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Oleic Acid Market
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Oleic Acid Market

Author: Debadatta Patel - Senior Consultant, Report ID - DS1901003, Published - November 2024

Segmented in Type (Natural, Synthetic), End User (Food Industry, Personal Care, Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Manufacturing) and Regions - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, and Forecast 2023 – 2033

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Oleic Acid Market Outlook

Oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid commonly derived from plant and animal sources, is widely used across industries due to its versatility and beneficial properties. In 2023, the oleic acid market was valued at approximately USD 326 million, with projections to reach USD 468 million by 2030 and potentially USD 606 million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 5.3%. This growth is driven by increasing demand in personal care products, functional foods, and pharmaceuticals.


Known for its emollient and stabilizing properties, oleic acid is extensively used in formulations for skincare, food preservation, and pharmaceuticals. As consumer preferences shift towards natural and sustainable ingredients, oleic acid's market potential is expected to expand further, particularly in health-conscious and eco-friendly segments


Market Size Forecast & Key Insights

2018
$326M2023
2028
$546M2033

Absolute Growth Opportunity = $220M

The Oleic Acid market is projected to grow from $326.0 million in 2023 to $546 million in 2033. This represents a CAGR of 5.3%, reflecting rising demand across Food and Beverages, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics and Personal Care.

The Oleic Acid market is set to add $220 million between 2023 and 2033, with manufacturer targeting Personal Care & Pharmaceuticals End User projected to gain a larger market share.

With Increasing demand for natural ingredients, and Expanding use in functional foods, Oleic Acid market to expand 68% between 2023 and 2033.

Opportunities in the Oleic Acid Market

Development of Sustainable Production Methods

Innovations focused on sustainable sourcing and extraction of oleic acid appeal to eco-conscious consumers and companies

Expansion in Emerging Markets and Growth in High-Oleic Oils

Increasing demand in emerging markets, especially in food and personal care, provides growth opportunities for oleic acid

The rising popularity of high-oleic oils in the food industry, due to health benefits, drives demand for oleic acid as a key component

Growth Opportunities in North America and Asia-Pacific

Asia Pacific Outlook

Asia-Pacific, particularly China and India, sees growing demand due to industrial and personal care applications. Major providers include Wilmar International and KLK OLEO

North America Outlook

North America leads in demand for oleic acid, driven by applications in food, personal care, and pharmaceuticals. Key players like Cargill and Univar Solutions are prominent in this region

North America Outlook

North America leads in demand for oleic acid, driven by applications in food, personal care, and pharmaceuticals. Key players like Cargill and Univar Solutions are prominent in this region

Asia-Pacific Outlook

Asia-Pacific, particularly China and India, sees growing demand due to industrial and personal care applications. Major providers include Wilmar International and KLK OLEO

Growth Opportunities in North America and Asia-Pacific

Established and Emerging Market's Growth Trend 2024–2033

1

Major Markets : United States, China, Germany, Japan, India are expected to grow at 3.4% to 5.1% CAGR

2

Emerging Markets : Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand are expected to grow at 6.1% to 7.3% CAGR

Market Analysis Chart

The oleic acid market is driven by demand for natural ingredients and functional applications, though raw material variability and environmental concerns remain challenges. Opportunities exist in emerging markets, sustainable production, and high-oleic oils

Recent Developments and Technological Advancement

October 2024

Archer Daniels Midland launched a sustainable oleic acid line for personal care, targeting eco-conscious brands

July 2024

BASF expanded its high-oleic product line, aiming to meet the growing demand in functional foods and personal care

April 2024

Emery Oleochemicals developed a new industrial-grade oleic acid with enhanced stability for high-temperature applications

Recent advancements in oleic acid emphasize sustainability and functional use. Archer Daniels Midland targets eco-friendly brands, BASF supports functional foods, and Emery Oleochemicals expands industrial applications

Impact of Industry Transitions on the Oleic Acid Market

As a core segment of the Food & Beverage industry, the Oleic Acid market develops in line with broader industry shifts. Over recent years, transitions such as Shift Toward Sustainable and Natural Ingredients and Advancements in Extraction Techniques have redefined priorities across the Food & Beverage sector, influencing how the Oleic Acid market evolves in terms of demand, applications and competitive dynamics. These transitions highlight the structural changes shaping long-term growth opportunities.

