Global Empty Capsules Market is estimated to be valued at USD 3.42 Bn in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 5.32 Bn by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2025 to 2032.
Report Coverage
Report Details
Base Year:
2024
Market Size in 2025:
USD 3.42 Bn
Historical Data for:
2020 To 2024
Forecast Period:
2025 To 2032
Forecast Period 2025 to 2032 CAGR:
6.50%
2032 Value Projection:
USD 5.32 Bn
Figure. Empty Capsules Market Share (%), By Region 2025
Empty capsules refer to pharmaceutical capsules that do not contain the drug substance but only serve as a vehicle for drug delivery. These are typically made from either gelatin or vegetarian materials like Hypromellose, and are available in different sizes ranging from small 000 to large capsules. Rising prevalence of various lifestyle and chronic diseases worldwide has boosted demand for pharmaceutical products and supplements. Empty capsules provide convenience and flexibility to pharmaceutical manufacturers for developing various oral solid dosage forms like capsules, tablets, and others. Developments in vegan and vegetarian capsules manufactured from natural polymers further expands the applications of empty capsules. Advancements in capsule filling technology and increasing contract manufacturing and outsourcing trend in pharmaceutical industry can drive the empty capsules market growth during the forecast period.
Market Dynamics:
Global empty capsules market growth is driven by growing elderly population susceptible to various disorders, rising healthcare expenditure in emerging nations, and increasing demand for dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. However, availability of alternative drug delivery solutions and high manufacturing costs associated with empty capsules production can hamper the market growth. Developments in vegetarian empty capsules, increasing outsourcing of pharmaceutical tasks to contract service organizations, and advancements in pharmaceutical processing equipment can offer lucrative opportunities for market players. Emerging Asian markets like India and China are expected to provide attractive prospects, owing to large consumer base and improving healthcare infrastructure in these regions. Adoption of advanced capsule filling technologies like semi-automatic and automatic machines for high production capacity can offer lucrative opportunities for market growth.
Key Features of the Study:
This report provides in-depth analysis of the global empty capsules market, and provides market size (US$ Billion) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR%) for the forecast period (2025-2032), considering 2024 as the base year
It elucidates potential revenue opportunities across different segments and explains attractive investment proposition matrices for this market
This study also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approval, market trends, regional outlook, and competitive strategies adopted by key players
It profiles key players in the global empty capsules market based on the following parameters - company highlights, products portfolio, key highlights, financial performance, and strategies
Key companies covered as a part of this study include Capsugel, Suheung Co Ltd., Qualicaps, ACG Worldwide, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, Roxlor LLC, Sunil Healthcare Limited, Patheon, and Lonza.
Insights from this report would allow marketers and the management authorities of the companies to make informed decisions regarding their future product launches, type up-gradation, market expansion, and marketing tactics
The global empty capsules market report caters to various stakeholders in this industry including investors, suppliers, product manufacturers, distributors, new entrants, and financial analysts
Stakeholders would have ease in decision-making through various strategy matrices used in analyzing the global empty capsules market.
Detailed Segmentation-
By Product
Gelatin Capsules
Non-gelatin Capsules
By Functionality
Immediate-release Capsules
Delayed-release Capsules
Sustained-release Capsules
By Material
Pig Meat Gelatin Capsules
Bovine Gelatin Capsules
Plant-based Capsules
Starch-based Capsules
Pullulan Capsules
Others
By End User
Pharmaceutical Companies
Cosmetic & Nutraceutical Companies
Clinical Research Organizations (CRO'S)
Others
Region:
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East
Africa
Company Profiles:
ACG Worldwide
Capsugel
Qualicaps Inc.
Bright Pharma Caps Inc.
Sunil Healthcare Ltd.
CapsCanada Corporation
Roxlor LLC
Snail Pharma Industry Co. Ltd.
Suheung Co. Ltd.
Medi-Caps Ltd.
Qingdao Yiqing Medicinal Capsules Co., Ltd.
Shanxi Guangsheng Medicinal Capsules Co., Ltd.
Nectar Lifesciences Ltd.
Kerry Inc.
JC Biological Technology Co. Ltd.
Table of Contents
1. Research Objectives and Assumptions
Research Objectives
Assumptions
Abbreviations
2. Market Purview
Report Description
Market Definition and Scope
Executive Summary
Market Snapshot, By Product
Market Snapshot, By Functionality
Market Snapshot, By Material
Market Snapshot, By End User
Market Snapshot, By Region
Coherent Opportunity Map (COM)
3. Market Dynamics, Regulations, and Trends Analysis
Market Dynamics
Drivers
Restraints
Opportunities
Impact Analysis
Market Trends
Key Developments
Regulatory Scenario
Acquisitions and Partnerships Scenario
Funding and Investments
PEST Analysis
Porter's Analysis
4. Global Empty Capsules Market - Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Overall Impact
Government Initiatives
COVID-19 Impact on the Market
5. Global Empty Capsules Market, By Product, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Overview
Market Share Analysis, 2025 and 2032 (%)
Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2020 - 2032
Segment Trends
Gelatin Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Non-gelatin Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
6. Global Empty Capsules Market, By Functionality 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Overview
Market Share Analysis, 2025 and 2032 (%)
Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2020 - 2032
Segment Trends
Immediate-release Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Delayed-release Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Sustained-release Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
7. Global Empty Capsules Market, By Material, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Overview
Market Share Analysis, 2025 and 2032 (%)
Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2020 - 2032
Segment Trends
Pig Meat Gelatin Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Bovine Gelatin Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Plant-based Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Starch-based Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Pullulan Capsules
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Others
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
8. Global Empty Capsules Market, By End User, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Overview
Market Share Analysis, 2025 and 2032 (%)
Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2020 - 2032
Segment Trends
Pharmaceutical Companies
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Cosmetic & Nutraceutical Companies
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Clinical Research Organizations (CRO'S)
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
Others
Overview
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, 2020-2032, (USD Bn)
9. Global Empty Capsules Market, By Region, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Introduction
Market Share Analysis, By Region, 2025 and 2032 (%)
Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, For Region, 2020-2032
Regional Trends
North America
Introduction
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Product, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Functionality, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Material, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By End User 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Country, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
U.S.
Canada
Latin America
Introduction
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Product, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Functionality, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Material, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By End User 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Country, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Brazil
Mexico
Argentina
Rest of Latin America
Europe
Introduction
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Product, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Functionality, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Material, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By End User 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Country, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
U.K.
Germany
Italy
France
Spain
Russia
Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
Introduction
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Product, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Functionality, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Material, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By End User 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Country, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
China
India
Japan
ASEAN
Australia
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
Middle East
Introduction
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Product, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Functionality, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Material, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By End User 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Country, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
GCC
Israel
Rest of Middle East
Africa
Introduction
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Product, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Functionality, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Material, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By End User 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)
Market Size and Forecast, and Y-o-Y Growth, By Country, 2020 - 2032, (USD Bn)