Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Wood Pulp Based, Refined Cotton Based), By Application (Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverage, Cosmetics & Personal Care), and Regional Forecast to 2033

MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE (MCC) MARKET OVERVIEW

The global microcrystalline cellulose (mcc) market size was USD 1.165 billion in 2025 and is projected to touch USD 2.126 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.81 % during the forecast period.

The Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) market is a fast evolving market in the food additives and pharmaceutical excipients industry in the world. MCC is a very pure, smell-free and tasteless form of cellulose which is extracted using plant fibers mainly wood pulp and cotton linters. There are myriad applications in many products because it is applied commonly as a filler and anti-caking agent, as well as texturizer, often in pharmaceutical tablets/capsules and powders, and in foods e.g. baked goods, confectionery and dietary supplements. The rise in demand of MCC is due to the developing pharmaceutical industry especially in the emerging markets and there is a demanding need of high quality excipients.

It is apparent that over the next few years, the global MCC market is going to experience a major growth on the back of the rising popularity of using MCC in a series of end-use sectors. The market can be defined by the market structure whereby few large players exist such as FMC Corporation, JRS Pharma and Ashland Inc. that have taken large percentile of the market. The market, however, is also experiencing the rise in competition with local players and new entrants especially in the emerging markets. Prices of raw materials, cost of production and regulatory requirements also contribute to the market. The rising demand of MCC in different applications along with the rising demand of pharmaceuticals and food products is likely to support the escalation in the MCC market within the following years.

Key Findings

• Market Size and Growth: The global microcrystalline cellulose (mcc) market size was USD 1.165 billion in 2025 and is projected to touch USD 2.126 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.81 % during the forecast period.

• Key Market Trends: Over 62% of newly launched food products with MCC in 2024 carried “clean label” tags, reflecting consumer preference for transparent ingredients.

• Key Market Drivers: Global tablet production rose by 9.4% in 2024, significantly increasing demand for MCC as a binder and filler in solid dosage forms.

• Technological Advancements: Nearly 35% of MCC manufacturers adopted spray-drying and co-processing technologies in 2024 to improve compressibility and flow properties.

• Regional Growth: Asia-Pacific accounted for more than 41% of total MCC consumption in 2024, led by rising demand in China and India’s pharma and food sectors.

• Type Segmentation: Wood pulp-based MCC held approximately 70% of total production volume in 2024 due to its cost-efficiency and sustainable sourcing.

• Application Segmentation: Pharmaceutical applications comprised over 58% of MCC usage globally in 2024, followed by food & beverage at around 30%.

• Key Players: JRS Pharma, Asahi Kasei, and FMC accounted for more than 38% of the global market share in 2024, owing to their diversified portfolios and strong R&D capabilities.

COVID-19 IMPACT

"Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Industry Had a positive Effect Due to accelerated the adoption of digital technologies during COVID-19 Pandemic."

Covid-19 had a notable impact on the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) market share. The COVID-19 pandemic has been ground-breaking and shocking all over the world and the market has faced the higher-than-expected demand in all regions as compared to the demand before the pandemic strikes. The surge in the market growth in terms of CAGR increase can be traced to the growth and demand in the market gaining back to the pre-pandemic level.

COVID-19 pandemic affected the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) market with a high degree. The pandemic created an outstanding demand of MCC since it is one of the ingredients used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals required in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. This has caused MCC to go out of stock and shortages in supply chains because the limited supply became larger and inadequate to meet the demand. This contributed to the scarcity of MCC in the market which aggravated the scenario even more.

Pandemic also facilitated the process of digitalization in the pharma sector, such as remote monitoring, virtual trials, etc., which prompted a rise in the number of MCC as a part of pharmaceutical formulations. Also, the pandemic enhanced the rise of the online store shopping and drug delivery to the homes, which contributed to the MCC demand further. This meant that MCC market grew doomingly in the course of the pandemic as the players started feeling the need to expand their capacity and build new plants to produce new supplies.

LATEST TRENDS

"Growing Demand for Sustainable and Clean Label Products to Drive Market Growth"

The Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) is expanding due to consumer education on the need and significance of clean label consumer products and environmentally friendly packages. MCC serves the role of a filler, binder, and anti-caking in different foodstuffs and medicines. Its environmental friendliness with a clean label and low environmental cost of packaging are the main reasons why it is gaining favor. This is especially manifesting in the food and beverage industry as people are shifting to products containing simple ingredients that are known. MCC is also getting utilized as an alternative to talc and other additives that are as well among the issues that have been associated with health concerns. Due to this, the demand in the MCC is likely to be increased in the next few years.

MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE (MCC) MARKET SEGMENTATION

BY TYPE

Based on Type, the global market can be categorized into Wood Pulp Based, Refined Cotton Based.

• Wood Pulp Based: The Wood Pulp utilize wood pulp that is a by-product in the paper industry. They tend to be more economical and environmental friendly when compared to alternatives. They can however not be breathable or as absorbent as other materials are.

• Refined Cotton Based: Refined Cotton make use of high quality cotton although this cotton is refined to make it more absorbent and breathable. Their advantage is that they are very environmentally friendly. Other materials are also harsh to the skin of the babies as compared to refined cotton.

BY APPLICATION

Based on application, the global market can be categorized into Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverage, Cosmetics & Personal Care.

• Pharmaceutical: Pharmaceutical usage involves making and producing drugs and vaccines to cure some medical conditions. Such applications encompass all the lifecycle of pharmaceutical products- research and development, production, and quality control. Complex technologies are also impacted by the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in pharmaceutical usage.

• Food & Beverage: Food and beverage applications entail designing product and production of new food items and processes in order to address the changing demands and preferences of the consumers. These applications include the whole process of supply chain starting with ingredient providing to the packaging and distribution. Robotics and data analytics are also some of the advanced technologies applied in the food and beverage applications.

• Cosmetics & Personal Care: Cosmetics and personal care applications Cosmetics and personal care applications deal with the development and production of personal care items like soaps, shampoo and skin care products. These applications span the whole range of personal care products starting with research and development, production and quality control. Advanced technologies like nanotechnology and biotechnology are also used in cosmetics and personal care application.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market dynamics include driving and restraining factors, opportunities and challenges stating the market conditions.

DRIVING FACTORS

"Rising Demand in Pharmaceuticals to Boost the Market"

A factor in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) market growth is the Rising Demand in Pharmaceuticals. Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) is in high demand in the pharmaceutical industry and this factor poses to be a major market driver. This is occasioned by the increased demand of excipients like MCC in making pills and capsules. The growing national and global markets on prescription and the growing use of solid oral dosage form are also causing the growth in demand of MCC. Besides, MCC capacity to serve as a disintegrant, binders, and anti-caking agent in pharmaceutical uses is also a necessity that pushes the use of MCC. MCC is also getting opportunities because of the growing attention being paid to create new and innovative dosage forms. Consequently, it is likely that the pharmaceutical sector will continue to be one of drivers in the MCC market.

"Growing Use in Food and Cosmetics to Expand the Market"

Rising demand of Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) in food and cosmetic industry is also the other driving factor influencing the market. MCC finds applications as both texturizer and emulsifier as well as thickening agent in numerous food products that include frozen desserts, baked products, and confections. Excipients MCC has been introduced in the cosmetics industry in the form of skincare products and haircare because it has the capacity to absorb moisture and give a smooth texture to the products. The demand of MCC in these two industries is also steaming up due to the growing awareness about the health benefits offered by natural and organic products. Besides, short shelf life products and stability issues in products is another important aspect in enhancing use of MCC in food and cosmetics. Consequently, one of the key sectors that will propel to the growth of the MCC market will be the food and cosmetics industry.

RESTRAINING FACTOR

"Regulatory Compliance to Potentially Impede Market Growth"

Strict regulatory compliance is one of the restraining factors affecting market for Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC). The MCC industry has stringent regulations imposed on it by other government entities like the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority. This entails manufacturers of MCCs to exercise strict production and quality control guidelines and standards. Violation of these regulations might impose huge fines and damage the reputation. A level of regulatory compliance may make entry difficult by new manufacturers and limit competitiveness and make price higher. The consequence of this is that the MCC manufacturers will be forced to put in lots of resources so that they will be able to comply with these regulations.

OPPORTUNITY

"Futuristic Breakthroughs in the MCC Market To Create Opportunity for the Product in the Market"

Among the most promising futuristic horizons of the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) market should be its potential use in creation of edible, dissolving, and biodegradable packaging material in the food and beverage industry. The exceptional qualities of MCC make it a perfect choice to produce sustainable packaging deals that can displace the traditional plastics. With upcoming trends of consumers going green, the demand of environment friendly packaging is set to soar in the MCC market. MCC may also be utilized in manufacturing cutlery, straws and other disposable products, that are easily decomposed as well. Such an indication is capable of transforming the packaging industry and creating additional income opportunities in MCC manufacturers. The fact that companies such as Amazon and Unilever have already invested in sustainable package projects makes the future of MCC in the packaging industry to be bright.

