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Sorbic Acid Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global sorbic acid market is worth USD 470 mn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 752 mn by 2036, growing at a 4.8% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Potassium sorbate is the largest by form segment.

USD 470 mnMarket size 2026
USD 752 mnForecast 2036
4.8%CAGR 2026-2036
ChinaLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global sorbic acid market is worth USD 470 mn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 752 mn by 2036, growing at a 4.8% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Potassium sorbate is the largest by form segment.

ScopeSorbic acid and its salts (potassium and calcium sorbate) used to preserve food, drinks, animal feed and personal care products.
IndustryFood and Beverage
Value 2025USD 450 mn
Value 2026USD 470 mn
Value 2036USD 752 mn
CAGR 2026-20364.8%
Volume 202683,184 tonnes
Volume 2036126,471 tonnes
Average price 2026USD 5,653 per tonne
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Sorbic Acid market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global sorbic acid market is forecast to grow from USD 470 mn in 2026 to USD 752 mn by 2036, a rise of 60%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 4.8%
Sorbic Acid market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 450 mn; 2026: USD 470 mn; 2027: USD 493 mn; 2028: USD 516 mn; 2029: USD 541 mn; 2030: USD 567 mn; 2031: USD 594 mn; 2032: USD 623 mn; 2033: USD 653 mn; 2034: USD 684 mn; 2035: USD 717 mn; 2036: USD 752 mn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 4.8%.2025470 mn2026594 mn2031752 mn20364.8% CAGR

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

YearMarket value
2026USD 470 mn
2027USD 493 mn
2028USD 516 mn
2029USD 541 mn
2030USD 567 mn
2031USD 594 mn
2032USD 623 mn
2033USD 653 mn
2034USD 684 mn
2035USD 717 mn
2036USD 752 mn

Sorbic Acid market segmentation

By form

Exhibit 2Potassium sorbate is the largest segment by form, with 62.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by form
Sorbic Acid market share by form, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by form. Potassium sorbate: 62.0%; Sorbic acid: 34.0%; Calcium and sodium sorbate: 4.0%.Potassium sorbate62.0%Sorbic acid34.0%Calcium and sodium sorbate4.0%

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

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Potassium sorbate62.0%62.3%USD 292 mn4.8%
Sorbic acid34.0%34.2%USD 160 mn4.8%
Calcium and sodium sorbate4.0%3.5%USD 19 mn3.5%

By end use

Exhibit 3Beverages adds the most revenue by end use, growing from USD 103 mn in 2026 to USD 169 mn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by end use, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Sorbic Acid market by end use, 2026 and 2036Revenue by end use in 2026 and 2036. Bakery and confectionery: USD 113 mn in 2026, USD 175 mn in 2036, change +55%; Beverages: USD 103 mn in 2026, USD 169 mn in 2036, change +63%; Personal care and other: USD 75 mn in 2026, USD 123 mn in 2036, change +63%; Dairy and cheese: USD 66 mn in 2026, USD 102 mn in 2036, change +55%; Meat, fish and sauces: USD 66 mn in 2026, USD 102 mn in 2036, change +55%; Animal feed: USD 47 mn in 2026, USD 80 mn in 2036, change +71%.20262036 forecastChangeBakery and confectionery+55%113 mn175 mnBeverages+63%103 mn169 mnPersonal care and other+63%75 mn123 mnDairy and cheese+55%66 mn102 mnMeat, fish and sauces+55%66 mn102 mnAnimal feed+71%47 mn80 mn

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

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Bakery and confectionery24.0%23.3%USD 113 mn4.5%
Beverages22.0%22.4%USD 103 mn5.0%
Dairy and cheese14.0%13.6%USD 66 mn4.5%
Meat, fish and sauces14.0%13.6%USD 66 mn4.5%
Animal feed10.0%10.7%USD 47 mn5.5%
Personal care and other16.0%16.3%USD 75 mn5.0%

By preservation use

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Mould and yeast control in foods44.0%42.5%USD 207 mn4.4%
Beverage spoilage control30.0%29.7%USD 141 mn4.7%
Feed and silage preservation14.0%14.9%USD 66 mn5.5%
Personal care and cosmetics12.0%12.9%USD 56 mn5.6%

By grade

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Food grade68.0%65.3%USD 320 mn4.4%
Feed grade16.0%16.8%USD 75 mn5.3%
Cosmetic and pharma grade11.0%12.9%USD 52 mn6.5%
Technical grade5.0%5.0%USD 24 mn4.8%

By supplier type

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Global chemical producers58.0%55.0%USD 273 mn4.2%
Regional producers30.0%31.0%USD 141 mn5.1%
Traders and distributors12.0%14.0%USD 56 mn6.4%

Top 25 countries for sorbic acid by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 74.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 90.5%.

