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Softgel Capsule Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global softgel capsule market is worth USD 9.6 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 18.2 bn by 2036, growing at a 6.6% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Gelatin is the largest by shell segment.

USD 9.6 bnMarket size 2026
USD 18.2 bnForecast 2036
6.6%CAGR 2026-2036
United StatesLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global softgel capsule market is worth USD 9.6 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 18.2 bn by 2036, growing at a 6.6% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Gelatin is the largest by shell segment.

ScopeSoftgel capsules with a soft gelatin or plant-based shell and liquid or semi-solid fill, for vitamins, fish oil, cannabinoids and prescription drugs.
IndustryHealthcare
Value 2025USD 9.0 bn
Value 2026USD 9.6 bn
Value 2036USD 18.2 bn
CAGR 2026-20366.6%
Volume 2026237,723 million pieces
Volume 2036415,947 million pieces
Average price 2026USD 0.04 per piece
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Softgel Capsule market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global softgel capsule market is forecast to grow from USD 9.6 bn in 2026 to USD 18.2 bn by 2036, a rise of 89%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 6.6%
Softgel Capsule market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 9.0 bn; 2026: USD 9.6 bn; 2027: USD 10.2 bn; 2028: USD 10.9 bn; 2029: USD 11.6 bn; 2030: USD 12.4 bn; 2031: USD 13.2 bn; 2032: USD 14.1 bn; 2033: USD 15.0 bn; 2034: USD 16.0 bn; 2035: USD 17.0 bn; 2036: USD 18.2 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 6.6%.20259.6 bn202613.2 bn203118.2 bn20366.6% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 9.6 bn
2027USD 10.2 bn
2028USD 10.9 bn
2029USD 11.6 bn
2030USD 12.4 bn
2031USD 13.2 bn
2032USD 14.1 bn
2033USD 15.0 bn
2034USD 16.0 bn
2035USD 17.0 bn
2036USD 18.2 bn

Softgel Capsule market segmentation

By shell

Exhibit 2Gelatin is the largest segment by shell, with 70.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by shell
Softgel Capsule market share by shell, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by shell. Gelatin: 70.0%; Plant-based and starch: 20.0%; Other shells: 10.0%.Gelatin70.0%Plant-based and starch20.0%Other shells10.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Gelatin70.0%59.4%USD 6.7 bn4.9%
Plant-based and starch20.0%30.2%USD 1.9 bn11.1%
Other shells10.0%10.4%USD 958 mn7.1%

By application

Exhibit 3Dietary supplements adds the most revenue by application, growing from USD 4.6 bn in 2026 to USD 9.1 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by application, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Softgel Capsule market by application, 2026 and 2036Revenue by application in 2026 and 2036. Dietary supplements: USD 4.6 bn in 2026, USD 9.1 bn in 2036, change +98%; Prescription pharmaceuticals: USD 2.1 bn in 2026, USD 3.8 bn in 2036, change +80%; Over-the-counter medicines: USD 1.7 bn in 2026, USD 3.0 bn in 2036, change +72%; Cosmetics and other: USD 1.2 bn in 2026, USD 2.3 bn in 2036, change +98%.20262036 forecastChangeDietary supplements+98%4.6 bn9.1 bnPrescription pharmaceuticals+80%2.1 bn3.8 bnOver-the-counter medicines+72%1.7 bn3.0 bnCosmetics and other+98%1.2 bn2.3 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Dietary supplements48.0%50.2%USD 4.6 bn7.1%
Prescription pharmaceuticals22.0%20.9%USD 2.1 bn6.1%
Over-the-counter medicines18.0%16.3%USD 1.7 bn5.6%
Cosmetics and other12.0%12.5%USD 1.2 bn7.1%

By fill

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Oil and lipid60.0%57.0%USD 5.8 bn6.0%
Suspension and semi-solid26.0%28.4%USD 2.5 bn7.5%
Other solutions14.0%14.6%USD 1.3 bn7.0%

By dose type

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Single-active56.0%52.0%USD 5.4 bn5.8%
Multi-active and combination30.0%32.0%USD 2.9 bn7.3%
High-strength and specialty14.0%16.0%USD 1.3 bn8.0%

By functional use

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Nutritional supplements42.0%42.0%USD 4.0 bn6.6%
Therapeutic drugs28.0%26.0%USD 2.7 bn5.8%
Cosmetic and personal care12.0%13.0%USD 1.2 bn7.5%
Veterinary and pet supplements18.0%19.0%USD 1.7 bn7.2%

Top 25 countries for softgel capsule by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 78.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 93.4%.

