Phenylalanine Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Type (L-Phenylalanine, D-Phenylalanine, DL-Phenylalanine), By Application (Depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, Parkinson disease, Chronic Pain, Vitiligo, Others), By End-Users (Food and Beverage, Dietary Supplements, Pharmaceuticals, Others), By Region, By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 585.54 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.12%
Fastest Growing Segment	L-Phenylalanine
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 746.04 Million

Market Overview

The Global Phenylalanine Market will grow from USD 585.54 Million in 2025 to USD 746.04 Million by 2031 at a 4.12% CAGR. Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid and precursor to tyrosine that serves as a critical component in the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. The global market is primarily driven by the robust demand for the artificial sweetener aspartame, which acts as a key ingredient in low-calorie food and beverage products. Additionally, the pharmaceutical sector supports growth through the compound's application in treating conditions such as vitiligo and depression, while the animal nutrition industry utilizes it to optimize protein synthesis in livestock feed. These fundamental requirements for sweetening agents and therapeutic formulations constitute the primary engines of sustained market demand.

Market expansion faces a significant challenge regarding supply chain concentration and geopolitical dependency, which exposes stakeholders to pricing volatility and availability risks. This vulnerability is heightened by the heavy reliance of major economies on specific manufacturing hubs for their raw material needs. According to the Institute for Feed Education and Research, in 2024, the United States relied on China for approximately 62% of its amino acid production requirements. Such centralized manufacturing capacity creates distinct risks for the phenylalanine market, as trade disruptions or regulatory shifts in the dominant production region can precipitate immediate supply shortages.

Key Market Drivers

The Global Phenylalanine Market is significantly propelled by the Surge in Global Demand for Low-Calorie Aspartame Sweeteners, as this amino acid serves as a primary precursor for aspartame manufacturing. With rising health consciousness and sugar taxation policies reshaping consumer preferences, beverage giants are aggressively expanding their zero-sugar portfolios, thereby intensifying the industrial requirement for high-purity phenylalanine. This trend is exemplified by major market players experiencing robust uptake of their sugar-free offerings. According to The Coca-Cola Company, in October 2025, the brand's Coca-Cola Zero Sugar product line achieved a remarkable volume growth of 14% during the third quarter, underscoring the critical role of aspartame-based formulations in driving upstream ingredient consumption.

Concurrently, the market is bolstered by the Rising Adoption in High-Quality Animal Feed Additives, where phenylalanine is increasingly utilized to optimize protein synthesis and improve feed conversion ratios in livestock. As the agricultural sector shifts towards precision nutrition to mitigate environmental impact, the inclusion of essential amino acids in feed formulations has become a standard practice to ensure food security. According to Alltech, in May 2025, global feed production grew by 1.2% in 2024 to reach a total volume of 1.396 billion metric tons, creating a stable foundation for additive demand. Reflecting the immense scale of this sector, according to The Korea Economic Daily, in December 2024, CJ CheilJedang's bio division was projected to exceed 4 trillion won in annual revenue, highlighting the substantial economic value generated by amino acid production for animal nutrition.

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Key Market Challenges

The concentration of supply chains and geopolitical dependency stands as a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Phenylalanine Market. This vulnerability hampers market expansion by creating a single point of failure where any localized disruption—ranging from regulatory changes to logistical bottlenecks—cascades into immediate global shortages. Because the production of phenylalanine is heavily consolidated within limited geographic regions, the market lacks the necessary manufacturing redundancy to absorb shocks. Consequently, downstream sectors such as the food and beverage industry, which rely on this compound for aspartame production, face unpredictable procurement cycles and extreme pricing volatility. This instability forces companies to operate defensively, limiting their ability to scale operations or innovate with new product lines due to the constant threat of raw material unavailability.

The extent of this manufacturing monopolization places global stakeholders in a precarious position regarding inventory security. According to the American Feed Industry Association, in 2025, China controlled approximately 77% of the global supply for lysine and 91% for threonine, signaling a systemic centralization across the amino acid sector that mirrors the production landscape for phenylalanine. This overwhelming dominance by a single manufacturing hub means that global pricing structures are often dictated by the policy decisions of one nation rather than organic supply and demand mechanics. Such profound dependency deters long-term capital investment from international buyers who view the lack of alternative supply sources as an unmanageable operational risk, thereby stifling the overall trajectory of market growth.

Key Market Trends

The pharmaceutical sector is expanding the use of phenylalanine as a critical building block for synthesizing novel peptide drugs, moving beyond its traditional role as a mere excipient. This trend is largely driven by the explosive demand for peptide-based therapeutics, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists used in weight management and diabetes care, which rely on precise amino acid sequences for efficacy. As these complex biologics gain market share, the requirement for high-purity phenylalanine for peptide synthesis has surged to support upstream drug development. According to Neuland Labs, September 2024, in the 'Peptide Trends in 2024' article, the number of clinical trials for obesity drugs—a key category utilizing peptide synthesis—increased by 68% in 2023 compared to the previous year, signaling a robust trajectory for amino acid consumption in this high-value segment.

