Erucic Acid

Global Erucic Acid Market to Reach 347.0 Thousand Tons by 2030

The global market for Erucic Acid estimated at 300.1 Thousand Tons in the year 2024, is expected to reach 347.0 Thousand Tons by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.5% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Rapeseed Oil, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 2.6% CAGR and reach 152.1 Thousand Tons by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Canola segment is estimated at 1.6% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at 81.8 Thousand Tons While China is Forecast to Grow at 4.8% CAGR

The Erucic Acid market in the U.S. is estimated at 81.8 Thousand Tons in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of 66.6 Thousand Tons by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 4.8% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 0.9% and 1.8% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 1.3% CAGR.

Global Erucic Acid Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

What Is Driving the Diversification of Erucic Acid Applications Across Industrial Sectors?
Erucic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid primarily derived from high-erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) oil and mustard seed oil, has established its industrial relevance due to its unique chemical profile—most notably its long 22-carbon chain and high thermal stability. Traditionally used in the production of slip agents and lubricants, erucic acid is now witnessing growing demand in sectors such as plastics, cosmetics, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. Its ability to undergo oxidation and conversion into behenic acid, erucamide, and other downstream derivatives makes it an essential input in the synthesis of plasticizers, anti-fogging agents, and surfactants. In the polymer industry, erucamide plays a crucial role in polyethylene film production, particularly in food-grade packaging, where anti-blocking and surface smoothness are vital performance characteristics.

The chemical industry also leverages erucic acid as a precursor for the synthesis of wax esters, which are increasingly used in high-performance lubricants and metalworking fluids. Its superior lubricity and biodegradability make it a suitable candidate for eco-friendly formulations, aligning with growing regulatory pressure to replace petroleum-based additives. In the cosmetic and personal care industry, erucic acid is valued for its emollient properties and is included in formulations of skin creams, hair conditioners, and lip care products. With the shift toward plant-derived and natural ingredients, manufacturers are exploring high-purity grades of erucic acid to serve as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic oils and silicones, further expanding the compound’s commercial footprint beyond its traditional industrial base.

How Are Feedstock Dynamics and Production Technologies Shaping Supply Chains?
The global supply of erucic acid is intrinsically tied to the cultivation of high-erucic oilseed crops, particularly HEAR varieties of rapeseed (Brassica napus) and certain species of mustard (Brassica juncea). Canada, Europe (notably France, Germany, and Poland), China, and India are the principal producers of HEAR crops, with Europe playing a particularly central role in providing industrial-grade feedstock for chemical refinement. The production of HEAR oil involves strict agronomic controls to ensure erucic acid concentrations exceed 40%, as lower levels render the product non-viable for most industrial applications. Advancements in plant breeding and genetic engineering are leading to improved HEAR cultivars that offer enhanced yield, oil content, and erucic acid purity—mitigating risks related to supply consistency and crop disease vulnerability.

On the processing side, erucic acid is typically extracted via solvent-based methods followed by fractional distillation to achieve the required purity levels. More recently, manufacturers are adopting enzymatic and green chemistry approaches to enhance yield and reduce environmental impact, especially in markets with strict sustainability requirements. The availability of downstream capacity for converting crude erucic acid into value-added derivatives—such as esters, amides, and surfactants—is concentrated among a limited number of specialized chemical manufacturers. This has created a relatively consolidated supply chain, with a few global players controlling significant market share across both upstream (extraction) and downstream (derivatization) stages. However, vertical integration strategies by oleochemical companies are gradually reshaping competitive dynamics, leading to greater pricing efficiency and reduced supply risk for end users.

Which End-Use Trends Are Accelerating Demand for Erucic Acid in Niche Applications?
Emerging end-use applications of erucic acid are driving diversification beyond its well-established uses in industrial lubricants and polymer processing. In the pharmaceutical industry, erucic acid and its derivatives are being explored for their bioactive properties, particularly in drug delivery formulations and as potential excipients for lipid-based drug systems. Clinical research into its role in neurological health—especially in treating adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) through Lorenzo’s oil, which contains a mixture of erucic acid and oleic acid—has raised awareness of its therapeutic potential, although commercial applications remain niche and highly regulated.