1

Shift Toward Sustainable and Natural Ingredients:

The shift towards natural and eco-friendly ingredients benefits oleic acid as companies respond to consumer preferences

2

Advancements in Extraction Techniques:

New extraction methods improve the yield and quality of oleic acid, enabling broader applications in food and industrial sectors

Global Events Shaping Future Growth

The chart below highlights how external events including emerging market developments, regulatory changes, and technological disruptions, have added another layer of complexity to the Food & Beverage industry. These events have disrupted supply networks, changed consumption behavior, and reshaped growth patterns. Together with structural industry transitions, they demonstrate how changes within the Food & Beverage industry cascade into the Oleic Acid market, setting the stage for its future growth trajectory.

Market Dynamics and Supply Chain

Driver: Increasing Demand for Natural Ingredients, and Versatile Applications Across Industries

Rising consumer preference for natural ingredients supports demand for oleic acid in food, personal care, and pharmaceuticals
Oleic acid’s wide applicability—from food preservation to industrial lubricants—promotes market growth across various sectors
The growth of the functional foods sector also drives demand for oleic acid, particularly in high-oleic oils that provide health benefits

Restraint: Fluctuating Raw Material Prices, and Limited Awareness in Emerging Markets

Variability in the prices of raw materials like palm oil and animal fats impacts the cost and supply of oleic acid
Lack of awareness about oleic acids benefits and applications can limit market penetration in some regions

Challenge: Environmental Concerns in Production

The environmental impact of sourcing and processing raw materials, particularly palm oil, poses challenges to sustainable production

Supply Chain Landscape

Raw Material Supplier

Wilmar International

Bunge

Processor

Archer Daniels Midland

Cargill

Distributor
Univar Solutions / Brenntag
End-User
Food & Beverage / Cosmetics & Personal Care / Pharmaceutical
Raw Material Supplier

Wilmar International

Bunge

Processor

Archer Daniels Midland

Cargill

Distributor

Univar Solutions

Brenntag

End-User

Food & Beverage

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Pharmaceutical

Banner LogoBanner Logo

Leading Providers and Their Strategies

Application AreaIndustryLeading ProvidersProvider Strategies
Food and Beverages
Food Industry
Archer Daniels Midland
Supplying high-oleic oils for functional food products
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Personal Care
BASF
Developing sustainable oleic acid products for skincare formulations
Pharmaceuticals
Healthcare
Evonik
Providing oleic acid for drug delivery and formulation
Industrial
Manufacturing
Emery Oleochemicals
Offering industrial-grade oleic acid for lubrication and surfactants

Elevate your strategic vision with in-depth analysis of key applications, leading market players, and their strategies. The report analyzes industry leaders' views and statements on the Oleic Acid market's present and future growth.

Our research is created following strict editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy

Applications of Oleic Acid in Pharmaceuticals, Food and Beverages and Cosmetics and Personal Care

Pharmaceuticals

Oleic acid serves as an excipient in pharmaceuticals, aiding in drug delivery and absorption in formulations. Leading companies include Evonik and Merck

Food and Beverages

Oleic acid is commonly used in food products as a preservative and to enhance flavor and stability, particularly in high-oleic oils. Key suppliers include Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill

Cosmetics and Personal Care

In personal care products, oleic acid functions as an emollient and penetration enhancer, widely used in moisturizers and lotions. Major providers like BASF and Croda incorporate it in skincare formulations

Oleic Acid vs. Substitutes:
Performance and Positioning Analysis

While alternatives like linoleic and palmitic acid exist, oleic acid’s versatility and natural sourcing make it a preferred choice across industries. Despite alternatives, the oleic acid market is expected to grow as natural and functional ingredients gain popularity

Oleic Acid
  • Linoleic Acid /
  • Palmitic Acid /
  • Stearic Acid
    Versatile and Derived from Natural Sources
    Subject to Price Fluctuations of Raw Materials
    Widely Available and Affordable
    Limited Applications Compared to Oleic Acid

