Bio-Based Adipic Acid Market Size & Share [2033]

Bio-Based Adipic Acid Market Overview

The Bio-Based Adipic Acid Market size was valued at USD 4735.36 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5949.03 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 2.6% from 2025 to 2033.

The global bio-based adipic acid market reached an estimated 4.48 billion USD in 2024, with projections indicating a rise to approximately 4.66 billion USD in 2025. Year-on-year growth suggests an increase of more than 180 million USD within this period. In earlier estimates, the market was valued at approximately 4.47 billion USD in 2023 and is forecast to surpass 5.3 billion USD by 2030, indicating a long-term growth of over 900 million USD. Some alternate market models place the valuation at 800 million USD in 2023, with potential expansion to nearly 1.5 billion USD by 2032—effectively showing a near doubling of market size over the decade.

Within the larger adipic acid market—valued between 5.5 billion and 7.7 billion USD as of 2024—bio-based variants represent a notable and increasing share. Asia-Pacific accounted for around 46.5% of total adipic acid market volume, equating to nearly 2.58 billion USD of the global value. Key producers such as Rennovia, Verdezyne, DSM, BioAmber, Genomatica, and Ameris have developed bio-based processes using feedstocks like glucose, vegetable oils, lignocellulosic biomass, and fermentation-based synthesis to manufacture adipic acid at commercial and pilot scales.

Key Findings

Driver: The primary driver for the bio-based adipic acid market is the increasing global demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to petrochemical-derived products. More than 72% of manufacturers in Europe and North America have shifted toward adopting bio-based raw materials in polymer production.

Country/Region: Asia-Pacific leads the bio-based adipic acid market with over 46% share of global volume. Countries like China, Japan, and India are responsible for producing more than 3.1 million metric tons of adipic acid annually, a growing portion of which is bio-based.

Segment: The polyurethane resins segment dominates with over 35% application share due to its use in foams, coatings, and elastomers. An estimated 1.2 million metric tons of adipic acid were used globally in polyurethane applications in 2024, of which an increasing proportion is bio-based.

Bio-Based Adipic Acid Market Trends

The bio-based adipic acid market has shown consistent upward momentum with strong quantitative growth across multiple regions and applications. In 2024, the global market was estimated at approximately 1.65 billion USD and is projected to exceed 3.01 billion USD by 2031, indicating a steady increase in volume and demand. In contrast, the total market for both bio-based and synthetic adipic acid is expected to grow from 11.5 billion USD in 2025 to nearly 16.7 billion USD by 2032, an overall growth of more than 5.2 billion USD within seven years. Asia-Pacific remains the largest regional contributor, accounting for about 46.5% of the global adipic acid market volume in 2024, translating to over 2.58 billion USD. North America follows closely, with adipic acid consumption valued at approximately 1.72 billion USD in 2024. Meanwhile, Europe holds a significant share driven by regulatory incentives and higher adoption of bio-based solutions in industrial production.

A major trend reshaping the market is the shift toward renewable feedstocks. Over 72% of manufacturers in North America and Europe reported partial or complete transition to bio-based raw materials by 2024. This has directly contributed to market expansion, with an estimated 1.36 billion USD in added market value expected between 2024 and 2031 due to this shift alone. In the footwear industry, over 24.2 billion pairs of shoes were produced globally in the past year, marking a 2.7% annual increase. The footwear sector is a large consumer of polyurethane foams derived from adipic acid, contributing to increased demand. The polyurethane segment accounts for roughly 35% of total applications in the market, translating to around 1.2 million metric tons of adipic acid used globally, a growing portion of which is now bio-based. Another clear trend is the diversification of application areas. Nylon 6,6 continues to dominate with approximately 58% of value share across adipic acid use cases in 2025. However, significant increases have been observed in usage across paints, plasticizers, low-temperature lubricants, food additives, and synthetic fibers. In 2024, the global adipic acid market—combining both food-grade and industrial-grade types—was estimated at 5.59 billion USD, with increasing use in high-purity food-grade sectors. Price volatility in feedstocks like glucose and vegetable oils has impacted production costs, especially in China and the U.S. Nonetheless, companies are investing in stabilizing fermentation-based technologies to reduce cost variance and maintain consistent supply for downstream industries.

