The health benefits of betaine are estimated to increase the number of applications of betaine in the global market. Betaine find applications in diverse industrial markets such as food & beverages, animal feed, cosmetics, detergents, and others such as pharmaceuticals and reagents.
Betaine is one of the rapidly-growing markets in the food & beverages market. The rise in awareness about the nutritional value of betaine when used in dietary supplements as well as its multi-functional usage such as surfactant and methyl donor are the key factors driving its demand. The increasing popularity of energy and sports drinks, in which betaine is used has further extended the scope for the betaine market. It helps in enhancing physical performance, especially strength, power, and muscle endurance and leads to a better immune system.
Betaine is also used as a surfactant in cosmetics and personal care products due to its moisturizing and water-retention properties. It is also used in detergents and reagents. As an animal feed additive, it performs the function of methyl donor and helps to improve the metabolism of animals.
The betaine market is projected to reach USD 3.89 Billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. In 2014, the market was dominated by North America, followed by Europe.
The betaine market is categorized into type, form, application, and region. On the basis of type, it is segmented based on synthetic betaine and natural betaine. On the basis of form it is segmented into betaine anhydrous, cocamidopropyl betaine, betaine monohydrate, and others (which include betaine HCL, betaine citrate, and betaine aspartate). On the basis of application, it segmentation is segmented into food & beverages, animal feed, cosmetics, detergents, and others (which include pharmaceuticals and reagents). The market has also been segmented on the basis of region into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Rest of the World (RoW).
Key players are Associated British Food Plc (U.K.), BASF SE (Germany), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Nutreco N.V. (The Netherlands), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), American Crystal Sugar Company (U.S.), Amino GmbH (Germany), Kao Corporation (Japan), Stepan Company (U.S.), and Sunwin Chemicals (China).
