Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market size is estimated to be valued at USD 1,303.0 Mn in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 1,726.2 Mn in 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% from 2025 to 2032.
The global carboxymethyl cellulose market demand is driven by its versatility and wide range of application across industries such as a thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier, and dispersant makes it valuable in food, pharmaceuticals, construction, and other sectors. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), also known as cellulose gum, is a water-soluble derivative of cellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls. Additionally, it is also used in cosmetics in in hand creams and lotions due to the flavor, polish and stabilizing properties of the suspension. Also, it is used in the production of toothpaste, due to the emulsion stabilization, creating a uniform layer and thickening. CMC with standard safe intake used in food industry is safe for human consumption.
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In terms of end-user, the food and beverage segment is expected to contribute 33.0% share of the market in 2025, owing to its versatile functions, including thickening, stabilizing, emulsifying, and binding properties. These properties make CMC valuable in various food and beverage applications, improving texture, stability, and shelf life. For instance, according to an article published by SINOCMS, CMC is widely used in artisanal ice cream, yogurt, fruit drinks and cakes to improve the shelf life of food and have a better taste. CMC also allows for the creation of desirable textures and mouthfeel, enhancing the overall consumer experience. It is used for a viscosity modifier or thickener and to stabilize emulsions in various products, including ice cream, mayonnaise, and beverages. It is also used extensively in gluten-free and reduced-fat food products.
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Asia Pacific region dominated the global carboxymethyl cellulose market in 2025, accounting for a 35.90% share in terms of value. Carboxymethyl cellulose market is highly demanding in Asia Pacific region due to its extensive use in food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Along with that, the Economic growth, industrialization, and changing consumer preferences encourage the market growth. The demand is highly observed in countries such as India, Japan and South Korea due to their large population, rapid industrialization and growing consumer demand for processed foods and convenience products.
In 2024, Japan exported ¥6.57 billion worth of Carboxymethylcellulose salts, ranking it as the 1,106th largest export product out of 4,864.
Europe region is expected to exhibit the fastest growth in the market in 2025. The growth can be attributed to clean label and natural ingredient demand. Europe consumers are preferring for clean label, plant-based and natural additives in food and personal care products. CMC are derived from celluloses (typically wood pulp or cotton linter). This fits the trends of using non-toxic, biodegradable and allergen-free thickener, stabilizer and emulsifies. In Europe, 1 in 2 consumers prefer a natural or clean label approach to healthy eating. The proprietary study ATLAS was conducted in partnership with Clear Seas Research. It also found that 99% of European manufacturers see clean label products as essential to their business strategy, with 87% already incorporating these into their products. This is further propelling the carboxymethyl cellulose market demand in Europe.
China carboxymethyl cellulose market is characterize rapidly growing processed food market uses CMC as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier in sauces, dairy, baked goods, and beverages. Along with that, China is one of the world’s largest CMC producers, benefiting from abundant raw materials (like cellulose derived from wood pulp or cotton linter), low labor costs and established supply chains for domestic and export markets.
Between October 2023 and September 2024, the world received 2,264 shipments of Carboxymethyl Cellulose from China. This is further accelerating the carboxymethyl cellulose market growth.
Germany carboxymethyl cellulose market is renowned for its largest food processing industries in Europe. MC, being plant-derived and biodegradable, aligns with Germany’s strong environmental regulations and sustainability goals. The Federal Government will make a binding reduction of 55 percent of greenhouse gases by 2030 with the Climate Action Programme 2030 and the Climate Change Act (Klimaschutzgesetz). Such initiatives are proliferating the carboxymethyl cellulose market demand.
| Report Coverage | Details | ||
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| Base Year: | 2024 | Market Size in 2025: | USD 1,303.0 Mn |
| Historical Data for: | 2020 To 2024 | Forecast Period: | 2025 To 2032 |
| Forecast Period 2025 to 2032 CAGR: | 4.1% | 2032 Value Projection: | USD 1,726.2 Mn |
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| Segments covered: | By End-User: Food & Beverage, Oil Drilling Fluids, Paper Processing, Personal Care, Paints and Adhesives, Packaging, Others | ||
| Companies covered: |
Akzo Nobel N.V., Ashland Inc., CP Kelco, Daicel Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, Lamberti S.p.A., Penn Carbose Inc., Sichem LLC, SINCOCMC Co. Ltd, Yixing Tongda Chemical Co. Ltd, and Nouryon |
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The substantial demand from the food industry is expected to drive significant growth for carboxymethyl cellulose market growth. One of the key reasons propelling the market is the rising demand for food additives such as thickening agents, stabilizers, and viscosity-modifying agents. For instance, ice cream is made with carboxymethyl cellulose powder. Using the inclusion of CMCX, it is no longer necessary to make ice cream using churners and salt ice mixtures. Additionally, the demand for carboxymethyl cellulose is skyrocketing due to rising demand for ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat items such premixes, bakery goods, instant noodles, meat goods, sauces, quick-frozen meals, and other goods. Additionally, CMC is a fat substitute and is frequently used in the production of low-fat and gluten-free goods.