Bio-Based Adipic Acid Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for sustainable polymer production

The increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable polymer materials is one of the main drivers behind the growth of the bio-based adipic acid market. Over 72% of industrial chemical manufacturers in Europe and North America reported partial or full conversion to bio-based raw materials by 2024. In the same year, the global production of nylon 6,6—heavily reliant on adipic acid—exceeded 2.1 million metric tons, with bio-based variants making up a growing proportion. The automotive industry alone used more than 600,000 metric tons of nylon 6,6 in lightweight components, all of which depend on consistent adipic acid supply. Additionally, over 1.2 million metric tons of adipic acid were consumed in polyurethane foam production, driven by sustainability goals and demand for recyclable materials. These shifts have helped propel the bio-based segment to 1.65 billion USD in 2024.

RESTRAINT

Limited commercial-scale production infrastructure

One of the primary restraints of the market is the underdeveloped commercial production infrastructure for bio-based adipic acid. As of 2024, fewer than 15 industrial-scale facilities globally are dedicated solely to bio-based adipic acid production. Among these, only a handful—located in the U.S., Germany, and Japan—operate above a 10,000 metric ton per annum capacity. Feedstock availability and high purification costs contribute to production constraints. For instance, bio-fermentation routes using glucose yield about 0.85 kilograms of adipic acid per kilogram of substrate, but require intensive downstream processing, driving up cost. Additionally, fluctuating supply of key agricultural feedstocks like sugar beet and corn, especially in regions impacted by drought, has led to feedstock price hikes of up to 18% in 2024, directly affecting production efficiency and scale.

OPPORTUNITY

Expanding demand from bioplastics and green coatings industries

The surge in bioplastics and sustainable coatings demand offers significant opportunities for the bio-based adipic acid market. Global bioplastics production capacity reached over 2.87 million metric tons in 2024, with a projected increase to 4.6 million metric tons by 2027. Adipic acid is used in biopolymer formulations, especially in biodegradable plasticizers and green polyester resins. Furthermore, the paints and coatings segment—valued at over 140 billion USD globally—has shifted toward low-VOC, bio-based additives, many of which incorporate adipic acid derivatives. As regulatory pressure in Europe and North America intensifies, more than 400 paint manufacturers have begun trials with bio-based intermediates. These developments position bio-based adipic acid as a critical input in future sustainable product portfolios.

CHALLENGE

Rising costs and expenditures

The most significant challenge for the bio-based adipic acid market is the high production cost compared to conventional synthetic processes. In 2024, bio-based adipic acid cost nearly 30–40% more per metric ton than its petrochemical counterpart. While synthetic adipic acid averaged around 1,600 USD per metric ton, bio-based variants were priced at approximately 2,200–2,400 USD per metric ton due to complex downstream processing, enzyme costs, and fermentation scaling issues. R&D investment has increased substantially, with over 120 million USD allocated globally in 2023–2024 for bio-based adipic acid process improvements. Still, financial and technical barriers remain for smaller manufacturers, with capital expenditure for a new production plant ranging between 70–100 million USD depending on location and capacity.

Bio-Based Adipic Acid Market Segmentation

The market divides by type and application. Two primary types—Food Grade and Industrial Grade—each represent roughly half of adipic acid use (≈2.8 billion USD each within the 5.59 billion USD total in 2024). On the application side, categories include paints/coatings; low-temperature lubricants; plastic additives; polyurethane resins; food additives; and synthetic fibers.

By Type

Food Grade: High-purity applications include biodegradable packaging and food additives. Approximately 1.4 million metric tons of food-grade adipic acid were produced in 2024, accounting for nearly 25 % of global volume.
Industrial Grade: Covers polyurethane, nylon, coatings, and lubricants. Industrial-grade adipic acid accounted for about 1.4 million metric tons and 50 % of the combined market value in 2024.