Exhibit 4United States is the largest country market at USD 2.7 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 48.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Softgel Capsule market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. United States: USD 2.7 bn, 28.0%; China: USD 1.2 bn, 12.0%; Japan: USD 767 mn, 8.0%; Germany: USD 575 mn, 6.0%; India: USD 575 mn, 6.0%; Brazil: USD 431 mn, 4.5%; United Kingdom: USD 383 mn, 4.0%; France: USD 335 mn, 3.5%; Canada: USD 288 mn, 3.0%; Australia: USD 288 mn, 3.0%.United States2.7 bn 28.0%China1.2 bn 12.0%Japan767 mn 8.0%Germany575 mn 6.0%India575 mn 6.0%Brazil431 mn 4.5%United Kingdom383 mn 4.0%France335 mn 3.5%Canada288 mn 3.0%Australia288 mn 3.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1United StatesUSD 2.7 bn28.0%USD 4.8 bn6.0%
2ChinaUSD 1.2 bn12.0%USD 2.6 bn8.5%
3JapanUSD 767 mn8.0%USD 1.2 bn4.6%
4GermanyUSD 575 mn6.0%USD 944 mn5.1%
5IndiaUSD 575 mn6.0%USD 1.5 bn10.0%
6BrazilUSD 431 mn4.5%USD 854 mn7.1%
7United KingdomUSD 383 mn4.0%USD 654 mn5.5%
8FranceUSD 335 mn3.5%USD 545 mn5.0%
9CanadaUSD 288 mn3.0%USD 509 mn5.9%
10AustraliaUSD 288 mn3.0%USD 545 mn6.6%
11MexicoUSD 279 mn2.9%USD 529 mn6.6%
12SpainUSD 203 mn2.1%USD 343 mn5.4%
13RussiaUSD 150 mn1.6%USD 252 mn5.3%
14NetherlandsUSD 121 mn1.3%USD 203 mn5.3%
15SwitzerlandUSD 103 mn1.1%USD 173 mn5.3%
16ThailandUSD 89 mn0.9%USD 214 mn9.2%
17IndonesiaUSD 80 mn0.8%USD 191 mn9.1%
18TurkeyUSD 72 mn0.8%USD 173 mn9.2%
19PolandUSD 66 mn0.7%USD 158 mn9.1%
20South KoreaUSD 61 mn0.6%USD 104 mn5.4%
21VietnamUSD 57 mn0.6%USD 136 mn9.2%
22ArgentinaUSD 53 mn0.6%USD 127 mn9.2%
23Saudi ArabiaUSD 50 mn0.5%USD 120 mn9.2%
24ItalyUSD 47 mn0.5%USD 80 mn5.5%
25BelgiumUSD 45 mn0.5%USD 76 mn5.4%
Rest of worldUSD 634 mn6.6%USD 1.1 bn6.0%
Exhibit 5United States and China account for 42% of the USD 8.6 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Softgel Capsule market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 9.6 bn. United States: +USD 2.1 bn; China: +USD 1.4 bn; India: +USD 914 mn; Japan: +USD 432 mn; Brazil: +USD 422 mn; 20 other countries: +USD 2.7 bn; Rest of world: +USD 502 mn. Market value 2036: USD 18.2 bn.Market value 20269.6 bnUnited States+2.1 bnChina+1.4 bnIndia+914 mnJapan+432 mnBrazil+422 mn20 other countries+2.7 bnRest of world+502 mnMarket value 203618.2 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Catalent
  • Lonza
  • Aenova
  • Procaps Group
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Sirio Pharma
  • Captek Softgel
  • Softigel
  • Strides Pharma
  • Soft Gel Technologies
  • EuroCaps
  • Fuji Capsule
  • Suheung
  • CapsCanada

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • ProCaps Laboratories
  • Sunsho Pharmaceutical

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the softgel capsule market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 6.6% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by shell, by application, by fill, by dose type, by functional use. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the softgel capsule market?

The global softgel capsule market is estimated at USD 9.0 bn in 2025 and USD 9.6 bn in 2026.

How fast will the softgel capsule market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 18.2 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2026, an increase of USD 8.6 bn.

Which country is the largest market for softgel capsule?

United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 2.7 bn in 2026, 28.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 48.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 10.0% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which softgel capsule segment is largest?

In the by shell split, Gelatin is the largest segment with 70.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading softgel capsule companies?

Global leaders include Catalent, Lonza, Aenova, Procaps Group.

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