Specialty acidulants offer various functional properties. They act as antioxidants, curing and pickling agents, flavor enhancers, flavoring agents, leavening agents, pH control agents, sequestrate, and synergists. Owing to various functional properties of lactic acid, it is used as a key ingredient in food & beverage products. Lactic acid has its wide scope of application in the food and beverage industry coupled with the range of functional benefits provided by food acidulants are key factors driving the food acidulants market. In addition, the robust growth in the food and beverage sector majorly supports the market worldwide. With the economic development along with changing consumer behavior in Africa, the region outshines as a promising market for the food and beverage industry supplementing the consumption of food acidulants. Lactic acid also has a wide application in the preservative market.

The major driver for lactic acid growth is the increase in demand for meat and other food application of lactic acid availability of cheap raw materials, innovation in technology, and strong support of big manufacturing companies in the region. The low cost of raw materials such as molasses, starch, sugarcane, and other carbohydrates for production has been a big advantage for industries, as it directly lowers the final cost of the product. Also, these raw materials are abundant and easily available in the domestic regions for production, which is driving the market.