Carotenoids are natural pigments that animals obtain through their diet and are used both for pigmentation and as health supplements. The global animal feed carotenoids market reached approximately $3.7 billion in 2024, driven by increasing demand for animal products, a trend toward natural ingredients, and quality-focused growth. Regionally, Asia-Pacific is the largest and fastest-growing market, while Europe exhibits a mature and regulated structure. The Americas stand out for their production capacity and quality demands, while the Middle East and Africa have high growth potential. Animal health, natural ingredient demands, and advanced feed formulations support market growth, while raw material costs and carotenoid stability issues pose some challenges.
By Derya Gulsoy Yildiz, Feed & Additive Magazine
Carotenoids are fat-soluble natural pigments synthesized by plants, algae, bacteria, and fungi. Animals cannot produce these pigments and therefore must obtain them through their diet. Carotenoids are divided into two main groups: Carotenes (such as β-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A) and xanthophylls (oxidized or hydroxylated carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, and canthaxanthin). In modern animal production, carotenoids are used for both pigmentation and health-promoting purposes. Although feed may naturally contain carotenoids, they are usually added as supplements to feed formulations to ensure animals receive specific amounts and levels.
Carotenoids enhance consumer perception and marketability by imparting vibrant colors to animal products. In poultry, they improve egg yolk and skin color, while in seafood, they provide a red-pink color to salmon and trout fillets and support the pink color that develops in shrimp after cooking. Similarly, skin and fat pigmentation in pigs is also considered an indicator of quality. In addition, carotenoids protect cells from oxidative stress and support the immune system thanks to their powerful antioxidant effects. Some carotenoids are converted into vitamin A in the body, improving reproductive health, eye health, and general physiological functions. Carotenoids also support intestinal health, increasing feed utilization and indirectly improving live weight gain and productivity. Along with antibiotic-free production and rising food safety standards, carotenoids have become an important nutritional strategy that supports animal health, product quality, and sustainability.
MARKET STATUS AND FUTURE EXPECTATIONS
The global animal feed carotenoids market is experiencing steady growth due to increasing demand for animal health and welfare, a trend toward natural ingredients, and efforts to improve the quality of animal products. Various market research reports offer different but generally consistent predictions about the market’s current status and future potential.
For example, a report prepared by 360iResearch estimates the current size of the global animal feed carotenoids market at $3.28 billion in 2024 and $3.47 billion in 2025. The market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.46% during the 2025-2030 period and reach $4.51 billion by 2030.
Market Research Future reveals that the size of the global animal feed carotenoids market is $1.79 billion in 2023 and $1.85 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 3.33% during the 2025-2035 period and reach $2.65 billion by 2035.
Precision Business Insights, on the other hand, shares that the size of the market was $3.8 billion in 2024. The research company’s report predicts that the market will grow at a significant CAGR of 4.2% during the 2025-2031 period and reach an estimated value of $5 billion by 2031.
The highest estimate belongs to SkyQuest. According to the company’s report, the global animal feed carotenoids market, which was $5.77 billion in 2023, is estimated to be $6.02 billion in 2024. The report forecasts that the market will grow at a CAGR of 4.4% during the period 2025-2032 and reach $8.5 billion.
As can be seen, while some reports calculate the market size at $1.8 billion, others provide estimates of over $6 billion. The main reason for this difference stems from the scope of the research, sub-market definitions, and methodological differences. However, if we need to make an average estimate based on the reports in question, it can be said that the global feed carotenoids market size was around $3.7 billion in 2024. Similarly, it can be assumed that the market will grow at an average CAGR of 4.3% during the 2025-2035 period and reach a size of approximately $6 billion, which indicates steady growth in the coming period.
FACTORS SUPPORTING GROWTH
The global animal feed carotenoids market is growing rapidly in line with changing needs and increasing demand in the livestock and aquaculture sectors. Analysts list the main drivers of growth as follows:
1. Increase in Demand for Animal Protein
The growing world population and rising income levels, particularly in developing economies, have led to a significant increase in the consumption of animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs. Farmers are under pressure to increase the productivity of their animals to meet this growing demand. Carotenoids can indirectly improve animal performance by supporting feed utilization.
2. Regulations and Consumer Demands
While the use of antibiotics and synthetic additives is being restricted in the EU and other regions, consumer demand for “clean label” and natural products is increasing. This trend is driving producers to use natural carotenoids.
3. Animal Health and Welfare
Carotenoids provide indirect benefits to overall health and welfare through their strong antioxidant and immune-supporting effects. This is considered an important factor, especially for intensive production systems.
