Global Empty Capsules Market Size and Share
Global Empty Capsules Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The empty capsules market is valued at USD 3.68 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 5.20 billion by 2030, expanding at a 7.12% CAGR. Growth springs from larger pharmaceutical production runs, wider acceptance of capsule-based therapies and rapid improvements in high-speed filling equipment. Rising demand for personalized dose packaging, especially in North America and Europe, lifts premium capsule grades that meet strict regulatory and patient-centric requirements. Technology upgrades that integrate machine vision and IoT sensors are raising first-pass yield rates and lowering unit costs, encouraging producers to scale capacity[1]ISPE, “Continuous Manufacturing in Capsule Filling,” ispe.org. Simultaneously, nutraceutical brands are shifting to capsules to protect delicate ingredients, which adds a fresh layer of demand diversity. Competitive intensity is sharpening as leading suppliers expand output in India and China while exploring divestitures or joint ventures that promise sharper strategic focus.
- By product type, gelatin capsules led with 84.34% revenue share in 2024, whereas non-gelatin alternatives are projected to grow at a 10.32% CAGR to 2030.
- By functionality, immediate-release formats held 72.45% of the empty capsules market size in 2024, while sustained-release is expected to advance at a 9.84% CAGR
- By therapeutic application, antibiotic and antibacterial uses captured 29.45% of empty capsules market share in 2024, yet probiotics and prebiotics are forecast to expand at an 11.56% CAGR.
- By end user, pharmaceuticals accounted for 66.34% share of the empty capsules market size in 2024, with nutraceuticals poised for an 8.93% CAGR.
- By geography, North America commanded 38.54% of the empty capsules market share in 2024, while Asia-Pacific shows the fastest growth at an 8.72% CAGR to 2030.
Global Empty Capsules Market Trends and Insights
Driver Impact Analysis
Driver | % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Growing Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Volume | +1.8% | Asia-Pacific & North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Rising Nutraceutical Consumption | +1.5% | North America & Europe, expanding into Asia-Pacific | Long term (≥4 years) |
Advancements In Capsule Filling Technology | +1.2% | Global, led by developed markets | Short term (≤2 years) |
Shift Toward Personalized Dose Packaging | +0.9% | North America & Europe | Long term (≥4 years) |
Integration Of Digital Health Technologies | +0.7% | North America, Europe, select Asia-Pacific markets | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Expansion Of Continuous Manufacturing Infrastructure | +0.6% | Global, early adoption in North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Growing Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Volume
Expanding drug output, propelled by aging populations and wider insurance coverage, creates sustained demand for high-precision empty capsules market supply chains. Lonza’s CHF 85 million upgrade that adds 30 billion units a year shows how producers scale capacity to secure continuity of supply. Continuous production lines need feedstock uniformity and real-time quality data, which favors premium capsule grades. Heightened biologics output intensifies requirements for contamination-free shells. Flexible manufacturing models, where plants hold larger safety stocks to enable rapid changeovers, further lift unit consumption across regions.
Rising Nutraceutical Consumption
Preventive-health habits are steering consumers toward probiotics, adaptogens and bespoke blends that rely on capsules to protect sensitive actives. Formulators pick plant-based HPMC shells for clean-label claims because they avoid animal derivatives. Double-digit sales growth of probiotic capsules in the United States and Germany demonstrates the trend. Smaller batch runs for personalized nutrition create fresh orders for niche capsule sizes. Brand owners also use clear or tinted shells to signal transparent labeling, which reinforces the capsule format as a premium delivery vehicle.
Advancements in Capsule Filling Technology
Next-generation fillers merge continuous motion, vision inspection and IoT monitoring to push throughput while maintaining regulatory-grade traceability. Producers report 15-20% cost savings and near-perfect defect detection that cut scrap rates. Lonza’s LEMS sealing technology broadens the range of moisture-sensitive or liquid APIs that can be encapsulated, opening new formulation windows. Predictive maintenance algorithms maximize uptime and stabilize per-unit costs, helping manufacturers justify large-scale expansions in Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe.
