Empty Capsules Market by Type (Gelatin, Non-gelatin), Raw Material (Porcine, Bovine, HPMC), Functionality (Immediate, Sustained, Delayed), Application (Antibiotic, Dietary, CVD), Size (00 Capsule), End User (Pharma, Nutraceutical) - Global Forecast to 203

The global empty capsules market is projected to reach USD 4.19 billion by 2030 from an estimated USD 3.19 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2025 to 2030. The market is fueled by increasing demand for nutraceuticals and personalized supplements, growth in pharmaceutical R&D, and innovations in functional and modified-release capsules. A significant shift toward vegetarian and clean-label options and sustainability-focused regulations is further driving adoption. Future growth is likely to come from localized production in emerging markets and the creation of biodegradable capsules.

“The porcine-derived capsules will continue to be the largest raw material segment in the gelatin capsules market, growing at the highest CAGR.”

The gelatin empty capsules market is segmented based on raw material into porcine gelatin, bovine-derived gelatin, bone meal, and other gelatin sources. The non-gelatin capsules market is further categorized into hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and pullulan & starch. The porcine gelatin capsule market is the largest raw material category and is expected to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period, due to its cost-effectiveness and wide availability. Porcine gelatin is widely used in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries because of its excellent gelling properties, making it suitable for various drug formulations, including solid and controlled-release types.

“Pharmaceutical industry segment reported the highest share of the end user segment in 2024.”

Based on end users, the empty capsules market is categorized into pharmaceutical industry, nutraceutical industry, cosmetic industry, and research laboratories. The pharmaceutical industry is the largest end user of empty capsules, widely using them for delivering prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and therapeutic treatments. These capsules are commonly used for oral administration of solid drugs like antibiotics, pain relievers, antihypertensives, and other medications for managing chronic diseases. Capsules are a preferred dosage form in the pharmaceutical sector because they are easy to swallow, provide accurate dosing, and can encapsulate a broad range of drugs.

North America accounted for the largest global empty capsules market from 2025 to 2030.

In 2024, North America, especially the US and Canada, will be the largest market for empty capsules due to strong demand in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, supported by advanced manufacturing infrastructure and robust regulatory frameworks. Ongoing investments in technology and innovation have led to the development of high-quality capsules for various applications, such as immediate and controlled-release drug delivery. The rising demand for dietary supplements, driven by consumer interest in preventive healthcare and wellness, further fuels market growth. The region also benefits from a favorable regulatory environment, which encourages the adoption of new drug delivery formats, including controlled-release and enteric-coated capsules. Additionally, the Asia Pacific region is expected to see the fastest growth during this period, thanks to expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, lower production costs, and supportive government policies. Countries like China, India, and South Korea are becoming key manufacturing hubs due to their large skilled labor pools, low costs, and favorable policies.

The primary interviews conducted for this report can be categorized as follows:

By Respondent: Supply Side-70% and Demand Side-30%

By Designation: Managers-45%, CXO and Directors-30%, and Executives-25%

By Region: North America-40%, Europe-25%, the Asia Pacific-20%, Latin America-10%, and the Middle East & Africa-5%

List of Key Companies Profiled in the Report:

Key players in the Empty capsules market include Lonza (Capsugel) (Switzerland), ACG (India), Suheung (South Korea), Roquette (Qualicaps) (France), Shanxi Guangsheng Medicinal Capsule Co., Ltd (China), Nectar Lifesciences (India), Sunil Healthcare (India), Natural Capsules Limited (India), Baotou Dongbao Bio-Tech Co Ltd. (China), Anhui Huangshan Capsule Co., Ltd. (China), CapsCanada(Lyfe Group) (Canada), Farmacapsulas (Colombia), Healthcaps India (India), Erawat Pharma (India), Comed Chemicals Ltd (India), Fortcaps Healthcare Limited (India), and Shandong Healsee Capsule Ltd. (China).

Research Coverage:

This research report categorizes the empty capsules market, by type (gelatin capsules, non-gelatin capsules), by raw materials (gelatin [porcine-derived gelatin, bovine-derived gelatin, bone meal-derived gelatin, other gelatin sources], non-gelatin [hpmc, pullulan & starch]), functionality (immediate-release, sustained-release, delayed-release), size (Size 000, Size 00, Size 0, Size 1, Size 2, Size 3, Size 4, Size 5), therapeutic application (antibiotic & antibacterial drugs, dietary supplements, antacid & ant flatulent preparations, anti-anaemic preparations, anti-inflammatory drugs, cardiovascular therapy drugs, cough & cold drugs, other therapeutic applications), end user (pharmaceutical industry, nutraceutical industry, cosmetic industry, research laboratories) and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa).

The scope of the report covers detailed information about major factors such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities that influence the growth of the empty capsules market. A thorough analysis of key industry players has been conducted to provide insights into their business overview, products, and key strategies, including new product launches, collaborations, and partnership agreements.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will assist market leaders and new entrants by providing close estimates of revenue in the overall empty capsules market and its subsegments. It will also help stakeholders better understand the competitive landscape and gain insights to more effectively position their businesses and develop appropriate go-to-market strategies. This report will enable stakeholders to grasp the market's pulse and offer information on the key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges within the market.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (growth in nutraceuticals & personalized supplements market, growing focus on pharmaceutical development and subsequent increase in clinical trials, expansion of functional & modified-release capsules, sustainability & regulatory-driven transition, increasing preference for self-medication and OTC drugs, shift toward vegetarian & clean-label capsules) restraints (dietary restrictions associated with gelatin consumption, issues related to safety and efficacy, competition from other drug delivery technologies), opportunities (geographic expansion & localized production in emerging economies, development of biodegradable and sustainable capsules), and challenges (challenges associated with logistics and storage of empty capsules, raw material availability & supply chain dependence)

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming products, technologies, research & development activities in the empty capsules market

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the market across varied regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the empty capsules market

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, company revenue, growth strategies, and product offerings of leading players. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their key strategies, product launches/approvals, acquisitions, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, expansions, other recent developments, investment and funding activities, brand/product comparative analysis, and vendor valuation and financial metrics of the empty capsules market.

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