CHALLENGES

"Developing MCC products that are fully biodegradable Could Be a Potential Challenge for Consumers"

In so far as the world slowly moves towards adopting a more sustainable and environment-friendly glob, into the future, one of the primary concerns of the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) market is going to be the need to come up with products which are not only fully biodegradable, but also remain non-toxic to sea life. The growing pressure to use eco-friendly packaging materials will compel the MCC producers to develop those materials that can be easily dissolved in water, yet their dissolution will not degrade the aquatic life. Besides, its application in 3D printing and creation of bioplastics will require an increased level of purity and consistency, complicating the production process. The manufacturers of MCC will additionally have to deal with the changing demand and supply globally shaped by the changes in consumers demands as well as Governmental policies. Moreover, the manufacturers of the MCC will be forced to invest in innovative technology in order to counter the increasing demand of the personalized MCC products. Addressing these challenges will be pivotal, so that MCC might be a major participant in the new market of sustainable materials.

MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE (MCC) MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

• NORTH AMERICA

North America is the fastest-growing region in this market. The United States Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) market has been growing exponentially owing to multiple reasons. The North American MCC market is motivated by the fact that there is an increasing need in pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements. The major manufacturers present in the region are JRS pharma and FMC Corporation. MCC has benefited in a rather positive way by many taking an interest in healthcare and wellness. Another factor that has seen the rise in MCC adoption is the growing demand of plant-based products. MCC is easily available in the region through the well-set logistics and distribution systems. In general, N American MCC market is predicted to face a stable development in the future.

• EUROPE

The European MCC market is associated with continuous emphasis on pharmaceutical and food uses. The pharmaceutical industry is regulated tightly in the region hence the need to have more MCC in the pharmaceutical formulations. Vegan products and the increased demand of plant-based food also influence the European market. The location has the largest stakeholders in key manufacturing firms including JRS Pharma and Asahi Kasei. It is predicted that the European MCC market will continue on the upsurge in the coming days due to the heightening need of MCC throughout the applications. The MCC market is also propelled by the fact that the region has great research and development strength.

• ASIA

Increasing demand of pharmaceuticals and food products in China, Japan and South Korea market is a driving force of the Asia pacific MCC market. The amount of population in middle-class that is huge and continues to rise in the region has contributed to rise in demand of health and wellness products. The region has a large presence of key manufacturers like Daicel and Asahi Kasei. Asia pacific MCC market is expected to grow in the near future due to growing demand of MCC in various applications. MCC market is also growing due to the favorable business environment and the support of the government towards the pharmaceutical and the food industry by the region.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

"Key Industry Players Shaping the Market Through Innovation and Market Expansion"

Key industry players are shaping the microcrystalline cellulose (mcc) marketplace through strategic innovation and market expansion. These companies are introducing advanced techniques and processes to improve the quality and performance of their offerings. They are also expanding their product lines to include specialized variations, catering to diverse customer preferences. Additionally, they are leveraging digital platforms to increase market reach and enhance distribution efficiency. By investing in research and development, optimizing supply chain operations, and exploring new regional markets, these players are driving growth and setting trends within the microcrystalline cellulose (mcc).

LIST OF TOP MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE (MCC) COMPANIES

• Wei Ming Pharmaceutical [China]
• QuFuShi Medical [China]
• BLANVER [Brazil]
• JRS (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne) [Germany]
• Anhui Sunhere Pharmaceutical [China]

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

April 2023: In April 2023 JRS has launched VIVAPUR MCC PH Pro, the next-generation microcrystalline cellulose, which is used in the pharmaceutical industry to enhance tablet compressibility and flowability. The product also provides better-known batch and is compatible with high speed direct compressed. It is optimized to formulations that need low sensitivity to lubricants and those which have less friability. VIVAPUR(R) MCC PH Pro is conforming to the international pharmacopeial monograph and suitable in producing generic and branded pharmaceutical drugs.

REPORT COVERAGE

SWOT analysis is presented in this work at a high level, and helpful recommendations regarding further evolvement of the market are considered. This paper takes an opportunity to review and discuss the market segments and possible applications that have the potential to influence the market growth in the future years. The microcrystalline cellulose (mcc) with better portability is expected to gain high growth rates due to better consumer adoption trends, increasing application areas, and more innovative product developments. Yet, there might be some problems like, for instance, the shortage of raw materials or higher prices for them. However, the growing popularity of specialized offerings and tendencies towards enhancing quality foster the growth of the market. All of them are progressing through technology and innovative strategies in developments as well as in supply chain and market. Due to changes in the market environment and growing demand for variety, the microcrystalline cellulose (mcc) has a promising development since it constantly develops and expands its application.