The alginate market is a highly dynamic sector driven by the diverse applications of biopolymer alginate derived from brown seaweed. This polymer exhibits properties such as gelling, thickening, and stabilization and has applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biotechnological sectors. With shifting consumer preferences toward more natural and sustainable products, the demand for alginate has been increasing.
According to Extrapolate, the global alginate market is likely to reach a valuation of USD 610.7 million by 2032. This highlights the substantial growth of the market in the foreseeable future. Companies operating in this industry are prioritizing innovation to stay ahead of the competition. This blog covers the 10 best companies reshaping the landscape of the alginate market. Let’s take a closer look at them.
What is Alginate?
"Alginate" is the common term for salts of alginic acid, although it can also refer to all alginic acid derivatives and even the acid itself. Some people use the term "algin" instead of alginate. Naturally, alginate is found in the cell walls of brown algae as a calcium, magnesium, and sodium salt of alginic acid. The extraction process involves obtaining a dry powder in the form of sodium alginate. The calcium and magnesium salts are not soluble in water, but the sodium salt is. To recover alginate, it must be extracted from an aqueous solution. Rapid growth in the alginate market is witnessing the evolution of its recovery methods that are getting more innovative and economically viable over time.
Top 10 Companies Transforming the Alginate Market in 2025
As the market continues to expand, numerous companies are leading the way in the innovation, production, and distribution of alginate-based products. Listed below are the top 10 companies influencing the market.
1. Ashland
Ashland Inc. is a leader in additive and specialty ingredients, and it's deeply committed to environmental, social, and governance responsibility. The company's customers come from various consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. With the alginate market showing strong growth potential, Ashland continues to invest in its biopolymer business.
In September 2024, Ashland sped up the commercialization of its super wetting technology platform, which was announced in September 2023. The company introduced easy-wet™ 300 n, a super wetting agent for crops like corn, soy, and wheat, as well as fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, bananas, lettuce, tomatoes, and more, including florals.
2. Klaria
Klaria’s business is built around a patented drug delivery system that uses a polymer film with an alginate base. This tiny film, resembling a postage stamp, is carefully stuck onto the mucous membrane, delivering the drug directly into the bloodstream. As the demand for alginate increases, innovations like Klaria's drug delivery system are boosting the use of alginate in the pharmaceutical industry.
3. Ingredients Solutions, Inc.
Ingredients Solutions Inc. supplies high-quality ingredients that meet the evolving demands of the food and beverage industries. The company is dedicated to developing innovative solutions and providing exquisite customer service.
In September 2012, Tilley Company Inc acquired Ingredients Solutions Inc. The addition of Ingredient Solutions expands Tilley's portfolio to include a complete range of hydrocolloid products serving food and beverage, animal nutrition, personal care, and pharmaceutical markets. With the alginate market on the rise, the company is now a one-stop solutions provider and a leading independent distributor of hydrocolloids in North America.
4. Merck KGaA
Merck uniquely combines three specialized, innovation-driven businesses: Life Science, Healthcare, and Electronics. They help deliver novel therapies to treat chronic diseases in the life science field. In healthcare, they improve lives worldwide with pioneering therapies. Additionally, in electronics, they provide the material-related solutions needed to power the digital tomorrow.
Merck launched M-Trust on 7th Jan 2025, a very secure cyber-physical trust platform that addresses the growing concerns of product safety, traceability, and counterfeiting. This innovative technology is being debuted at CES 2025, a premium platform for showcasing breakthrough innovations.
5. Jacquard Products
For over 35 years, Jacquard Products has been the leading manufacturer of artist supplies for fabric. They recently introduced Jacquard Sodium Alginate SH, a product derived from seaweed that acts as a thickener for dyes in painting, stamping, and screen printing. To achieve optimal consistency, the latest instructions require a precise mixing technique: mix 1 quart of water with ¼ cup of urea, then gradually add sodium alginate while constantly stirring for almost 10 minutes. This makes it practical for artists, as they can prepare it in advance and use it for several days.
6. MSK Ingredients Ltd
MSK Ingredients Ltd is a chef-led business dedicated to delivering the best flavors through constant excellence. As the alginate market expands, the company seeks out new ways to add alginate-based products into its offerings in response to the growing demand.
MSK Ingredients was acquired by the famous Inga Group on 22nd October 2024. This latest addition further strengthens the family of autonomous ingredients businesses across Europe, which now includes UK-based Ulrick & Short, specialists in functional clean-label ingredients, France's Louis François, a company offering specialty premium ingredients, and the Netherlands' Verdant Ingredients, an ingredients distributor.
7. Müller-Omicron
Müller Omicron is a family-run, medium-sized company recognized as a reliable manufacturer of high-quality dental products worldwide.
The company is exploring new applications for alginates, particularly in biomedicine and sustainable packaging solutions. Recently it has seen a growing use of alginates in 3D printing technologies and as natural alternatives in food products, reflecting a shift towards sustainability in consumer preferences.
8. IRO Alginate Industry Co., Ltd.
The company produces a range of alginate products, including alginate salts, derived from seaweed. Their Sodium Alginate, Calcium Alginate, and other products, developed in-house, are used in a variety of industries, including food, medicine, cosmetics, textiles, printing, welding electrodes, and others.
9. JRS PHARMA
JRS PHARMA, a division of the JRS Group, is a leading manufacturer of plant-based functional additives, including alginates.
In March 2023, JRS Group bolstered its presence in the seaweed ingredient market by acquiring Algaia SA, a company renowned for its eco-friendly production of seaweed extracts and hydrocolloids. This acquisition increased JRS Group's capacity and expanded its product range, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in supplying high-quality seaweed-derived ingredients.
These strategic acquisitions have allowed JRS PHARMA to diversify its product range and production capabilities, thereby driving the growth of the alginate market by offering cutting-edge solutions across the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries.
10. KIMICA
KIMICA Corporation, established in 1941, is a leading manufacturer and global supplier of alginates, marine biopolymers derived from seaweed. The company pioneered the industrial production of alginates in Japan and has since expanded its operations internationally, with facilities in Japan, Chile, and China. The company has enhanced its production facilities to meet the increasing global demand for alginates, ensuring a stable supply for various applications.
KIMICA developed the world's first factory for manufacturing alginate suitable for drug injection, producing "low endotoxin alginate" that meets stringent medical standards. This innovation has expanded the use of alginates in advanced medical fields, including regenerative medicine and 3D bioprinting.
The company is committed to sustainable practices, such as harvesting only discarded seaweed to preserve marine ecosystems and utilizing renewable energy sources like solar power at its facilities. KIMICA has established a new R&D facility at its Chiba Plant in Japan, focusing on developing innovative alginate applications and supporting the evolution of processed foods.
Concluding Thoughts
Companies operating in the alginate market are emphasizing innovations in order to expand their market presence Their strong focus on R&D drives the development of new products and addresses the evolving needs of customers across diverse sectors, including food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications. This trend aligns with market growth, positioning these companies to dominate the alginate market by prioritizing quality and sustainability in their advancements.