Oleic Acid vs. Substitutes:
Performance and Positioning Analysis

Oleic Acid

  • Versatile and Derived from Natural Sources
  • Subject to Price Fluctuations of Raw Materials

Linoleic Acid / Palmitic Acid / Stearic Acid

  • Widely Available and Affordable
  • Limited Applications Compared to Oleic Acid

While alternatives like linoleic and palmitic acid exist, oleic acid’s versatility and natural sourcing make it a preferred choice across industries. Despite alternatives, the oleic acid market is expected to grow as natural and functional ingredients gain popularity

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Research Methodology

This market research methodology defines the Oleic Acid market scope, gathers reliable data, and validates findings using integrated primary and secondary research. Our systematic framework ensures precise market sizing, growth trend analysis, and competitive benchmarking.


Secondary Research Approach


We begin secondary research by defining the targeted market at macro and micro levels. As part of the Food & Beverage ecosystem, we analyze Oleic Acid across Food Industry, Personal Care, and Pharmaceuticals Applications. Our team gathers data systematically from country level ministerial sources, industry associations & federations, trade databases, company annual & quarterly reports and other credential sources, enabling us to map global and regional market size, pricing trends, regulatory standards, and technology advancements.



Key Sources Referenced:

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Food Substances - FDA

Prodcom / Census US / Statcan / e-stat Japan / ABS Australia / KOSIS Korea

USA Trade Census

DEFRA UK / Ifastat

Climate.gov

Annual Reports / Industry Magazines / Country Level Ministerial Sources

We benchmark competitors such as Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, and BASF by reviewing company financial statements, and regulatory filings. Our secondary insights identify key market drivers and constraints, forming the analytical foundation for primary research.


Primary Research Methods


We conduct structured interviews and surveys with industry stakeholders, including Raw Material Supplier, Processor, and Distributor. Our geographic coverage spans Americas (40%), Europe (30%), Asia-Pacific (25%) and Middle East & Africa (5%). Our online surveys generally achieve a response rate of above 65%, and telephone interviews yield 60%, resulting in above 92% confidence level with a ±7% margin of error.


Through targeted questionnaires and in-depth interviews, we capture purchase intent, adoption barriers, brand perception across Segment Type. We use interview guides to ensure consistency and anonymous survey options to mitigate response bias. These primary insights validate secondary findings and align market sizing with real-world conditions.


Market Engineering & Data Analysis Framework


Our data analysis framework integrates Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and Company Market Share approaches to estimate and project market size with precision.


Top-down & Bottom-Up Process


In Top-down approach, we disaggregate global Food & Beverage revenues to estimate the Oleic Acid segment, using historical growth patterns to set baseline trends. Simultaneously, in Bottom-up approach, we aggregate Country-Level Demand Data to derive regional and global forecasts, which provide granular consumption insights. By reconciling both approaches, we ensure statistical precision and cross-validation accuracy.


We evaluate the supply chain, spanning Raw Material Supplier (Wilmar International, Bunge), Processor (Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill), and Distributor. Our parallel substitute analysis examines Linoleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, and Stearic Acid, highlighting diversification opportunities and competitive risks.


Company Market Share & Benchmarking


We benchmark leading companies such as Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, and BASF, analyzing their capabilities in pricing, product features, technology adoption, and distribution reach. By assessing company-level revenues and product portfolios, we derive market share comparisons, clarifying competitive positioning and growth trajectories across the ecosystem.


Our integration of data triangulation, supply chain evaluation, and company benchmarking, supported by our proprietary Directional Superposition methodology enables us to deliver precise forecasts and actionable strategic insights into the Oleic Acid market.


Quality Assurance and Compliance


We cross-reference secondary data with primary inputs and external expert reviews to confirm consistency. Further, we use stratified sampling, anonymous surveys, third-party interviews, and time-based sampling to reduce bias and strengthen our results.


Our methodology is developed in alignment with ISO 20252 standards and ICC/ESOMAR guidelines for research ethics. The study methodology follows globally recognized frameworks such as ISO 20252 and ICC codes of practice.