By Application

Paints and Coatings: In the paints and coatings sector, bio-based adipic acid is increasingly used as a precursor for low-VOC alkyd and polyester resins. In 2024, global usage of bio-based adipic acid in this segment exceeded 120,000 metric tons, driven by environmental regulations and demand for sustainable building materials. Over 400 coating manufacturers worldwide integrated bio-based intermediates into their formulations, especially in architectural and industrial coatings.
Low-temperature Lubricants: Low-temperature lubricants represent a steadily growing application for bio-based adipic acid, particularly in synthetic esters used in refrigeration, aviation, and heavy equipment sectors. In 2024, demand surpassed 90,000 metric tons globally. Bio-based adipic acid enhances lubricant performance in extreme cold by providing superior oxidative stability and low pour points when combined with polyol esters. The automotive aftermarket in North America consumed over 25,000 metric tons of these bio-lubricants, while Europe’s industrial machinery and cold-storage sectors utilized nearly 20,000 metric tons.
Plastic Additives: Bio-based adipic acid is widely used in plastic additives, particularly as a precursor in plasticizers and stabilizers for flexible PVC and bioplastics. In 2024, approximately 180,000 metric tons of bio-based adipic acid were consumed globally for plastic additive production. These additives are favored in packaging films, cables, hoses, and flooring products, where non-phthalate formulations are increasingly preferred. The Asia-Pacific region, led by China and India, utilized over 80,000 metric tons of bio-derived plasticizers in consumer goods manufacturing. Europe accounted for around 50,000 metric tons, largely for use in medical-grade flexible plastics and food-contact packaging.
Polyurethane Resins: Polyurethane resins constitute the largest application segment for bio-based adipic acid, consuming approximately 1.2 million metric tons globally in 2024. These resins are used in flexible foams, elastomers, coatings, and adhesives, primarily in automotive, construction, and furniture sectors. The footwear industry alone used over 320,000 metric tons of adipic acid-derived polyurethane for midsoles, insoles, and foam linings. Asia-Pacific led with about 550,000 metric tons of consumption, followed by North America at 370,000 metric tons and Europe at 240,000 metric tons.
Food Additives: In 2024, nearly 75,000 metric tons of bio-based adipic acid were used in food additive applications globally. Its primary role includes functioning as a flavor enhancer, pH stabilizer, and gelling agent in processed foods and beverages. The compound's high purity—typically 99.5% or above—is essential for food-grade applications, which have expanded rapidly due to consumer demand for clean-label ingredients. Europe led the segment with more than 30,000 metric tons consumed in carbonated drinks and powdered beverages, while North America accounted for approximately 25,000 metric tons in chewing gum, confectionery, and nutritional supplements.
Other Synthetic Fibers: In the category of other synthetic fibers, bio-based adipic acid supports the production of fibers such as polyester-amides and specialty polyamides used in apparel, filtration, and industrial textiles. Approximately 310,000 metric tons of adipic acid were utilized in this application in 2024, with a rising share produced from bio-based sources. Asia-Pacific accounted for nearly 170,000 metric tons of consumption, driven by China’s textile exports and India’s expanding polyester-blend fabric segment.

Bio-Based Adipic Acid Market Regional Outlook

The global market shows strong regional diversity:

North America

North America consumed approximately 1.72 billion USD worth of adipic acid (synthetic + bio-based) in 2024. The U.S. market volume totaled nearly 350,000 metric tons of bio-based adipic acid in that year. Over 72 % of manufacturers had implemented bio-based feedstocks, spurring new facility projects: one plant announced 15,000 metric tons/year capacity in Canada in 2024, while a U.S. facility of 12,500 metric tons/year came online. Adoption is strongest in agrochemical packaging and automotive sectors.

Europe

Europe captured about 1.3 billion USD of total adipic acid usage in 2024, with bio-based compounds making up approximately 300,000 metric tons. EU regulatory measures limit fossil-based chemicals, prompting investment in green chemicals. Germany reported 5 pilot-scale fermentation plants in 2024 with combined capacity nearing 20,000 metric tons/year. The U.K., France, and Italy jointly commissioned three plants totaling 18,000 metric tons/year. Food‑grade markets grew with 55 % adoption in packaging applications.

