Report cover image

Global Softgel Capsules Market Size, Trend & Opportunity Analysis Report, by Source (Porcine, Bovine), Application (Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals & Dietary Supplements, Cosmetics & Personal Care), and Forecast, 2025–2035

Published Aug 09, 2025
Length 285 Pages
SKU # KAIS20696909

Description

Market Definition and Introduction

The global softgel capsules market was valued at USD 1.59 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach USD 3.11 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 6.30% during the forecast period (2025–2035). In a quiet revolution in the delivery mechanism of pharmaceuticals that is attracting the involvement of consumers in personalizing health care and nutraceutical consumption, there is an increasingly emerging trend with the softgel capsule base. The softgels enable all types of versatile, gelatinous-based capsules to achieve better bioavailability, superior taste masking, and precise dose delivery.

In the fast-paced health ecosystem, product success often lies in the convenience of use and compliance on the part of the consumers. Softgel capsules fulfill this demand well, as they allow smooth ingestion for applications in both hydrophilic and lipophilic formulations. The creation of the new product is going beyond conventional forms with complex active ingredients and sensitive APIs; therefore, during the development of advanced encapsulation technologies, constant R&D is done, and growing numbers of elderly and paediatric patients who have difficulty taking the old tablets or hard capsules give rise to increased demand.

The market is undergoing a realignment due to this change in consumer behavior towards clean-label, animal-free, and plant-based products. While porcine and bovine remain the dominant gelatin sources, there is a marked increase in exploration of alternate capsule materials to serve vegan consumers. Simultaneously, contract manufacturers are playing a pivotal role in accelerating product innovation, reducing time-to-market, and offering turnkey softgel development platforms. All these aspects put together are bound to redefine the contours of the global softgel capsules market.

Recent Developments in the Industry

Strengthening a Global Supply Chain Infrastructure, Catalent Inc. Expands Softgel Manufacturing Capacity

Catalent Inc. has declared a massive investment in expanding its Buenos Aires, Argentina, facility for softgel manufacture in July 2024. The objective of the expansion is to keep pace with the burgeoning demand for consumer health products across Latin America. It will also serve to improve scalability for global pharmaceutical customers.

Procaps Group Partners with Pharmavite LLC to Introduce New Nutraceutical Softgel Lines to the U.S.

In April 2024, Procaps Group signed an agreement with Pharmavite for co-developing and then commercializing a new line of vitamin and mineral supplements in the softgel format. The partnership will work towards optimizing bioavailability and formulation with nutrients for specific consumer health needs.

Sirio Pharma Co. Ltd.'s Plant-Based Softgel Capsule Technology for the Vegan Population

In January 2024, Sirio Pharma launched an innovative vegan softgel capsule produced by modified starch and carrageenan. This is part of the strategy adopted to cater to the growing plant-based supplement market, which has seen an increase in demand owing to dietary restrictions and ethical consumerism.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Enhances Analytical Support Services for Softgel Encapsulation Processes

In September 2023, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced modifications to its laboratory infrastructure that support softgel formulation development, including advanced dissolution testing and particle analysis. The investment is aimed at improving speed-to-market and ensuring regulatory compliance for its biopharma clients.

Market Dynamics

Rising Demand for Nutraceuticals and Functional Supplements Elevates the Softgel Capsule Market Trajectory

The rising global awareness of preventative healthcare, coupled with wellness, has increasingly pushed consumers into adopting supplement routines for daily consumption. This phenomenon has brought nutraceuticals to the center stage of the softgel revolution. Whether omega-3s, multivitamins, or botanical extracts, manufacturers are converting to softgel formats to offer better stability and consumer acceptance, thus buoying overall market momentum.

Technological Advancements in Encapsulation and Formulation Processes Reshape Product Design Capabilities

Softgel research is moving on the basis of modern achievements in the fields of newly developed encapsulation technology and formulation science. From multi-particulate encapsulation to enteric-coated softgels and time-release mechanisms, the companies are speeding up their evolution portfolios to differentiated dosage forms. Not only do these enhancements help towards improving the therapeutic efficacy, but they also open newer fronts in areas like oncology, immunotherapy, and dermatology applications.