Manufacturers are increasingly shifting from chemical synthesis to advanced microbial fermentation processes, which offer higher yield efficiency and improved sustainability profiles. This transition allows producers to mitigate the environmental impact of traditional petrochemical methods while scaling operations to meet global needs. Industry players are heavily investing in new infrastructure to support this bio-based production model, securing raw material access and reducing production costs through vertical integration. According to Interfax, November 2024, in the 'Fufeng Group to invest up to $350 mln in corn processing project in Kazakhstan' report, Fufeng Group announced an investment of up to $350 million to establish a vertically integrated industrial park dedicated to the bio-fermentation of amino acids and corn processing, highlighting the significant capital flow into modernizing manufacturing capabilities.

Segmental Insights

L-Phenylalanine represents the fastest-growing segment in the Global Phenylalanine Market, primarily driven by its critical role as a precursor for aspartame production. The escalating consumer demand for low-calorie and sugar-free food products directly accelerates the need for this specific isomer in the food and beverage industry. Additionally, the pharmaceutical sector significantly contributes to this expansion, utilizing L-Phenylalanine to synthesize essential neurotransmitters for treating conditions such as depression and vitiligo. Continued safety validation by regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration further supports its extensive industrial application.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Phenylalanine Market, largely driven by the substantial demand for aspartame within the regional food and beverage industry. As a primary precursor for this high-intensity sweetener, phenylalanine is heavily utilized in diet carbonated drinks and low-calorie consumables across the United States and Canada. Additionally, the region benefits from a mature pharmaceutical sector that incorporates amino acids into various therapeutic treatments. The rigorous safety standards and approvals established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration encourage widespread industrial application, thereby securing the region's commercial dominance.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, CJ CheilJedang Corp. initiated the sale of its bio division, a global leader in the green bio sector responsible for producing feed-grade amino acids such as tryptophan and lysine. The company appointed Morgan Stanley to manage the divestment, which was estimated to be valued at approximately 6 trillion won. This strategic move was intended to reduce the conglomerate's exposure to the cyclical fluctuations of the global feed additive market and generate capital for reinvestment into its core food and new growth businesses.
• In October 2024, Evonik Industries AG announced a significant restructuring of its health care business, specifically targeting its keto and pharmaceutical amino acid division. The company revealed plans to evaluate strategic options, including potential partnerships or divestments, for its production sites in Ham, France, and Wuming, China. This decision was part of a broader transformation to optimize its portfolio and focus on system solutions, affecting facilities that generate an average annual revenue of approximately €100 million from the production of specialized amino acids used in medical and pharmaceutical applications.
• In May 2024, Amino GmbH, a German manufacturer of pharmaceutical-grade amino acids, entered into a strategic distribution partnership with Barentz, a global life science ingredients distributor. This collaboration appointed Barentz as the exclusive partner for distributing Amino GmbH’s extensive portfolio of amino acids, including tyrosine and phenylalanine, across the North and Central American markets. The agreement was designed to leverage Barentz’s established supply chain network to enhance the availability and delivery of high-purity amino acids to customers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nutritional sectors within the region.
• In March 2024, Daesang Corporation, a major South Korean producer of fermentation-based ingredients including L-phenylalanine, revised its investment strategy regarding the Chinese food additive manufacturer Heilongjiang Chengfu Food Group. Citing a slowdown in the global amino acid market, the company adjusted its acquisition plan to purchase a minority 20% stake for 8.84 billion won, rather than the originally intended controlling interest. This strategic shift allowed Daesang Corporation to secure a stable production base for amino acids in China while mitigating financial risks associated with volatile market conditions.

Key Market Players

• Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
• DAESANG
• Livzon
• KYOWA HAKKO BIO CO., LTD
• Amazing Nutrition
• AMINO GmbH
• Wuxi Jinghai Amino Acid Co., Ltd
• Shijiazhuang Jirong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
• Shijiazhuang Haitian Amino Acid Co., Ltd

By Type	By Application	By End-Users	By Region
L-Phenylalanine D-Phenylalanine DL-Phenylalanine	Depression Attention Deficit Disorder Parkinson disease Chronic Pain Vitiligo Others	Food and Beverage Dietary Supplements Pharmaceuticals Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Phenylalanine Market, By Type:

• L-Phenylalanine
• D-Phenylalanine
• DL-Phenylalanine

• Phenylalanine Market, By Application:

• Depression
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Parkinson disease
• Chronic Pain
• Vitiligo
• Others

• Phenylalanine Market, By End-Users:

• Food and Beverage
• Dietary Supplements
• Pharmaceuticals
• Others

• Phenylalanine 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