German specialty chemical company Budenheim has entered the chelated minerals category with the launch of its BUDAL Plus range in the Americas, expanding a mineral business that has historically centered on phosphate-based ingredients.
Expanding the portfolio
According to the company, the initial BUDAL Plus range includes magnesium bisglycinate, ferrous bisglycinate HCl and zinc gluconate. Additional products are planned.
Chelated minerals are minerals bound to organic compounds, often amino acids. They are commonly used in supplement formulations because they can support absorption and are generally well tolerated, making them a popular choice for daily-use supplements.
The ingredients are commonly found in products targeting energy, sleep, immune health and general wellness, categories where manufacturers often balance efficacy, tolerability and delivery format requirements.
Jorge Flores, senior vice president marketing and sales, Division Life Science at Budenheim told NutraIngredients that manufacturers now consider a range of factors when selecting mineral ingredients, including absorption, gastrointestinal tolerance, stability and suitability for different delivery formats.
“Different mineral forms offer different functional advantages, and there is rarely a one-size-fits-all approach,” he said.
He added that supplement manufacturers are balancing a growing number of requirements across capsules, tablets, powders, gummies and liquid products.
Beyond phosphates
The move marks Budenheim’s entry into a new segment of the minerals market, building on its long-standing focus on phosphate-based ingredients used in food, pharmaceutical and nutrition applications.
The company is entering a category that continues to expand. Persistence Market Research valued the global chelated minerals market at $7.4 billion in 2026 and forecasts it will reach $11.6 billion by 2033. North America accounts for 32% of the market, driven in part by adoption in human nutrition supplements.
By adding chelated minerals, the company now offers both chelated and non-chelated minerals within a single portfolio. Flores explained this allows manufacturers to select ingredients based on the requirements of a specific product rather than relying on a single mineral source.
“This positions Budenheim differently from suppliers that focus only on either traditional mineral salts or chelated minerals,” he said.
Looking beyond nutrient content
Flores said brands are paying closer attention to how ingredients perform in finished products, particularly in categories where supplements are taken regularly over long periods.
“Consumers today are more informed about ingredient quality and are paying closer attention to tolerance and usability, particularly in preventive and specialized nutrition categories where products are often taken daily and over longer periods of time,” he said.
Manufacturers are therefore evaluating factors such as taste, stability and compatibility with different delivery formats alongside nutrient content.
The company has confirmed the products are already available in the U.S. market and that additional products will be added over time.