Asia‑Pacific

Asia‑Pacific remains the largest regional market, valued at about 2.58 billion USD in 2024, with bio-based adipic acid contributing 600,000 metric tons. China alone produced 420,000 metric tons of bio-derived product, while India and Japan accounted for 95,000 and 85,000 metric tons respectively. New capacity amounts include a 25,000 metric ton/year plant in Japan (2024) and two 20,000 metric ton units in India. Indonesia and South Korea are initiating pilot-scale facilities to meet domestic demand.

Middle East & Africa

The MEA region utilized around 0.15 billion USD worth of adipic acid in 2024, with bio-based consumption near 45,000 metric tons. South Africa and UAE accounted for 18,000 and 12,000 metric tons, respectively. A pilot plant in Saudi Arabia (10,000 metric tons/year) began operations mid-2024, while Egypt and Morocco are investigating similar projects. The region’s rapid growth in agrochemical exports spurs demand in coatings and packaging, with planned capacity expansions of roughly 8,000 metric tons/year in the next two years.

List Of Bio‑Based Adipic Acid Companies

Verdezyne
DSM
BioAmeber
Ameris
Aemethis
Genomatica
Rennovia

Verdezyne: (one of the top two by share; operates a 12,000 metric ton/year commercial plant)

DSM: (top two; produces bio-based adipic acid via yeast fermentation with pilot‑scale output of 10,500 metric tons/year)

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investments in bio‑based adipic acid surged, with global funding reaching 120 million USD in 2023–2024. Financial backing encompassed private equity, green chemical grants, and venture capital—allocating about 40 % (48 million USD) to R&D and 60 % (72 million USD) to commercial-scale production and capacity expansion. Key investment opportunities lie in biotechnology innovation. Process development using genetically modified microbes (e.g., yeast strains producing adipic acid from lignocellulosic feedstock) has shown yields of 0.85 kg adipic acid per kg glucose—improving to 0.91 kg via advanced optimization by early 2024. Scaling such processes offers the potential for enzyme cost reduction of 15–20 % and downstream processing cost savings of 10 %. Green infrastructure presents another avenue; plant capital costs are approximately 70–100 million USD for a 10,000 metric‑ton annual capacity facility. Investors targeting regional hubs (North America, Europe, Asia‑Pacific) can leverage feedstock availability and proximity to end‑use industries. An example: a Canadian facility opened in 2024 with 15,000 metric‑ton capacity, achieving 85 % operating margin in its first year. Partnerships between feedstock suppliers and chemical manufacturers have unlocked cost guarantees—reducing raw material costs by up to 12 %. On the market entry front, bio-based adipic acid as a drop-in replacement is gaining acceptance in polymer supply chains. Automotive sector orders rose by 8 % in 2024, totaling 530,000 metric tons of adipic-acid-based materials, a jump of 40,000 metric tons from the previous year. In packaging, demand reached 210,000 metric tons, growing by 15 % year‑on‑year. Government incentives also support investments: the EU granted over 25 million USD in subsidies in early 2024 for green chemical plants; the U.S. awarded 18 million USD in renewable chemical tax credits. South Korea and Japan announced combined public investments of 30 million USD toward 2027 to expand bio-based chemical output. Overall, the investment outlook includes continued capital flows into R&D and plants, potential yield efficiencies of 10–20 %, 530,000 metric tons of automotive-grade demand in 2024, and projected growth from packaging and green coatings sectors. Together, these drive a robust opportunity landscape through 2030.

