Calcium Propionate (C6H10O4Ca) or calcium salt of propionic acid is an additive used majorly in baker products across the globe. It can also be found in various products like processed meat, alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, animal feed, and many more. Calcium propionate inhibits the growth of microorganisms by engaging alanine and other essential amino acids required for microbial growth.
Similarly, the metabolism of the enzyme is inhibited by calcium propionate to prevent mold formation. The calcium propionate market has been segmented into Food(Bakery Products, Dairy & desserts and others including alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages and processed meat), Feed, and others consisting of pharmaceuticals, industrial rubber, cosmetics, herbicides, and pesticides.
In the food industry, calcium propionate is used as a fungus inhibitor and provides antibacterial function against mold bacteria and yeast bacteria which helps extend the shelf life as well. With changes in consumer lifestyle and food habits, there has been an increase in demand for food & beverage products like value-added dairy products and bakery products with longer shelf life. This has increased the demand for processed food with added preservatives such as Calcium Propionate which adds value to the food products and is affordable in terms of pricing.
The global calcium propionate market was USD 330 million in 2023. The market has grown from USD 269 million in 2020 to its current value at an average annual growth rate of 4.6%. Food was the largest application accounting for 77.33% of the total market. Dry calcium propionate acquires most of the market with 96.7% of calcium propionate consumed globally being dry. The potential of calcium propionate to be used in new product lines can also drive demand during the long-term forecast.
Western Europe is one of the largest markets for Calcium Propionate. Bread production in Western Europe was around 26 million tons with industrial bakeries accounting for more than 50% of the market share. The bakery market in UK is highly organized with 80% of its production from industrial bakeries whereas the bakery market in Spain is unorganized with the industrial sector representing only 19% of the market. During the COVID-19 pandemic Bakery consumption in Europe declined by 6.6%, although the decline was due to a reduction in demand from artisanal fresh bakery production. Packaged bakery product consumption in the region increased by almost 6% in 2023.
Animal feed production in Germany declined in 2023 owing to China’s ban on pig meat imports from the country. The decline in Germany’s feed production was offset by the increase in feed production in other Western European countries like Spain.
The United States is a major consumer and exporter of calcium propionate. The country accounts for 85% of North America’s Calcium Propionate market. The US is also a major exporter of processed bakery products and value-added dairy products in the North American region. These are major applications of calcium propionate. The United States is also a large producer of dairy products. The US produced more than 100 million tons of milk in 2023 whereas; exports of dairy products were around USD 5.5 billion.
Currently, AsiaPacific is the third largest market for Calcium Propionate after Western Europe and North America, however owing to fast-growing demand from China and India the region will overtake North America to become the second largest market for calcium propionate in 2024 and Western Europe in 2025 to become the largest market.
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