Shift Toward Personalized Dose Packaging
Clinical practice is moving toward patient-specific regimens, which need capsule formats that accept variable fill weights and enable rapid on-demand production. Early-stage 3D printing trials, endorsed by the FDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Technologies pathway, show promise for chronic therapies that benefit from incremental dosing. Contract development firms build small, agile lines to serve adaptive clinical studies, catalyzing demand for short-run capsule lots. Digital health apps that monitor adherence can prompt real-time dose adjustments, demanding equally agile capsule supply chains.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraints Impact Analysis | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Volatility In Gelatin Raw Material Supply | −1.4% | Global, notably Asia-Pacific | Short term (≤2 years) |
Stringent Religious And Dietary Compliance | −0.8% | Middle East, Asia-Pacific | Long term (≥4 years) |
Limited Availability Of Pharmaceutical-Grade HPMC | −0.6% | North America & Europe | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Climate-Induced Stability Challenges In Supply Chain | −0.5% | Global | Long term (≥4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Volatility in Gelatin Raw-Material Supply
Tighter bovine and porcine supply and potential 10–25% import tariffs on pharmaceutical-grade gelatin raise short-term cost pressure on the empty capsules market[2]Federal Register, “Hard Empty Capsules: Antidumping Investigations,” federalregister.gov. Seasonal plant shutdowns in China compound scarcity, exposing firms that rely on single-source contracts. Pharmaceutical buyers respond by dual-sourcing and pre-booking volumes, but that strategy ties up working capital. Climate-driven livestock disruptions may persist, nudging formulators toward plant-based shells despite higher unit prices. Broader adoption of HPMC capsules could therefore accelerate if gelatin volatility persists.
Stringent Religious and Dietary Compliance
Halal, kosher, vegetarian and vegan demands compel parallel production lines and robust traceability, adding 5–10% to finished-capsule costs. As Muslim and Jewish populations grow in core export markets, manufacturers either certify gelatin operations or pivot to cellulose-based options. Multi-standard compliance complicates scheduling and raises validation expenses, especially for plants that handle both animal and plant-derived raw materials. To simplify operations and expand market reach, several producers promote HPMC capsules as a one-size-fits-all solution that sidesteps cross-contamination risk.
Segment Analysis
By Product: Plant-Based Alternatives Gain Momentum
Gelatin shells retained 84.34% of empty capsules market share in 2024, thanks to entrenched cost advantages and proven functionality. Yet non-gelatin capsules are moving at a 10.32% CAGR, signaling a structural pivot driven by clean-label preferences and multi-faith compliance requirements. Hard gelatin variants dominate high-volume oral solids, while soft gelatin capsules support lipid-soluble formulations. Innovation in cellulose chemistry equips HPMC shells with dissolution and mechanical properties once exclusive to gelatin. Pullulan and starch capsules occupy premium niches where oxygen barrier performance or specific vegetarian claims hold sway.
HPMC adoption rises fastest in nutraceutical lines that encapsulate moisture-sensitive probiotics or herbal extracts. Producers overcome previous brittleness by optimizing moisture content during drying. Pullulan’s superior oxygen resistance makes it ideal for high-potency botanicals. Emerging enteric HPMC capsules such as Enprotect reach 98% buffer-conditioned release efficiency without secondary coating, cutting process steps and validating the premium positioning. Starch variants remain limited to cost-sensitive segments but stand to benefit if conversion economics further improve.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Functionality: Extended-Release Innovation Drives Growth
Immediate-release shells held 72.45% share of the empty capsules market size in 2024, favored for their established compendial standards. However, sustained-release uses are growing at 9.84% CAGR as pharma companies chase once-daily regimens that lift adherence. Delayed-release capsules fill a smaller yet strategic niche for acid-labile APIs, evolving through polymer layering that triggers site-specific dissolution. Continuous coating methods yield tighter polymer distribution, enhancing batch uniformity and easing regulatory filings.
Bi-layer shells merge immediate and sustained profiles in a single unit, eliminating the need for tablet-capsule hybrids. pH-independent matrices counter patient-to-patient variability in gastric conditions. Real-time analytics embedded in continuous lines give operators direct control over coating weight gain, reducing deviations. As digital therapeutics integrate drug release data into patient dashboards, demand for bespoke release profiles is poised to strengthen over the forecast horizon.
By Therapeutic Application: Probiotics Lead Growth Trajectory
Antibiotic and antibacterial therapies captured 29.45% of empty capsules market size in 2024, underlining the persistent global burden of infectious diseases. Probiotics and prebiotics, moving at 11.56% CAGR, illustrate the rising consumer focus on gut microbiome modulation. Vitamin blends sustain high capsule volumes by masking taste and stabilizing fat-soluble actives. Antacid and antiflatulent segments continue serving acute digestive needs with well-proven gelatin or HPMC shells.