Emerging More Outsourcing to Development Contract Manufacturing Organizations Scales up Capacity and Proficiency

Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies are progressively transferring softgel operations to specialized CDMOs so they can gain all the benefits of their know-how, overhead reductions, and operating scaling in speed. CDMOs execute all steps from API formulation to the commercial scale of manufacture, leaving brand owners focusing on innovation and marketing with the cost-effective coverage of international quality standards.

Regulatory Aspects of Quality Assurance Have Become the Drivers of Clean Label Product Transparency

As a result, increasingly stringent regulatory scrutiny on the quality, sources, and stability of materials encasing capsules has developed demands for transparency, traceability, and documentation. In tandem, consumer advocates for clean-label formulations persuade manufacturers to declare the origins of ingredients and purge artificial additives from their products, thus constraining future pipelines of products.

Increase in Elderly and Pediatric Populations Paves Way for Higher Demand for Formats That Are Easier to Swallow

Creating more aged demographics in Europe, North America, and some parts of the Asia-Pacific region will soon create a demand for dosage forms that are easy to swallow and also digest. This trend is emerging similarly in pediatric formulations; softgels are being used more often in child-friendly medications and supplements, avoiding the need for unpleasant-tasting syrups or crushed tablets.

Attractive Opportunities in the Market

Elevated Nutraceutical Consumption – Consumer focus on immunity and wellness accelerates softgel supplement adoption.
Vegan and Plant-Based Formulations – Innovation in non-animal softgel technology opens new demographics.
Personalized Medicine Growth – Tailored APIs demand flexible softgel delivery platforms.
CDMO Expansion – Outsourcing drives agile scale-up and faster regulatory approval cycles.
Thermo-Sensitive API Compatibility – Softgels offer viable encapsulation for fragile compounds.
Clinical Trial Adoption – Rapid release profiles make softgels suitable for early-stage drug trials.
Clean Label Movement – Transparency in sourcing and production fuels brand loyalty.
Pediatric and Geriatric Use – Demand for easy-to-swallow dosage forms increases in specific age groups.

Report Segmentation

By Source: Porcine, Bovine

By Application: Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals & Dietary Supplements, Cosmetics & Personal Care

By Region: North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific), LAMEA (Brazil, Argentina, UAE, Saudi Arabia (KSA), Africa Rest of Latin America)

Key Market Players

Catalent Inc., Aenova Group, Sirio Pharma Co. Ltd, EuroCaps Ltd., Lonza Group, Captek Softgel International Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., BASF SE, Soft Gel Technologies Inc., Procaps Group.

Report Aspects

Base Year: 2024
Historic Years: 2022, 2023, 2024
Forecast Period: 2025-2035
Report Pages: 293

Dominating Segments

The Application Segment of Pharma is Dominating the Market Due to Token Therapeutic and Reformulated Efficiency.

The leading market share of the pharmaceutical application segment resides in the encapsulation of poorly water-soluble drugs in the softgel for enhancing bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. The dosage control of these capsules is better than tamper resistance and high stability, which makes it a robust vehicle in both over-the-counter and prescription formulation purposes.

Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements Also Have a Stronger Grip on Preventive Health and Wellness Developments

The nutraceuticals segment experiences such phenomenal growth since it addresses lifestyle diseases backed up with wellness awareness. Softgel capsules serve as a gold standard in the delivery of omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and herbal extracts due to their superiority in ingredient stability and customer acceptance. As more countries expand their markets for functional foods, softgels broaden their track to retail shop shelves and online platforms.

The Porcine Source Segment Commands a Major Share in Ageing Due to Its Common Availability and Consistency in Quality of Gelatin.

