Market Overview

Empty Capsules Market is projected to achieve a value of USD 3,230 Million in 2023, with a linear behavior in the market growth it is forecasted to achieve a value of USD 5,130 Million by 2033 with a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period 2023-2033.

Empty Capsules are a form of hollow shell in which Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients or inner substance and medical ingredients enclosed. Empty capsules are mostly recommended for the storages of drugs, herbs and powder. Capsules are easier to swallow than tablets. Pharmaceutical companies use capsules to manufacturing different type of combination of doses forms. Empty capsule is made up of various Gelatin, Non-Gelatin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC), pullulan or starch materials which is available in various types of color, shape and size.

Growth of Empty Capsules market driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetic, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, rising demand for gelatin capsule, increase adoption of capsule formulation by pharmaceutical manufacturer.

For instance, according to the article published by Nitta Gelatin India in June 2022, capsules are the second most delivery format of drugs and contribute to around 13.0% of the new drugs. A Mexican manufacturer and distributor of empty capsules, had 70.0% of its sales in the nutraceutical sector, according to a news published by Mexico business in December 2020

COVID 19 pandemic seen positive impact on the empty capsules market growth. Strong immune system plays a vital role to fight against the virus and infection, there has been increasing demand of immunity booster supplements, vitamins and minerals to boost immunity. As the increasing number of COVID patient increase the consumption of nutrition and dietary supplements made a positive influence on the nutraceutical industry. This led to rise the demand of Empty capsules and contributed as one of the factor for the market growth. 

Market Scope

Market Dynamics

The empty capsules market is driven by increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, increasing demand for the nutraceutical product in the form of capsule, increasing awareness of benefits of capsules, increasing geriatric population.

Chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases are highly prevalence globally. For instance, about 17.9 million people die due to cardiovascular diseases globally in every year, and the number is forecasted to grow to more than 23.6 million by 2030, according to the World Health Organization 2019. Moreover, according to the American Heart Association Research Report 2020, united states accounts for nearly 2,353 deaths daily, which is an average of 1 death every 37 seconds, cardiovascular disease are listed as the underlying cause of death. Empty capsules useful in masking the test of drugs, which prevent patient from the feeling of nausea. Therefore, the increase in CVD patients, increase the demand of cardiac therapy makes positive impact on market.

Empty capsules primarily made up of gelatin of vegetarian materials are wildly use in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry for medication, herbal therapies and dilatory supplements. Now a day’s innovation and advancement in manufacturing technology improves the quality of capsules and increase patient’s compliance increasing the popularly of the Capsule drugs, boost the Empty Capsule market over the other drug delivery forms.

Market Type Analysis

By Type, the Empty Capsules Market is Categories into Gelatin, Non-Gelatin Capsules, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) and Others. The Gelatin segment accounts for the largest share of around 54% of the Market in 2022.

The Gelatin segment dominates the market because it noted that the use of Gelatin capsule having a multiple advantage like, immediate drug release, uniform drug mixing in body, act as a barrier to external atmospheric temperature. As a result, Gelatin hold the maximum share in market.

Market Functionality Analysis

By Functionality, the Empty Capsules Market is Categories into Immediate Release, Sustained Release, and Delayed Release. The Immediate Release segment accounts for the largest share of around 45% of the Market in 2022.

The Immediate Release segment dominates the market because the increasing demand to manufacturing drugs likes antacid, antibiotic, antibacterial.  Therefore, a huge demand for the immediate release capsule to manufacturing therapeutic products like antacid and antibiotics which contribute the market growth.

Market Application Analysis

By Application, the Empty Capsules Market is Categories into Vitamin & Dietary Supplements, Antibiotic & Antibacterial Drugs, Cardiac Therapy Drugs, Antacids & Anti-flatulent preparations, and Others. The Antibiotic & Antibacterial Drugs segment accounts for the largest share of around 34% of the Empty Capsules industry in 2022.

Markets is growing with the increasing inflammatory and infecticus diseases which required capsule medication for treatment. So that the research and developments process will done to developing antibiotic and antibacterial drug which drive the segment.

Market End-User Analysis

By End-user, the Empty Capsules Market is Categories into Pharmaceutical Companies, Nutraceutical Manufacturers, and Others. The Pharmaceutical Companies segment accounts for the largest share of around 54% of the Market in 2022.

Rising a prevalence of disease is a primary reason for growing the number of patients. So that most of the local pharmaceutical companies focus on to regulate the market, as the demand for good quality and dissociation property capsule will increase. Additionally, government policy and incentives for manufacturing will helps to dominate the segment.

For instance, in January 2021, as per the article published by Invest India, the cabinet in India approved production linked incentive (PLI) scheme 2.0 for pharmaceuticals in November 2020, which includes empty capsules, biopharmaceuticals, and complex generic drugs.

Market Regional Analysis

North America dominate the Empty Capsules Market with the highest revenue generating market with share of more than 41%. The North America dominate this market due to the rising prevalence of various diseases and increase diagnosis and increase treatment. Additionally, North America having more number of pharmaceutical companies which is a biggest consumer of Empty capsules industry.

Europe having the second-largest market share in Market due to the rising demand for targeted medication, focus on R&D on Empty Capsules found in Europe. Moreover, government policies and increasing the elder population in the region significantly contribute to expand the market.

Asia-Pacific is estimated the fastest growing CAGR in Empty Capsules Market in forecasted period. This is due to increasing in healthcare expenditure and the rising the awareness of advantage of capsule.

Competitive Analysis

The Empty Capsules Market is dominated by a few large companies, such as Lonza, Qualicaps, Suheung Co., Ltd, Roxlor Llc, Natural Capsules Limited, Nectar Lifesciences Ltd, Healthcaps India Ltd., Sunil Healthcare Limited, Bright Pharma Caps, Snail Pharma Industry Co. Ltd, Medi-Caps Ltd.

There Are Some Of The Recent Developments Of The Empty Capsules Market:

September 2023, Natural Capsules launched a new line of plant-based empty capsules. The new capsules are made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), a plant-based polymer that is vegan, vegetarian, and kosher certified. The capsules are also free of gluten, lactose, and dairy.

March 2021, Caps Canada, a Lyfe Group company, announced the launch of a new liquid-filled hard capsule manufacturing service.

July 2020, QUALICAPS Group, formerly a part of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC), transferred to the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). This transformation aids QUALICAPS in leveraging the advantage of its network and expanding its capsule business.

June 2020, Lonza introduced DBcaps (double-blinded capsules), an HPMC capsule for clinical trials designed to address the clinical trial challenge of testing.

By Type

·         Gelatin

·         Non-Gelatin Capsules

·         Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC)

·         Others

By Functionality

·         Immediate Release

·         Sustained Release

·         Delayed Release

By Application

·         Vitamin & Dietary Supplements

·         Antibiotic & Antibacterial Drugs

·         Cardiac Therapy Drugs

·         Antacids & Anti-flatulent preparations

·         Others

By End-User

·         Pharmaceutical Companies

·         Nutraceutical Manufacturers

·         Others