Castor Oil Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Cold Pressed Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Dehydrated Castor Oil, Others), By Application (Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care, Lubricants, Paints, Food & Beverages, Others), By Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets/Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Departmental Stores, Pharmacies/Drug Stores, Online, Others), By Region, By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.36 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.16%
Fastest Growing Segment	Personal Care
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 5.38 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Castor Oil Market will grow from USD 3.36 Billion in 2025 to USD 5.38 Billion by 2031 at a 8.16% CAGR. Castor oil is a non-volatile vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, distinguished by its high concentration of ricinoleic acid which grants it unique chemical stability and viscosity. The market is primarily driven by the escalating demand for sustainable, bio-based raw materials in the production of high-performance lubricants, biopolymers, and pharmaceuticals, as industries increasingly pivot away from petrochemical dependencies. This structural shift towards renewable chemical feedstocks provides a robust foundation for growth that transcends temporary consumption patterns.

According to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, in 2025, India's castor oil exports for the fiscal year stood at 662,598 metric tonnes. Despite this trade volume, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the volatility of raw material prices due to the crop's heavy reliance on specific weather patterns in major producing regions, creating supply chain instability that can impede consistent market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

The rising demand for renewable biodiesel is reshaping the market as energy majors seek sustainable, non-food feedstocks for decarbonization. Castor is increasingly favored for agri-feedstock initiatives in the aviation and transport sectors because it thrives on marginal lands without displacing food crops. This trend is exemplified by significant capital injections into infrastructure to secure long-term supply chains. According to Rigzone, May 2024, Eni secured USD 210 million in financing to expand its oilseed feedstock production in Kenya, which relies heavily on castor, to 500,000 tons per year. Such investments highlight the aggressive scaling of cultivation specifically for energy applications, creating a high-volume consumption channel distinct from traditional industrial uses.

Concurrently, the surge in adoption of bio-based polymers acts as a critical catalyst, driven by industries demanding high-performance materials with lower environmental impacts. Castor oil serves as the unique precursor for Polyamide 11, utilized in automotive and electronics, promoting a circular economy. Manufacturers are actively expanding their portfolios to include bio-circular grades to satisfy regulatory mandates. According to Arkema, March 2024, the company expanded its recycling program to include over 15 certified grades of high-performance thermoplastics derived from bio-based sources. This innovation ensures sustained demand, supported by robust primary output; according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, February 2024, total castor seed production in India was estimated at 2.05 million tonnes for the 2023-24 season.

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Key Market Challenges

The heavy reliance of castor crops on specific weather patterns creates a severe bottleneck for the global market, resulting in significant raw material price volatility and supply chain instability. This unpredictability directly hampers market growth by undermining the reliability required for industries to fully transition to this bio-based feedstock. When weather anomalies disrupt cultivation, the immediate contraction in seed supply drives up costs, making castor oil less economically viable compared to more stable petrochemical alternatives. For manufacturers in the lubricant and pharmaceutical sectors, this inconsistency poses a substantial risk to long-term production planning and investment in bio-based product lines.

This vulnerability was starkly evident in recent agricultural outputs affecting the primary supply hub. According to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, in 2025, the country's castor seed production was estimated to decline by 21% to 1.56 million tonnes for the crop year due to adverse weather conditions and reduced acreage. Such a sharp contraction in raw material availability inevitably tightens global inventory, enforcing price fluctuations that deter consistent market expansion and delay the broader industrial adoption of castor oil derivatives.

Key Market Trends

The Implementation of Certified Sustainable Farming Standards is fundamentally altering the procurement landscape as manufacturers increasingly mandate adherence to the SuCCESS code to satisfy rigorous ESG criteria. This shift ensures that feedstock cultivation addresses environmental concerns like water conservation while safeguarding farmer livelihoods, thereby securing a resilient supply chain for global markets. The scale of this transition is evident in the rapid accumulation of verified inventory available for industrial buyers, moving the market away from unverified spot purchasing. According to Arkema, February 2025, in the report 'Arkema and its partners publish Year 8 impacts for Pragati', approximately 100,000 tons of certified castor seed have been cumulatively cultivated since the initiative's inception, signaling a major move towards standardized, responsible sourcing.