The most widely used of these is porcine-derived gelatin, which is characterised by high availability, good film-forming capacity, and cost efficiency. However, while ethical and religious concerns have prompted exploration of alternative materials, the very well-established safety, clarity, and mechanical strength in the process of encapsulation of porcine gelatin are still relied on by the pharmaceutical industry.

Key Takeaways

Pharmaceutical Applications Dominate – Enhanced bioavailability fuels prescription and OTC softgel usage.
Nutraceutical Surge – Daily health supplements drive market expansion, especially in aging populations.
Porcine Gelatin Leads – Widespread usage ensures consistent quality and proven encapsulation performance.
CDMO Partnerships Rise – Outsourcing drives scalability and time-to-market advantages.
Vegan Innovations – Non-animal softgel materials attract ethical consumers and new market entrants.
Easy-to-Swallow Format – Strong uptake across pediatric and geriatric medicine verticals.
Asia-Pacific Momentum – Growth in wellness product demand and manufacturing capabilities.
Functional Cosmetics – Nutraceutical-infused beauty capsules blur lines between health and skincare.
Enhanced R&D Focus – Novel APIs and slow-release technologies shape future product pipelines.
Tightening Regulations – Clean labeling and quality compliance shape sourcing and production norms.

Regional Insights

North America Leads the Softgel Capsules Market Due to Established Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Infrastructure.

North America occupies the largest share of the market; this is further facilitated by ever-increasing health expenditure, demand for dietary supplements, and a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment. The U.S. is at the forefront of innovations, especially in the domain of functional supplements and advanced oral therapeutics. The presence of major manufacturers and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) in the region also continues to provide impetus to product-development pipelines.

Europe Witnesses Steady Growth Supported by Clean Label Trends and Aging Population Demands

Europe continues to gain momentum due to the clear demands for plant-based nutrition, ethical sourcing, and increasing geriatric populations in Germany, France, and the UK. With its stringent regulations, the region ensures the quality and transparency needed to motivate companies toward high-integrity manufacturing practices, focusing more on specialized therapeutics and beauty supplements.

Asia-Pacific Emerges as the Fastest-Growing Region with Expanding Wellness Trends and Manufacturing Ecosystems

Asia-Pacific is expected to record the highest CAGR in the next decade, owing to rapid urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and rising health awareness. India, China, and South Korea are emerging as key hubs for production, backed by government initiatives to boost domestic capacity in the pharmaceutical domain and the innovation of wellness products. The rising middle class in this region is also turning to nutraceuticals and functional supplements with verve.

Latin America and the Middle East & Africa Show Promising Growth as Healthcare Infrastructure Improves

As softgel capsules enter the health systems and OTC offerings in the nascent LATAM and MEA regions, the governments are investing in preventive healthcare frameworks and local pharmaceutical production, generating downstream opportunities for softgel capsule manufacturing and distribution.

Core Strategic Questions Answered in This Report

Q. What is the expected growth trajectory of the softgel capsules market from 2024 to 2035?

The global softgel capsules market is projected to grow from USD 1.59 billion in 2024 to USD 3.11 billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 6.3%. This growth is fueled by increased consumer preference for oral, easy-to-swallow supplements and medications, advancements in encapsulation technologies, and the expansion of both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications globally.

Q. Which key factors are fuelling the growth of the softgel capsules market?

Several critical factors include:
Rising consumption of nutraceuticals and daily health supplements.
Increasing adoption of patient-friendly oral drug formats.
Growing contract manufacturing ecosystem for faster go-to-market strategies.
Technological innovations in gelatin and non-gelatin capsule materials.
Global health awareness promoting wellness and preventive medicine.
Expansion of e-commerce platforms supporting supplement delivery.

Q. What are the primary challenges hindering the growth of the softgel capsules market?

Key challenges include:

Ethical and religious restrictions related to gelatin sources.
Regulatory complexities around formulation transparency and safety.
Price volatility in gelatin sourcing and supply chain disruptions.
Limited shelf stability for certain formulations under harsh conditions.
High capital expenditure for specialized encapsulation equipment.

