing inflammation.
Key Players
- Cellulac plc
- Corbion N.V.
- Dupont De Nemours Inc.
- Foodchem International Corporation
- Galactic
- Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. (Somaiya Group).
- Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology Co. Ltd.
- Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG
- Musashino Chemical Laboratory Ltd.
- Spectrum Chemical Mfg. Corp.
- Vaishnavi Bio Tech International Limited
- Vigon International Inc. (Azelis Americas LLC)
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