India’s natural vitamin E market - currently estimated to be 24.5 metric tonne and valued at $1.9 million in 2013 - is poised to double to 55.1 metric tonne, worth $5.4 million, by 2020. This is attributable to the growing demand for it in various parts of the world.
This was stated in Research and Markets’ latest paper, titled ‘Natural Source Vitamin E (Tocopherols and Tocotrienols) - An Indian Market Overview’, which added that the market was in its infancy, but was promising, and a number of firms from India and overseas were investing in it.
“There are several local manufacturers of vitamin and mineral ingredients. According to reports, this industry is growing at a fast pace,” Tirtha Gala, Roquette’s nutritional expert, informed.
The paper made a special mention of Baddi, an industrial town in Himachal Pradesh where a large number of nutraceutical manufacturers are situated.
Products and uses
The natural source vitamin E products analysed in this study included tocopherols and tocotrienols, and the end-use application markets covered in the report included animal feed, nutritional and dietary supplements and food and beverages.
Currently, natural vitamin E is mainly being used in dietary supplements and in the fortification of foods and beverages. As per the study, Vitamin E as a part of 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 nutraceutical market, the demand for vitamins has been increased over the years,” the paper stated.
“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.
“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,” stated Gala.
“It can also be used as an anti-oxidant 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.