In agrochemicals, erucic acid-based surfactants and emulsifiers are being integrated into bio-based crop protection products to enhance adhesion, spreadability, and efficacy of active ingredients. Its low toxicity profile and environmental degradability make it attractive for organic farming applications, where conventional surfactants derived from petroleum or synthetic alcohols face regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, the textile finishing industry is utilizing erucic acid esters in softeners and antistatic agents for natural fibers such as cotton and wool. These esters improve the hand-feel and reduce static buildup in garments, particularly in performance apparel and industrial workwear. Furthermore, specialty food processing equipment and conveyor systems increasingly use erucic acid-based lubricants that meet incidental food contact safety standards, contributing to demand in food-grade formulations.

What Is Fueling Growth Momentum in the Global Erucic Acid Market?
The growth in the erucic acid market is driven by several factors that span feedstock economics, industrial diversification, and sustainability-driven material substitution. One of the primary growth drivers is the increasing regulatory and market push to transition from petroleum-based chemical intermediates to bio-based alternatives. As industries ranging from plastics to cosmetics seek biodegradable and environmentally benign inputs, erucic acid and its derivatives present a compelling value proposition due to their renewability, functional versatility, and compatibility with existing processing infrastructure. The expansion of bio-lubricants and green surfactants markets globally is providing a scalable outlet for erucic acid-based derivatives, ensuring that demand growth is sustained by both innovation and environmental compliance imperatives.

Another critical driver is the growing demand for high-performance specialty chemicals in emerging markets. As industrial production scales up in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and parts of Eastern Europe, the need for advanced lubricants, polymer additives, and textile finishing chemicals is growing in tandem. Governments in these regions are implementing stricter controls on chemical toxicity and emissions, which further incentivizes the use of natural feedstocks such as erucic acid. Simultaneously, developments in HEAR crop cultivation, particularly through contract farming and public-private partnerships in Canada and the EU, are stabilizing the raw material supply base and improving price predictability—factors crucial for long-term sourcing strategies among downstream processors.

Moreover, the expansion of integrated oleochemical refineries is lowering the marginal cost of producing erucic acid and its derivatives, making them more competitive with fossil-based alternatives. These facilities leverage co-products from oilseed processing to create multi-product value chains that enhance economic viability. Finally, increased collaboration between chemical producers, agro-biotech firms, and industrial end-users is accelerating the pace of application development. As innovation pipelines diversify and downstream industries expand their acceptance of bio-based inputs, the erucic acid market is poised to achieve steady, cross-sectoral growth, with a rising share of demand coming from specialty chemicals, performance materials, and regulated consumer product applications.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Erucic Acid market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Source (Rapeseed Oil, Canola, Tame Mustard, Fish, Other Sources); Grade (Low Grade, High Grade); Application (Plastic Application, Printing Ink Application, Personal Care Application, Rubber Application, Pharmaceuticals Application, Other Applications)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 32 Featured) -

• Acme Synthetic Chemicals
• Adani Wilmar Limited
• Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
• Avril Group
• BASF SE
• Bunge Limited
• Cargill, Incorporated
• ChemPoint
• Corbion N.V.
• Croda International Plc
• Emery Oleochemicals
• Evonik Industries AG
• Fujiko Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Godrej Industries Limited
• Gushan Environmental Energy Limited
• Hubei Xunda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
• IOI Oleochemicals
• Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A.
• Jayant Agro-Organics Limited
• KLK Oleo
• Kraton Corporation
• Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.
• Perdue AgriBusiness
• PMC Biogenix, Inc.
• Vantage Specialty Chemicals, Inc.
• Wilmar International Limited

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