Due to its remarkable anti-soil red-positing characteristic, sodium derivative of carboxymethyl cellulose is widely used in the production of detergents. Additionally, it works in detergents as a skin and texture protector, homogenizer, stabilizer, particle suspender, color retention agent, and color retention agent. Oil and filth are absorbed by the good thickening, emulsifying, and dispersing effect, which also keeps oil from coming into touch with the cleansed surfaces. Due to their remarkable qualities, detergents and cleaning products are in great demand, which is projected to propel carboxymethyl cellulose market vlue. For instance, as Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited celebrated its centenary year, the company has planned to go in for capacity enhancement by modernizing plants and machinery and launching new products to cater to market demands.
More taconite and iron ore mining are anticipated to open up additional markets for carboxymethyl cellulose. It is frequently used in mining flotation operations to separate metals and contaminants. In essence, it is a modifier that is utilized in the mining flotation chemical process. Additionally, because it is quickly absorbed by the surfaces of minerals, it is also employed in nickel ore. Therefore, it is anticipated that rising demand across mining applications would promote the growth of the carboxymethyl cellulose market forecast.
It is anticipated that the increased use of carboxymethyl cellulose in the paper sector would open up new business prospects. In the making of paper, it serves as a stabilizer, binder, thickener, and dispersant. Growing paper demand from diverse uses is increasing paper output, which in turn is increasing carboxymethyl cellulose consumption.
The Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) market is entering a defining phase, marked by innovation-driven expansion and rising input volatility, placing manufacturers in a delicate balancing act between value addition and cost control. The market's future hinges less on volume growth and more on functional customization and strategic end-user engagement—particularly in food, pharma, and personal care.
CMC is being redefined as a specialty ingredient. Food-grade CMC is increasingly engineered for specific rheological and sensory functions, such as stabilizing plant-based dairy analogs (e.g., oat and almond milk), where natural, clean-label thickeners are in high demand. For instance, formulators for Nestlé and Danone have begun shifting from carrageenan to enzymatically modified CMC due to better cold-solubility and mouthfeel control—an area where standard grades simply can’t compete.
Similarly, in pharmaceutical applications, CMC's role as a binder and disintegrant in tablet formulations has pushed suppliers toward ultra-low impurity and highly uniform grades. The rise of orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) is a case in point, where CMC’s water uptake profile is critical for rapid release. Companies like Ashland and DKS are investing in micro-structured CMC to cater to such high-precision uses.
China’s production accounts for over 55% of global CMC output, but the market is bifurcating. While Tier-1 manufacturers in China are improving process consistency through automated etherification units, Tier-2 and Tier-3 firms still produce variable quality with high salt content and inconsistent viscosity. This has led to increasing rejections by multinational buyers in food and pharma segments.
There is a shift underway: major buyers are actively seeking dual sourcing strategies from Southeast Asia (notably Thailand and Indonesia), where GMP-certified plants are being set up. This could decentralize sourcing but increase supply chain complexity.
*Definitions: Carboxymethyl cellulose, a kind of cellulose gum, is made from pure cotton and wood pulp. Numerous sectors, including oil and gas, agriculture, cosmetics and personal care, paint, paper manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and household care, utilize cellulose gum extensively.
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About Author
Vidyesh Swar is a seasoned Consultant with a diverse background in market research and business consulting. With over 6 years of experience, Vidyesh has established a strong reputation for his proficiency in market estimations, supplier landscape analysis, and market share assessments for tailored research solution. Using his deep industry knowledge and analytical skills, he provides valuable insights and strategic recommendations, enabling clients to make informed decisions and navigate complex business landscapes.
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