Q. Which regions currently lead the softgel capsules market in terms of market share?

North America currently dominates the global softgel capsules market, followed by Europe. These regions benefit from high supplement penetration rates, favorable regulatory frameworks, and well-established healthcare infrastructures. Asia-Pacific is rapidly emerging as the fastest-growing market.

Q. What emerging opportunities are anticipated in the softgel capsules market?

Notable opportunities include:
Innovation in plant-based and vegan softgel formats.
Integration of softgels in cosmetic nutrition and functional beauty.
Expansion of pediatric and geriatric medication lines.
Cloud-based LIMS and CDMO collaborations for agile product development.
Growing traction of softgels in clinical and oncology applications.

Key Benefits for Stakeholders

The report offers a quantitative assessment of market segments, emerging trends, projections, and market dynamics for the period 2024 to 2035.
The report presents comprehensive market research, including insights into key growth drivers, challenges, and potential opportunities.
Porter's Five Forces analysis evaluates the influence of buyers and suppliers, helping stakeholders make strategic, profit-driven decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer relationships.
A detailed examination of market segmentation helps identify existing and emerging opportunities.
Key countries within each region are analysed based on their revenue contributions to the overall market.
The positioning of market players enables effective benchmarking and provides clarity on their current standing within the industry.
The report covers regional and global market trends, major players, key segments, application areas, and strategies for market expansion.