4. Advances in Feed Formulation Technologies
Microencapsulation and new production platforms increase the stability of carotenoids, improve bioavailability, and reduce costs. The combination of different sources also optimizes the balance between performance and cost.
5. Economic and Efficiency Advantages
Carotenoids reduce costs per unit of production by enabling greater utilization of feed and increase producer profitability.
6. Modern Livestock and Aquaculture Applications
The growth of modern livestock investments and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and MEA regions is a key factor driving the demand for carotenoids. Consumer demands for pigmentation and quality further support this demand.
7. Sustainability and Feed Efficiency
Carotenoids reduce resource use by optimizing feed utilization and minimize the environmental footprint of animal production. This is consistent with sustainable production goals.
FACTORS LIMITING GROWTH
Although feed carotenoids make significant contributions to improving animal health and performance, there are various obstacles hindering growth in the global market. Analysts list these obstacles as:
1. Volatility in Raw Material Prices and SupplyChain Issues
The supply chains for natural raw materials used in feed carotenoids (e.g., algae, plants) are complex, and raw material prices are subject to volatility due to factors such as climate conditions, seasonality, and geography. Additionally, the production costs of synthetic carotenoids can be affected by energy costs and supply chain disruptions.
2. Supplier Power and Access to Quality Sources
The control of carotenoid sources by a limited number of suppliers can increase costs and create barriers to market entry.
3. High R&D and Long Approval Times
The development of next-generation feed carotenoids requires significant R&D investments and long approval processes. Safety, efficacy, and environmental impact testing impose high costs, while regulatory compliance can delay products’ entry into the market.
4. Competition from Alternative Additives
Feed carotenoids are in competition with many alternative additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and phytobiotics.
5. Shelf Life and Stability Issues
Carotenoids are highly sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen. Some carotenoids, especially those derived from natural sources, may lose their effectiveness during storage due to their volatile nature or risk of degradation. These environmental factors can make maintaining product stability costly.
6. Performance Variability
Achieving consistent egg yolk, skin color, or fillet pigmentation depends on dosage, carotenoid type, carotenoid ratio, and ration components. Variations in raw material content profiles and losses during processing can lead to volatility in results. Costly formulation optimization may be required for consistent results.
7. Complex and Increasingly Stringent Regulatory Requirements
Legal regulations governing the use of feed additives vary from region to region. Increased regulatory scrutiny of synthetic varieties and additives imposes high compliance costs on producers.
8. Safety and compliance requirements in facilities
Since some carotenoids have irritating or sensitizing properties, their use requires strict procedures, protective equipment, dust control, and training. This makes operations in feed mills and premix facilities somewhat more complex and may slow down their adoption when simpler alternatives are available.
9. Consumer Perception and Misconceptions
While consumer confidence is creating a trend toward naturally sourced carotenoids, the term “feed additive” may create an image of artificial products in some consumers’ minds. Such misconceptions can negatively impact demand.
Some Major Feed Carotenoids Suppliers
• Adisseo
• ADM
• Algatechnologies
• Allied Biotech
• Alltech
• Avivagen
• BASF
• Biochem
• Cargill
• Cyanotech
• D.D. Williamson
• dsm-firmenich ANH
• EW Nutrition
• ExcelVite
• Impextraco
• Innovad
• Kaesler Nutrition
• Kalsec
• Kemin Industries
• Novonesis
• Novus International
• Nutreco (Selko-Trouw Nutrition)
• Nutrex
• PAT Vitamins
• Piveg
• Sensient Technologies
• Synthite Industries
• TRM Ireland
• Valensa International
• VievePharm Animal Nutrition
• Vitafor
• Zagro
MARKET STATUS BY ANIMAL TYPE
The global feed carotenoids market is shaped by the unique physiological needs of different animal species and the requirements of production systems. From poultry to ruminants, pigs to aquatic animals, each species has its own specific dynamics in carotenoid usage. This situation ensures both the expansion and diversification of the market.
The poultry sector constitutes the largest segment of the feed carotenoids market. The main reason for this is the improvement of egg yolk color and skin pigmentation, which influence consumer preferences and marketability. Carotenoids such as β-carotene and canthaxanthin are widely used in poultry nutrition to achieve these desired traits. In intensive production systems, gut health issues and the risk of pathogen contamination increase; carotenoids, however, can indirectly improve animal welfare and feed utilization through their antioxidant and immune-supporting effects. Furthermore, restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) have made carotenoids an important supportive contribution that can help mitigate performance losses in these systems.