Cardiovascular treatments register moderate gains as chronic disease prevalence climbs with aging demographics. Multi-compartment capsules that separate incompatible APIs gain attention in oncology and immunology clinics, where synchronized pharmacokinetics can improve outcomes. Regulatory support for complex drug delivery expands the application canvas, prompting developers to trial capsule formats in areas once dominated by tablets or parenterals.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By End User: Nutraceutical Sector Drives Innovation
Pharmaceutical manufacturers consumed 66.34% of global output in 2024, reflecting rigorous GMP needs and risk-averse sourcing practices that favor long-tenure suppliers lonza.com. The nutraceutical sector, forecast at 8.93% CAGR, increasingly mirrors pharmaceutical quality standards while retaining marketing agility. Beauty-from-within supplements illustrate capsule expansion into cosmetic nutrition, where dosage precision and swift product refresh cycles fit capsule attributes.
Contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) embed capsule capability to attract both drug and supplement brands, creating a vertically integrated service model. Digital health ecosystems drive interest in “daily packs” that align to wearable-derived biomarkers, reinforcing the appeal of modular capsule filling lines. Academic labs and clinical research centers, though small in volume, demand tight tolerances and customizable colors for blinded trials, nudging premium-grade suppliers to offer micro-batch services.
Geography Analysis
North America retained leadership with a 38.54% stake in the empty capsules market in 2024, backed by advanced GMP facilities and FDA oversight that prizes documentation and batch consistency[3]FDA, “Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Guidance,” fda.gov. Continuous manufacturing pilots in the United States push suppliers to meet tight specification ranges and real-time release testing. Canada’s generics production and Mexico’s contract-manufacturing base add depth to regional capsule demand. Plants that can certify for FDA, Health Canada and USP standards thus win preferred-supplier status.
Asia-Pacific records the highest 8.72% CAGR through 2030 and is set to re-shape global volume flows. China upgrades its pharmaceutical infrastructure while antidumping probes into low-cost capsule exports force realignment of sourcing strategies. India leverages cost advantages and a skilled workforce; Natural Capsules’ INR 250 million expansion indicates confidence in export contracts. Japan targets geriatric formulations that demand easy-to-swallow shells, favoring smaller sizes and enhanced glidants. Southeast Asian economies follow suit as universal healthcare programs expand access to oral therapies.
Europe maintains a mature yet innovative landscape. German biotechnology hubs require advanced capsule technologies for specialty drugs, while post-Brexit policy tweaks stimulate United Kingdom-based investments. EU environmental directives encourage a pivot to plant-based shells, with HPMC uptake gathering momentum. Producers market low-carbon footprints and solvent-free processes to align with corporate sustainability targets. Across the bloc, personalized medicine pilots tap into e-prescription platforms, and capsule suppliers that can provide rapid small-lot deliveries gain competitive edges.

Competitive Landscape
The empty capsules market shows moderate concentration as top firms blend capacity builds with portfolio rationalization to sustain margins. Lonza’s plan to divest Capsules & Health Ingredients while adding new lines in Rewari and Suzhou exemplifies a dual track of focus and growth. Mergers such as Roquette’s acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions for USD 2.85 billion illustrate horizontal expansion aimed at bundling excipients and capsule offerings within single supply contracts.
Technology leadership becomes the primary differentiator. Lonza’s Enprotect won a 2023 innovation award, reinforcing the premium segment where ease-of-manufacture and enteric performance intersect. ACG broadens geographic reach by setting up a multi-phase complex in Croatia to balance European order fulfillment and hedge against tariff exposure. Smaller specialists target high-value niches such as pullulan or starch capsules, leveraging faster decision cycles to customize polymers or dye systems for branding.
Supply security, not merely price, now dictates sourcing decisions. Multinationals insist on dual-continent production footprints and transparent ESG reporting. Suppliers employ digital twins to predict capacity constraints and channel capital toward debottlenecking projects. Strategic alliances between capsule makers and CDMOs rise as big pharma outsources both drug formulation and component supply, embedding capsule procurement within long-term framework agreements.
Global Empty Capsules Industry Leaders
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ACG Worldwide
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Bright Pharma Caps Inc
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Lonza Group(Capsugel)
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Suheung Capsule Co. Ltd
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Qualicaps
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- January 2025: Roquette completed the USD 2.85 billion acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions to deepen its excipient and oral-dosage technologies portfolio.
- January 2025: Hovione and Zerion Pharma formed a joint venture to commercialize Dispersome technology for respiratory drugs and nutraceuticals.
- January 2025: Gerresheimer announced a USD 180 million expansion of its Peachtree City, Georgia, facility, adding 18,000 m² and 400 jobs for medical systems output gerresheimer.com.