Table of Contents

285 Pages
Chapter 1. Market Snapshot
1.1. Market Definition & Report Overview
1.2. Market Segmentation
1.3. Key Takeaways
1.3.1. Top Investment Pockets
1.3.2. Top Winning Strategies
1.3.3. Market Indicators Analysis
1.3.4. Top Impacting Factors
1.4. Industry Ecosystem Analysis
1.4.1. 360’ Analysis
Chapter 2. Executive Summary
2.1. CEO/CXO Standpoint
2.2. Strategic Insights
2.3. ESG Analysis
2.4 Market Attractiveness Analysis (top leader’s point of view on market)
2.5.key Findings
Chapter 3. Research Methodology
3.1 Research Objective
3.2 Supply Side Analysis
3.1.1. Primary Research
3.1.2. Secondary Research
3.3 Demand Side Analysis
3.1.3. Primary Research
3.1.4. Secondary Research
3.2. Forecasting Models
3.2.1. Assumptions
3.2.2. Forecasts Parameters ()
3.3. Competitive breakdown
3.3.1. Market Positioning
3.3.2. Competitive Strength
3.4. Scope of the Study
3.4.1. Research Assumption
3.4.2. Inclusion & Exclusion
3.4.3. Limitations
Chapter 4. Chapter 4. Industry Landscape
4.1. Market Dynamics
4.1.1. Drivers
4.1.2. Restraints
4.1.3. Opportunities
4.2. Porter’s 5 Forces Model
4.2.1. Bargaining Power of Buyer
4.2.2. Bargaining Power of Supplier
4.2.3. Threat of New Entrants
4.2.4. Threat of Substitutes
4.2.5. Competitive Rivalry
4.3. Value Chain Analysis
4.4. PESTEL Analysis
4.5. Pricing Analysis and Trends
4.6. Key growth factors and trends analysis
4.7. Market Share Analysis (2025)
4.8. Top Winning Strategies (2025)
4.9. Trade Data Analysis (Import Export)
4.10. Regulatory Guidelines
4.11. Historical Data Analysis
4.12. Analyst Recommendation & Conclusion
Chapter 5. Global Softgel Capsules Market Size & Forecasts by Source 2025-2035
5.1. Market Overview
5.1.1. Market Size and Forecast By Source 2025-2035
5.2. Porcine
5.2.1. Market definition, current market trends, growth factors, and opportunities
5.2.2. Market size analysis, by region, 2025-2035
5.2.3. Market share analysis, by country, 2025-2035
5.3. Bovine
5.3.1. Market definition, current market trends, growth factors, and opportunities
5.3.2. Market size analysis, by region, 2025-2035
5.3.3. Market share analysis, by country, 2025-2035
Chapter 6. Global Softgel Capsules Market Size & Forecasts by Application 2025–2035
5.1. Market Overview
6.1.1. Market Size and Forecast By Source 2025-2035
6.2. Pharmaceuticals
6.2.1. Market definition, current market trends, growth factors, and opportunities
6.2.2. Market size analysis, by region, 2025-2035
6.2.3. Market share analysis, by country, 2025-2035
6.3. Nutraceuticals & Dietary Supplements
6.3.1. Market definition, current market trends, growth factors, and opportunities
6.3.2. Market size analysis, by region, 2025-2035
6.3.3. Market share analysis, by country, 2025-2035
6.4. Cosmetics & Personal Care
6.4.1. Market definition, current market trends, growth factors, and opportunities
6.4.2. Market size analysis, by region, 2025-2035
6.4.3. Market share analysis, by country, 2025-2035
Chapter 7. Global Softgel Capsules Market Size & Forecasts by Region 2025–2035
7.1. Regional Overview 2025-2035
7.2. Top Leading and Emerging Nations
7.3. North America Softgel Capsules Market
7.3.1. U.S. Softgel Capsules Market
7.3.1.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.3.1.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.3.2. Canada Softgel Capsules Market
7.3.2.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.3.2.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.3.3. Mexico Softgel Capsules Market
7.3.3.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.3.3.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4. Europe Softgel Capsules Market
7.4.1. UK Softgel Capsules Market
7.4.1.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.1.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.2. Germany Softgel Capsules Market
7.4.2.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.2.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.3. France Softgel Capsules Market
7.4.3.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.3.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.4. Spain Softgel Capsules Market
7.4.4.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.4.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.5. Italy Softgel Capsules Market
7.4.5.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.5.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.6. Rest of Europe Softgel Capsules Market
7.4.6.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.4.6.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5. Asia Pacific Softgel Capsules Market
7.5.1. China Softgel Capsules Market
7.5.1.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.1.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.2. India Softgel Capsules Market
7.5.2.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.2.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.3. Japan Softgel Capsules Market
7.5.3.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.3.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.4. Australia Softgel Capsules Market
7.5.4.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.4.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.5. South Korea Softgel Capsules Market
7.5.5.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.5.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.6. Rest of APAC Softgel Capsules Market
7.5.6.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.5.6.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6. LAMEA Softgel Capsules Market
7.6.1. Brazil Softgel Capsules Market
7.6.1.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.1.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.2. Argentina Softgel Capsules Market
7.6.2.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.2.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.3. UAE Softgel Capsules Market
7.6.3.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.3.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.4. Saudi Arabia (KSA Softgel Capsules Market
7.6.4.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.4.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.5. Africa Softgel Capsules Market
7.6.5.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.5.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.6. Rest of LAMEA Softgel Capsules Market
7.6.6.1. Source breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
7.6.6.2. Application breakdown size & forecasts, 2025-2035
Chapter 8. Company Profiles
8.1. Top Market Strategies
8.2. Company Profiles
8.2.1. Catalent Inc.
8.2.1.1. Company Overview
8.2.1.2. Key Executives
8.2.1.3. Company Snapshot
8.2.1.4. Financial Performance (Subject to Data Availability)
8.2.1.5. Product/Services Port
8.2.1.6. Recent Development
8.2.1.7. Market Strategies
8.2.1.8. SWOT Analysis
8.2.2. Aenova Group
8.2.3. Sirio Pharma Co. Ltd.
8.2.4. EuroCaps Ltd.
8.2.5. Lonza Group
8.2.6. Captek Softgel International Inc.
8.2.7. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
8.2.8. BASF SE
8.2.9. Soft Gel Tech
How Do Licenses Work?
Request A Sample
Head shot

Questions or Comments?

Our team has the ability to search within reports to verify it suits your needs. We can also help maximize your budget by finding sections of reports you can purchase.