Concurrently, the Integration of Castor Derivatives into Clean-Label Cosmetic Formulations is accelerating as personal care brands aggressively pivot from petrochemical ingredients to botanical bio-actives. Castor oil is uniquely valued in this sector for its ricinoleic acid content, which serves as a high-performance, skin-friendly precursor for natural emollients and surfactants required by eco-conscious consumers. This trend is driving chemical suppliers to overhaul their portfolios to maximize natural origin indices to maintain competitiveness in the beauty sector. According to BASF, March 2025, in the 'Responsible Sourcing Report', the company’s bioactives unit ensured that 92.8% of its raw materials were bio-based or mineral-derived, underscoring the critical role of renewable inputs like castor in modern beauty solutions.

Segmental Insights

The Personal Care segment represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Castor Oil Market, driven by escalating consumer demand for natural and organic cosmetic formulations. Manufacturers are increasingly incorporating castor oil into skincare and haircare products due to its effective moisturizing capabilities and status as a renewable botanical resource. This expansion is further supported by favorable safety classifications from regulatory entities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which designates castor oil as generally recognized as safe. Consequently, the industry shift away from synthetic ingredients continues to accelerate adoption within the beauty sector.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominates the global castor oil market, primarily driven by India, which serves as the world's largest producer and exporter of castor seeds. This regional leadership is anchored by favorable climatic conditions that ensure consistent raw material availability for global supply chains. Furthermore, rapid industrial expansion in China and India has escalated demand across the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and high-grade lubricant sectors. The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India plays a vital role in monitoring production cycles and trade standards, ensuring market stability. This integration of large-scale cultivation and rising industrial consumption secures the region's strong market position.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, Arkema announced the establishment of the Castor Farmer Education Fund to support and empower castor farming communities in India. This collaborative initiative was designed to accelerate the adoption of resilient and innovative agricultural techniques among smallholder farmers. The company aimed to train between 100,000 and 150,000 farmers by 2030 through this fund, focusing on projects that improved livelihoods and encouraged regenerative agriculture. The fund was positioned to be open to all stakeholders across the castor value chain, including customers and partners, to foster long-term environmental stewardship in the region.
• In February 2025, a consortium comprising BASF, Arkema, and Jayant Agro-Organics released the 2024 performance results of the Pragati sustainable castor bean program. The report highlighted that over 10,000 farmers were trained and more than 8,000 were officially certified under the initiative. The program achieved a significant milestone with approximately 100,000 metric tons of certified castor seeds under cultivation, ensuring a steady supply of sustainable feedstock for the global market. Additionally, yield data indicated that farmers participating in the program realized crop yields 57 percent higher than the regional average published by the local government.
• In October 2024, Casterra Ag Ltd reported a major operational milestone with the completion of its first shipment of over 100 tons of castor seeds to a customer in Africa. The seeds were cultivated at multiple sites in Kenya and processed at a newly operational facility near Naivasha, marking the company's first full cultivation and processing cycle in the country. This development was part of the company's strategic expansion plan to establish a robust production infrastructure in Africa. The shipment demonstrated the viability of their elite castor varieties and processing capabilities to meet the growing demand for bio-based industrial feedstock.
• In September 2024, Castor International officially joined the World Castor Sustainability Forum, a newly formed organization launched by stakeholders in India to advance responsible farming practices. The company aligned its operations with the forum's objective to create a traceable and sustainable supply chain while improving the economic conditions of castor farmers. Unlike other industry bodies, this forum specifically prioritized Good Agricultural Practices to enhance yields and reduce the environmental footprint of cultivation. This membership underscored the company's commitment to sourcing sustainable raw materials and supporting the diversification of sustainability standards within the global castor industry.

Key Market Players

• Glanbia Plc
• Pfizer Inc.
• Bayer AG
• Amway Corp.
• GlaxoSmithKline plc
• Good Health New Zealand
• The Nature's Bounty Co.
• NOW Foods
• Abbott
• Herbalife Nutrition

By Type	By Application	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Cold Pressed Castor Oil Hydrogenated Castor Oil Jamaican Black Castor Oil Dehydrated Castor Oil Others	Pharmaceuticals Personal Care Lubricants Paints Food & Beverages Others	Hypermarkets/Supermarkets Convenience Stores Departmental Stores Pharmacies/Drug Stores Online Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Castor Oil Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Castor Oil Market, By Type:

• Cold Pressed Castor Oil
• Hydrogenated Castor Oil
• Jamaican Black Castor Oil
• Dehydrated Castor Oil
• Others

• Castor Oil Market, By Application:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Personal Care
• Lubricants
• Paints
• Food & Beverages
• Others

• Castor Oil Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Departmental Stores
• Pharmacies/Drug Stores
• Online
• Others

• Castor Oil Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE