India’s natural vitamin E market set to triple by 2020
According to Research and Markets’ Natural Source Vitamin E (Tocopherols and Tocotrienols)— An Indian Market Overview, India’s natural vitamin E market was estimated at 24.5 tonnes and valued at US$1.9m last year.
The report analysed natural source vitamin E products including tocopherols and tocotrienols, in addition to end-use application markets such as animal feed, nutritional and dietary supplements and food and beverages.
This market is now poised to double to 55.1 tonnes, worth US$5.4m, by 2020, said the report. It added that though the market is still in its infancy, it holds great potential, with a number of investments being made in it.
It added that several local manufacturers of vitamin and mineral ingredients are boosting this market, with Baddi, an industrial town in Himachal Pradesh, being the hub of all this activity.
According to the report, natural vitamin E is currently mainly being used in dietary supplements and in the fortification of foods and beverages, but its application in animal feed also has a great deal of potential.
“The Indian natural vitamin E market is in its infancy, but is growing at a healthy rate. In line with the expansion of the Indian nutraceuticals market, the demand for vitamins has been increased over the years,” the paper said.
“Leading multi-national nutraceutical companies, such as Amway and Herbalife, are investing in the manufacturing of nutraceuticals in India, either directly or through contract manufacturers,” it added.
Tirtha Gala, a nutritionist at Roquette, was quoted in the report as saying that vitamin E is used for the fortification of such food and beverages as breakfast cereals, biscuits and powder malt-based beverages, dairy-based beverages, instant powder drinks and fortified waters and juices.
“It can also be used as an antioxidant for oils, fats and fat spreads such as mayonnaise. It is used as a part of vitamin mineral premixes for food supplements and nutritional supplements,” she added.