Exhibit 4China is the largest country market at USD 94 mn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 44.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Sorbic Acid market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. China: USD 94 mn, 20.0%; United States: USD 80 mn, 17.0%; Germany: USD 33 mn, 7.0%; India: USD 33 mn, 7.0%; Brazil: USD 24 mn, 5.0%; Japan: USD 19 mn, 4.0%; Mexico: USD 19 mn, 4.0%; United Kingdom: USD 16 mn, 3.5%; France: USD 16 mn, 3.5%; Indonesia: USD 14 mn, 3.0%.China94 mn 20.0%United States80 mn 17.0%Germany33 mn 7.0%India33 mn 7.0%Brazil24 mn 5.0%Japan19 mn 4.0%Mexico19 mn 4.0%United Kingdom16 mn 3.5%France16 mn 3.5%Indonesia14 mn 3.0%

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

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1ChinaUSD 94 mn20.0%USD 154 mn5.1%
2United StatesUSD 80 mn17.0%USD 119 mn4.0%
3GermanyUSD 33 mn7.0%USD 47 mn3.5%
4IndiaUSD 33 mn7.0%USD 65 mn7.1%
5BrazilUSD 24 mn5.0%USD 41 mn5.6%
6JapanUSD 19 mn4.0%USD 26 mn3.1%
7MexicoUSD 19 mn4.0%USD 31 mn5.1%
8United KingdomUSD 16 mn3.5%USD 23 mn3.5%
9FranceUSD 16 mn3.5%USD 23 mn3.5%
10IndonesiaUSD 14 mn3.0%USD 26 mn6.4%
11CanadaUSD 8.0 mn1.7%USD 12 mn4.0%
12ItalyUSD 7.7 mn1.6%USD 11 mn3.9%
13SpainUSD 6.6 mn1.4%USD 9.7 mn4.0%
14NetherlandsUSD 6.2 mn1.3%USD 9.2 mn4.0%
15TurkeyUSD 5.8 mn1.2%USD 11 mn6.2%
16ThailandUSD 5.5 mn1.2%USD 9.0 mn5.2%
17South KoreaUSD 5.5 mn1.2%USD 8.0 mn4.0%
18VietnamUSD 5.1 mn1.1%USD 10 mn7.2%
19AustraliaUSD 4.8 mn1.0%USD 7.0 mn3.9%
20PolandUSD 4.8 mn1.0%USD 7.8 mn5.1%
21EgyptUSD 4.0 mn0.8%USD 7.4 mn6.3%
22Saudi ArabiaUSD 3.7 mn0.8%USD 6.0 mn5.1%
23South AfricaUSD 3.7 mn0.8%USD 6.0 mn5.1%
24ArgentinaUSD 3.3 mn0.7%USD 4.8 mn3.9%
25PhilippinesUSD 3.3 mn0.7%USD 6.0 mn6.2%
Rest of worldUSD 44 mn9.5%USD 72 mn4.9%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 35% of the USD 281 mn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Sorbic Acid market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 470 mn. China: +USD 60 mn; United States: +USD 39 mn; India: +USD 32 mn; Brazil: +USD 17 mn; Germany: +USD 14 mn; 20 other countries: +USD 92 mn; Rest of world: +USD 27 mn. Market value 2036: USD 752 mn.Market value 2026470 mnChina+60 mnUnited States+39 mnIndia+32 mnBrazil+17 mnGermany+14 mn20 other countries+92 mnRest of world+27 mnMarket value 2036752 mn

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

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Celanese
  • Daicel
  • Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical
  • Eastman

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Anhui Jinhe Industrial
  • Merck KGaA
  • Ueno Fine Chemicals
  • Foodchem International
  • Hainan Zhongxin Chemical
  • Brenntag

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 sorbic acid 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 4.8% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by form, by end use, by preservation use, by grade, by supplier type. 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 sorbic acid market?

The global sorbic acid market is estimated at USD 450 mn in 2025 and USD 470 mn in 2026.

How fast will the sorbic acid market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 752 mn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 4.8% from 2026, an increase of USD 281 mn.

Which country is the largest market for sorbic acid?

China is the largest market by revenue at USD 94 mn in 2026, 20.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 44.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 7.1% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which sorbic acid segment is largest?

In the by form split, Potassium sorbate is the largest segment with 62.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading sorbic acid companies?

Global leaders include Celanese, Daicel, Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical, Eastman.

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