Carotenoids in pig nutrition are primarily used to improve the color of pork products such as skin and fat, which are important factors for consumer acceptance. In addition, although not common, feed carotenoids may also be used to combat diarrhea and digestive disorders in piglets caused by weaning stress and sudden feed changes.
Carotenoid use in the ruminant sector is more limited compared to the poultry and swine sectors; however, producers utilize these additives in certain situations to support animal health and productivity. Ruminants such as cattle and sheep benefit from carotenoids, which support immune function and overall health thanks to their antioxidant properties. In dairy cows experiencing green feed shortages or nutritional deficiencies, especially during winter months, β-carotene supplementation helps maintain productivity by supporting reproductive performance.
The aquaculture sector is a rapidly growing segment for carotenoids. Carotenoids such as astaxanthin are the most important additives for providing the fillet color in salmon and trout and the pink color in shrimp after cooking. These vivid colors are an important quality indicator for consumers. Carotenoids can also indirectly increase stress tolerance in fish and shrimp and support overall health and metabolic functions thanks to their antioxidant and immune-supporting effects. In line with consumer expectations for high-quality and visually appealing seafood, the use of carotenoids in aquaculture is expected to increase.
MARKET SITUATION BY REGION
The global feed carotenoids market varies across regions depending on livestock systems, regulatory frameworks, consumer expectations, and economic conditions. These differences directly affect market size, growth rate, and carotenoid demand.
The Asia-Pacific region stands out as both the largest and fastest-growing market. Large poultry, swine, and aquatic populations in China, India, and Southeast Asian countries constitute the primary source of carotenoid demand. Urbanization, rising income levels, and changing dietary habits support a steady increase in meat, dairy, and seafood consumption. Carotenoids play a crucial role in the fish and shellfish sector in particular, enhancing pigmentation and supporting overall health and performance.
The European market is notable for its mature and regulated structure. The European Union’s decision to ban antibiotic growth promoters has increased demand for natural alternatives such as carotenoids. Strict regulations on animal welfare and high consumer expectations for food safety have made natural colorants and nutritional supplements indispensable compared to synthetic colorants.
The Americas hold a significant position in the global feed carotenoids market, thanks to North America’s advanced production infrastructure and South America’s rapidly growing market. Large-scale poultry, swine, and cattle operations in the US and Canada create strong demand for carotenoids due to high production volumes and quality requirements. While Brazil consolidates its strong position in poultry and pork exports, modernized livestock practices and increased demand for seafood production in Argentina and Chile are supporting growth.
The Middle East and Africa is still a developing market with high growth potential. Rising populations, urbanization, and changing dietary habits are leading to steady growth in meat, milk, and egg consumption. Investments in modern poultry farms in the region are the main drivers of market growth.
MARKET COMPETITION AND SUPPLIERS
The global feed carotenoids market is becoming increasingly competitive due to restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters, rising demand for animal protein, and sustainable production goals. Both large multinational companies and regional specialist producers play an active role in the market. Global players stand out with their extensive product portfolios for broiler, aquaculture, and swine feed, comprehensive R&D investments, and strong distribution networks. On the other hand, regional producers based in China, India, or Brazil gain a competitive advantage through customized formulations and customer relationships tailored to specific animal species or local market needs.
Success is not limited to offering innovative and reliable products, but is also reinforced by technical services that maximize the effectiveness of carotenoid supplementation and its benefits for animal health. Compliance with legal regulations, the ability to manage volatility in raw material prices, and cost efficiency in production are also critical factors determining the competitiveness of suppliers.
In this context, the economy of scale advantage of global players and the flexible and targeted approaches of regional companies increase the diversity and dynamism of the market.
References
1.Carotenoids I dsm-firmenich ANH
2.Carotenoids in Farm Animal Diets: Implications for Health and Performance – A Review I Hilaris Publisher
3.Feed Carotenoids » Unique animal nutrition solutions I BASF
4.Appetizing eggs with natural pigmentation: The new-generation solution I EW Nutrition
5.Xanthophylls I ScienceDirect
6.Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry I MDPI
7.Carotenoids in Animal Nutrition I FEFANA
8.Feed Carotenoids Market Size & Share 2025-2030 I 360iResearch
9.Feed Carotenoids Market I Market Research Future
10.Feed Carotenoids Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth Report I Precision Business Insights
11.Feed Carotenoids Market Growth, Size & Share Analysis | 2032 I SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