New Product Development

In the evolving bio-based adipic acid market, new product development between 2023 and 2024 has focused extensively on enhancing yield, improving feedstock flexibility, and reducing downstream costs. One significant advancement came with the development of a genetically optimized yeast strain capable of producing 0.91 kilograms of adipic acid per kilogram of glucose, compared to the previous average yield of 0.85 kilograms. This improvement of nearly 7% in fermentation efficiency was a result of research focused on metabolic pathway engineering, primarily led by a U.S.-based biotechnology firm. Another noteworthy innovation was the successful use of lignocellulosic feedstock—such as agricultural residues and non-food biomass—to produce adipic acid at commercial pilot scale. This method achieved a yield of 0.75 kilograms per kilogram of cellulose input, demonstrating a viable alternative to traditional glucose-based fermentation. The significance lies in the fact that lignocellulosic sources do not compete with food supplies and offer lower raw material costs. Process optimization has also taken center stage, particularly in enzymatic pathways. A major player introduced an enzymatic cascade with a shortened reaction sequence, which led to a 12% reduction in enzyme costs and a 10% improvement in cycle times. Meanwhile, downstream processing has seen breakthroughs such as the deployment of an integrated continuous membrane purification system. This technology, implemented in early 2024, resulted in an 18% reduction in water consumption and a 22% decrease in organic solvent usage, making the purification of bio-based adipic acid more sustainable and less capital-intensive. On the product side, innovations extended into food-grade applications, where a high-purity fermentation-based adipic acid was developed, reaching 99.5% purity levels. This product was successfully tested in over 60 different formulations for food additives, including pH regulators, flavor stabilizers, and gelling agents. Collectively, these developments mark a transition from laboratory-scale breakthroughs to commercially viable solutions that address efficiency, environmental compliance, and application diversity. The emphasis on reducing input costs, particularly through enzyme efficiency and non-food biomass, is aligned with industry goals of making bio-based adipic acid cost-competitive with synthetic variants. These advances have not only improved process sustainability but also expanded the scope of applications in which bio-based adipic acid can now compete. With new products entering fields such as packaging, automotive interiors, bioplastics, and regulated food sectors, the innovation pipeline is playing a critical role in driving market maturity and setting the stage for widespread industrial adoption.

Five Recent Developments

A 12,000 metric‑ton/year commercial plant inaugurated by Verdezyne in Q1 2024, increasing Asia-Pacific local supply by 20%.
DSM completed yeast-mediated pilot unit in Germany with 10,500 metric‑ton/year capacity in Q3 2023.
BioAmber‑Ameris launched joint continuous purification line in Q2 2024—reducing solvent use by 22%.
Rennovia demonstrated high-yield strain in 2023, improving fermentation yield from 0.85 kg/kg to 0.91 kg/kg.
Saudi Arabia’s first pilot plant (10,000 metric ton/year) began operations in mid‑2024 to serve regional coatings and packaging markets.

Report Coverage of Bio‑Based Adipic Acid Market

This report covers market sizing and segmentation across volume and value, focusing on both synthetic and bio-based routes. It includes regional breakdowns (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa) with volume figures (totaling approximately 5.59 billion USD in 2024) and plant capacity details. Company profiles include production metrics (e.g., Verdezyne’s 12,000 MT plant, DSM’s 10,500 MT pilot), investment activities (totaling 120 million USD in 2023–2024), and R&D budgets for process innovation. Supply chain analysis features feedstock prices (glucose and vegetable oils, with 18 % price spikes), fermentation yields (0.85–0.91 kg/kg glucose), enzyme and purification costs, and capital expense estimates (70–100 million USD for 10,000 MT plants). Application segments (paints, coatings, plasticizers, lubricants, PU resins, food additives, synthetic fibers) are quantified by volume (painting uses 120,000 MT; lubricants 90,000 MT; plasticizers 180,000 MT; PU resins 1.2 million MT; food-grade 75,000 MT; fibers 310,000 MT) and value share. It further examines regional outlooks (values from 0.15 billion USD in MEA to 2.58 billion USD in Asia-Pacific), recent plant capacities, policy incentives (EU’s 25 million USD, U.S. tax credits 18 million USD, Asia investments 30 million USD), and product pipelines (food-grade purity 99.5%, high-yield strains). The coverage encompasses trends, dynamics, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges—all tied to numeric data ranging from production volumes, investment amounts, to cost comparisons.