L-Citrulline Market Size

L-Citrulline Market Growth Projections and Opportunities

L-citrulline, a nonessential amino acid, has garnered widespread use in the food industry, playing a crucial role in urea production for ammonia content. Moreover, its significance extends to the pharmaceuticals sector, where it is utilized in drug preparation for various conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, and sexual dysfunction. Despite its broad applications, L-citrulline constitutes only a small fraction of the global amino acid market, accounting for approximately 1% of the overall amino acid demand. In 2017, the global L-citrulline market reached a valuation of USD 28,097.9 thousand, and projections indicate a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.16%, poised to culminate in a value of USD 40,213.9 thousand by the end of 2023.

The growth trajectory of the L-citrulline market is propelled by its expanding usage in various domains, including food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and animal feed. Changing consumer lifestyles and dietary habits, marked by an increased preference for nutritional foods and beverages, contribute significantly to the surge in demand. With a heightened focus on healthy eating, packed functional foods and beverages are witnessing a rise, with L-citrulline serving as a nutritional supplement in their production. Additionally, in beverages, L-citrulline acts as a flavor enhancer and nutritional supplement. The escalating demand for nutritional and performance drinks, driven by evolving dietary habits among on-the-go consumers, is expected to be a key factor fueling the substantial growth of the global L-citrulline market in the years to come.

Rising expenditures on healthier snacks and nutrition-rich drinks, coupled with changing lifestyles and increased per capita incomes, contribute to the heightened demand for L-citrulline. Moreover, growing consumer awareness regarding the health benefits of functional products, particularly in emerging economies like India, China, and Thailand, is propelling the demand for functional foods and beverages. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported a surge in the value of health food sales from USD 7 billion in 2012 to around USD 36 billion in 2017. In developed markets, the busy work schedules of consumers are driving substantial spending on nutritional and performance drinks, further propelling market growth.

A pivotal development contributing to the positive momentum of the market is the approval of pharmaceutical-grade L-citrulline by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). This approval allows for its formulation in various pharmaceutical formats, including powder, tablets, capsules, or liquid. The pharmaceutical-grade L-citrulline is recognized for its efficacy in addressing various health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, dementia, Alzheimer’s, hypertension, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, sickle cell disease, and Reye’s syndrome. The prevalence of such diseases, coupled with the expansion of the pharmaceutical industry, underscores the escalating demand for L-citrulline in pharmaceutical applications.

The market's segmentation by application includes food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and personal care, and agriculture and animal feed. The food and beverage segment, accounting for a 36.0% market share with a value of USD 10,106.8 thousand in 2017, is expected to reach USD 13,906.8 thousand by 2023. The growth in this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for packed functional foods.