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Oleic Acid Market Data: Size, Segmentation & Growth Forecast

Report AttributeDetails
Market Value in 2024USD 343 million
Revenue Forecast in 2033USD 546 million
Growth RateCAGR of 5.3% from 2024 to 2033
Base Year for Estimation2023
Industry Revenue 2023326 million
Growth OpportunityUSD 220 million
Historical Data2018 - 2022
Growth Projection / Forecast Period2024 - 2033
Market Size UnitsMarket Revenue in USD million and Industry Statistics
Market Size 2023326 million USD
Market Size 2026380 million USD
Market Size 2028422 million USD
Market Size 2030468 million USD
Market Size 2033546 million USD
Market Size 2035605 million USD
Report CoverageMarket revenue for past 5 years and forecast for future 10 years, Competitive Analysis & Company Market Share, Strategic Insights & trends
Segments CoveredType, End User
Regional scopeNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa
Country scopeU.S., Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, UAE and South Africa
Companies ProfiledArcher Daniels Midland, Cargill, BASF, Evonik, Emery Oleochemicals, KLK OLEO, Croda, Wilmar International, Bunge, Merck, Univar Solutions and Brenntag
CustomizationFree customization at segment, region or country scope and direct contact with report analyst team for 10 to 20 working hours for any additional niche requirement which is almost equivalent to 10% of report value

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Table of Contents

Industry Insights Report - Table Of Contents

Chapter 1

Executive Summary

Major Markets & Their Performance - Statistical Snapshots

Chapter 2

Research Methodology

2.1Axioms & Postulates
2.2Market Introduction & Research MethodologyEstimation & Forecast Parameters / Major Databases & Sources
Chapter 3

Market Dynamics

3.1Market OverviewDrivers / Restraints / Opportunities / M4 Factors
3.2Market Trends
3.2.1Introduction & Narratives
3.2.2Market Trends - Impact Analysis(Short, Medium & Long Term Impacts)
3.3Supply Chain Analysis
3.4Porter's Five ForcesSuppliers & Buyers' Bargaining Power, Threat of Substitution & New Market Entrants, Competitive Rivalry
Chapter 4

Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities & Strategic Insights, by Type

4.1Natural
4.2Synthetic
Chapter 5

Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities & Strategic Insights, by End User

5.1Food Industry
5.2Personal Care
5.3Pharmaceuticals
5.4Industrial Manufacturing
Chapter 6

Oleic Acid Market, by Region

6.1North America Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities, Key Trends & Strategic Insights
6.1.1U.S.
6.1.2Canada
6.2Europe Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities, Key Trends & Strategic Insights
6.2.1Germany
6.2.2France
6.2.3UK
6.2.4Italy
6.2.5The Netherlands
6.2.6Rest of EU
6.3Asia Pacific Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities, Key Trends & Strategic Insights
6.3.1China
6.3.2Japan
6.3.3South Korea
6.3.4India
6.3.5Australia
6.3.6Thailand
6.3.7Rest of APAC
6.4Middle East & Africa Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities, Key Trends & Strategic Insights
6.4.1Saudi Arabia
6.4.2United Arab Emirates
6.4.3South Africa
6.4.4Rest of MEA
6.5Latin America Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities, Key Trends & Strategic Insights
6.5.1Brazil
6.5.2Mexico
6.5.3Rest of LA
6.6CIS Oleic Acid Market Size, Opportunities, Key Trends & Strategic Insights
6.6.1Russia
6.6.2Rest of CIS
Chapter 7

Competitive Landscape

7.1Competitive Dashboard & Market Share Analysis
7.2Company Profiles (Overview, Financials, Developments, SWOT)
7.2.1Archer Daniels Midland
7.2.2Cargill
7.2.3BASF
7.2.4Evonik
7.2.5Emery Oleochemicals
7.2.6KLK OLEO
7.2.7Croda
7.2.8Wilmar International
7.2.9Bunge
7.2.10Merck
7.2.11Univar Solutions
7.2.12Brenntag