Chitosan Market Report 2026

Chitosan Market Overview

• Chitosan market size has reached to $10.2 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $27.17 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6% • Growth Driver: Global Surge In Wastewater Treatment Needs Fuels Expansion Of The Chitosan Market • Market Trend: Kiomed Pharma Kiomedinevsone Sets A New Standard In Chitosan-Based Therapeutics For Knee Osteoarthritis • Asia-Pacific was the largest region in 2025 and North America is the fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Chitosan Market?

Chitosan is obtained from the outer skeleton of crustaceans and the cell walls of certain fungi. Chitosan can be used as a medicine and for manufacturing certain drugs. It is used for high blood pressure, wound healing, obesity, high cholesterol, and various other purposes. Due to its biodegradable nature, chitosan is also used for the development of antimicrobial films for food packaging. The main sources of chitosan include shrimp, squid, crab, krill, and other sources. The shrimp segment consists of sales of chitosan solutions by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are derived from the exoskeleton of shrimp. A shrimp is a sea animal that belongs to the huge group of arthropods. It is a kind of shellfish that is considered seafood. Shrimps belong to the suborder Pleocyemata. The main grades in the chitosan market are pharmaceutical grade, industrial grade, and food grade. They are used for water treatment, food and beverage processing, cosmetics, medical and pharmaceutical products, agrochemicals, and other applications.

What Is The Chitosan Market Growth Forecast?

The chitosan market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $27.17 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of bio-based medical materials, rising investments in sustainable packaging solutions, expansion of chitosan-based drug delivery systems, increasing use in food preservation applications, growing focus on circular bioeconomy. Major trends in the forecast period include growing use of chitosan in biomedical applications, rising adoption in water treatment solutions, expansion of biodegradable packaging materials, increasing demand in agrochemical formulations, enhanced focus on natural and bio-based polymers.

Global Chitosan Market Segmentation

1) By Grade: Pharmaceutical Grade, Industrial Grade, Food Grade 2) By Source: Shrimp, Squid, Crab, Krill, Other Sources 3) By Application: Water Treatment, Food And Beverages, Cosmetics, Medical And Pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals, Other Applications Subsegments: 1) By Pharmaceutical Grade: Drug Delivery Systems, Wound Healing Applications 2) By Industrial Grade: Water Treatment, Agriculture And Crop Protection 3) By Food Grade: Food Preservation, Nutraceutical Applications

What Is The Driver Of The Chitosan Market?

The increase in requirements for wastewater treatment across the globe is expected to propel the growth of the chitosan market. Wastewater treatment has been defined as the process of removing impurities from wastewater before it reaches natural bodies or aquifers such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. Chitosan is widely used for wastewater treatment as it helps in heavy metal or metalloid adsorption, the removal of dyes from industrial wastewater, and the removal of other organic pollutants such as organic oxidants, oil impurities, and organochloride pesticides. For instance, in March 2024, according to Environment Agency, a UK-based non-departmental public body, there was a 54% rise in sewage spills, increasing from 301,091 incidents in 2022 to 464,056 in 2023. Therefore, the growth in requirements for wastewater treatment across the globe is driving the chitosan industry growth.

What Is The Driver Of The Chitosan Market?

The increase in requirements for wastewater treatment across the globe is expected to propel the growth of the chitosan market. Wastewater treatment has been defined as the process of removing impurities from wastewater before it reaches natural bodies or aquifers such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. Chitosan is widely used for wastewater treatment as it helps in heavy metal or metalloid adsorption, the removal of dyes from industrial wastewater, and the removal of other organic pollutants such as organic oxidants, oil impurities, and organochloride pesticides. For instance, in March 2024, according to Environment Agency, a UK-based non-departmental public body, there was a 54% rise in sewage spills, increasing from 301,091 incidents in 2022 to 464,056 in 2023. Therefore, the growth in requirements for wastewater treatment across the globe is driving the chitosan industry growth.

Global Chitosan Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the chitosan market are focused on introducing advanced solutions, such as chitosan injection, to gain a competitive edge in the market. Chitosan injection is a type of medication delivery system that uses chitosan, a naturally occurring polymer, as its main component. For instance, in September 2023, KiOmed Pharma, a Belgium-based biotechnology company, launched KiOmedinevsOne. KiOmedinevsOne is a non-animal-sourced chitosan injection and a single-shot intraarticular injection designed for the symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis. It has a unique structure that differs from hyaluronic acid and natural chitosan. It reduces knee pain for more than six months. It is a patented technology with a response rate of up to 76%.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Chitosan Market?

In August 2024, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, an India-based research company partnered with Ecogenie Biotech. The partnership seeks to create sustainable production methods for chitin and chitosan from silkworm pupae, turning waste into valuable bioproducts. By modifying current extraction technologies, the collaboration promotes eco-friendly practices that support India's circular economy. Ecogenie Biotech is an India-based biotechnology start-up develop chitosan.

Regional Insights

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the chitosan market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

What Defines the Chitosan Market?

The chitosan market consists of sales of various forms of chitosan, such as nanoparticles, nanofibers, and chitosan beads. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Chitosan Market Report 2026?

The chitosan market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides market statistics, including industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the market share, detailed market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the chitosan industry. The market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future state of the industry.