The global prebiotic ingredients market features an increasingly competitive landscape on account of a large number of vendors adopting prudent strategies to increase their footprints, according to a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Companies in the global prebiotic ingredients market are increasingly focusing on research and development (R&D) activities to launch products with higher therapeutic value. This has also helped fuel the organic growth of several key players in the prebiotic ingredients market. A growing number of players are tapping into promising avenues in the functional foods industry to gain competitive edge over others, TMR said.
 
The global prebiotic ingredients market stood at $3.5 billion in 2017. Expanding at a promising CAGR of 10.3% during 2017-2025, the opportunities in the global market are projected to be worth about $7.7 billion by the end of this forecast period.
 
Among the various key types of ingredients, inulin contributed a sizeable share of 34.3% in the global prebiotic ingredients market and the demand is expected to rise at substantial pace over the assessment period. This is attributed to widespread applications of inulin in the food and beverages, bakery, and confectionery industries.
 
Among key regional markets, Asia-Pacific was anticipated to emerge to the forefront in 2017. The regional market is projected to expand at the most attractive CAGR of 11.1% during 2017-2025 and garner a substantial revenue share by the end of 2025. The growth is propelled largely by the rising demand for functional foods across the region.
 
Rising Awareness
The global prebiotic ingredients market is driven by the rising awareness about the therapeutic benefits of functional food ingredients in the food and beverages industry around the world. The rising demand for food products containing prebiotics is underpinned by several health-related benefits, especially in promoting gastrointestinal health of consumers. The rising population of health-conscious consumers who are willing to spend more on functional food products is a notable factor bolstering demand for prebiotic ingredients.
 
The global market has been witnessing robust momentum from rising R&D activities on improving the therapeutic value and optimal functionality of these ingredients. A number of companies producing functional dietary supplements have been leveraging innovative technologies in their research and development units to develop prebiotic ingredients with better stability. This has also enabled them to use prebiotic ingredients in a variety of food supplements with different chemical structure.
The market for prebiotic ingredients has made rapid strides, helped by the rising demand for food products in reducing obesity. The rising awareness about diet-based interventions in reducing the risk of obesity in various populations is a notable trend bolstering demand for prebiotic ingredients in various food preparations. Over the years, as new health benefits of these ingredients are uncovered and efforts are made to increase their use in industrial applications, the global prebiotic ingredients market is expected to make attractive strides over the next few years.
 
Big Investments Needed for Production Technologies
However, there is a need for large investments in the manufacturing processes for the production of prebiotic ingredients. The difficulty in scaling production processes has also been a key setback in the market's expansion. Moreover, demand has been facing stiff competition from the growing popularity of probiotics, especially in numerous developing and developed regions.
 
Nevertheless, in recent years, several food companies have come up with successful supplements containing prebiotic ingredients. In addition, they are adopting modern packaging systems that help preserve the product's stability. The propensity of people toward natural functional food ingredients is also expected to open new frontiers.