- Dec 2024: Lonza revealed plans to divest its Capsules & Health Ingredients arm while strengthening capacity in India and China.
- December 2024: Lonza commissioned new hard-gel lines in Rewari and Suzhou, boosting annual capacity for regional demand.
- October 2024: The USITC launched antidumping and countervailing duty probes on hard empty capsules from Brazil, China, India and Vietnam.
Global Empty Capsules Market Report Scope
Empty capsules are stable shells that contain or encapsulate medicines, which are administered in a variety of dosage forms. Empty capsules are the most common option to store herbs, powders, and medicines. The empty capsules market is segmented by product (gelatin capsules and non-gelatin capsules), functionality (immediate-release capsules, delayed-release capsules, and sustained-release capsules), therapeutic application (antibiotic and antibacterial drugs, vitamins and dietary supplements, antacid and antiflatulent preparations, cardiovascular therapy drugs, and other therapeutic applications), end user (pharmaceutical industry, nutraceutical industry, cosmetics industry, and research laboratories), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa, and South America). The market report also covers the estimated market sizes and trends for 17 countries across major regions globally. The report offers the value (in USD million) for the above segments.
By Product | Gelatin Capsules | Hard Gelatin Capsules | |
Soft Gelatin Capsules | |||
Non-Gelatin Capsules | HPMC Capsules | ||
Pullulan Capsules | |||
Starch-Based Capsules | |||
By Functionality | Immediate-Release Capsules | ||
Delayed-Release Capsules | |||
Sustained/Extended-Release Capsules | |||
By Therapeutic Application | Antibiotic & Antibacterial | ||
Vitamins & Dietary Supplements | |||
Antacid & Antiflatulent | |||
Cardiovascular Therapy | |||
Other Therapeutic Applications | |||
By End User | Pharmaceutical Industry | ||
Nutraceutical Industry | |||
Cosmetic & Personal-Care | |||
Research & Academic Laboratories | |||
By Geography | North America | United States | |
Canada | |||
Mexico | |||
Europe | Germany | ||
United Kingdom | |||
France | |||
Italy | |||
Spain | |||
Russia | |||
Rest of Europe | |||
Asia-Pacific | China | ||
Japan | |||
India | |||
Australia | |||
South Korea | |||
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
Middle East & Africa | GCC | ||
South Africa | |||
Rest of Middle East & Africa | |||
South America | Brazil | ||
Argentina | |||
Rest of South America |
Gelatin Capsules | Hard Gelatin Capsules |
Soft Gelatin Capsules | |
Non-Gelatin Capsules | HPMC Capsules |
Pullulan Capsules | |
Starch-Based Capsules |
Immediate-Release Capsules |
Delayed-Release Capsules |
Sustained/Extended-Release Capsules |
Antibiotic & Antibacterial |
Vitamins & Dietary Supplements |
Antacid & Antiflatulent |
Cardiovascular Therapy |
Other Therapeutic Applications |
Pharmaceutical Industry |
Nutraceutical Industry |
Cosmetic & Personal-Care |
Research & Academic Laboratories |
North America | United States |
Canada | |
Mexico | |
Europe | Germany |
United Kingdom | |
France | |
Italy | |
Spain | |
Russia | |
Rest of Europe | |
Asia-Pacific | China |
Japan | |
India | |
Australia | |
South Korea | |
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
Middle East & Africa | GCC |
South Africa | |
Rest of Middle East & Africa | |
South America | Brazil |
Argentina | |
Rest of South America |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the empty capsules market in 2025?
The market stands at USD 3.68 billion in 2025 with a 7.12% CAGR outlook to 2030.
Which capsule material is growing fastest?
Plant-based non-gelatin capsules, especially HPMC types, are expanding at a 10.32% CAGR through 2030.
Why are sustained-release capsules gaining momentum?
Pharmaceutical firms seek once-daily dosing that lifts adherence, prompting 9.84% CAGR growth for sustained-release formats.
Which region shows the highest growth potential?
Asia-Pacific leads in growth with an 8.72% CAGR, driven by expanding manufacturing capacity and healthcare spending.
How are gelatin supply risks influencing market dynamics?
Price volatility and tariff threats accelerate the shift toward cellulose-based alternatives that sidestep animal-origin and compliance barriers.
What strategic move has most affected competitive positioning recently?
Lonza’s plan to divest its capsule unit while upgrading lines in India and China is reshaping supplier hierarchies and acquisition pipelines.