Povidone Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By End-Use Application (Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverages, Personal Care & Cosmetics, Adhesives, and Others), By Sales Channel (Direct Sale, Indirect Sale), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.12 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.56%
Fastest Growing Segment	Adhesives
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 1.55 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Povidone Market will grow from USD 1.12 Billion in 2025 to USD 1.55 Billion by 2031 at a 5.56% CAGR. Povidone, technically known as Polyvinylpyrrolidone, is a synthetic polymer that functions primarily as a binder, film former, and stabilizer within the pharmaceutical, personal care, and food industries. The market is fundamentally driven by the robust expansion of the global generic drug sector which necessitates high purity excipients for tablet formulation and bioavailability enhancement. Furthermore, the personal care industry supports this growth through increasing demand for hair styling and skin care products that utilize the polymer for its fixation and emulsion stabilization properties. This strong industrial consumption is evidenced by trade figures from major manufacturing regions. According to the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, in 2025, pharmaceutical exports reached USD 30.46 billion, underscoring the sustained global demand for essential raw materials like povidone.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the escalating complexity of regulatory compliance regarding excipient safety and supply chain transparency. Stringent international standards require manufacturers to make substantial investments in quality control infrastructure and purification technologies. This regulatory pressure creates a financial barrier that compresses operational margins and restricts market entry for smaller producers who are unable to absorb the rising costs associated with adhering to these rigorous pharmacopeial requirements.

Key Market Drivers

The expansion of the Global Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector acts as the foremost catalyst for the povidone market, necessitating high-performance binders and solubilizers for solid dosage forms. As generic drug production accelerates, manufacturers increasingly rely on polyvinylpyrrolidone to improve the bioavailability of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This surge in volume demand is reflected in the financial performance of key excipient producers. According to Ashland Inc., November 2024, in the 'Fiscal Year 2024 Results Summary', the company’s pharmaceutical segment delivered a six percent revenue growth in the fourth quarter, driven by stronger sales volumes. To sustain this industrial need, raw material suppliers are maintaining significant operational scale. According to BASF SE, March 2025, in the 'BASF Report 2024', sales to third parties in the Nutrition & Care segment, which encompasses the pharmaceutical ingredients division, amounted to EUR 6.73 billion.

Simultaneously, the Increasing Demand for Functional Ingredients in Personal Care and Cosmetics propels market trajectory, particularly for povidone’s application in hair styling fixatives and emulsion stabilizers. Consumers are shifting toward high-performance formulations, compelling brands to utilize versatile polymers that offer superior film-forming capabilities without residue. This consumption trend is robust across major economic zones. According to Cosmetics Europe, July 2025, in the 'Annual Report 2024', the European cosmetics and personal care market reached a retail value of EUR 103.9 billion, reflecting the sector's resilience and sustained requirement for essential formulation polymers.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The escalating complexity of regulatory compliance regarding excipient safety and supply chain transparency presents a formidable barrier to the Global Povidone Market. Manufacturers are increasingly compelled to direct substantial capital toward advanced purification technologies and rigorous quality control infrastructure to meet tightening international pharmacopeial standards. This financial burden significantly compresses operational margins, particularly for smaller-scale producers who lack the fiscal resilience to absorb these rising compliance costs. Consequently, the market witnesses a consolidation where only well-capitalized entities can sustain the necessary production standards, thereby limiting broader market entry and reducing competitive dynamism.

This regulatory pressure exerts a tangible downstream impact on the consumption of excipients like povidone, which are critical for tablet binding and bioavailability. The strain on the pharmaceutical development pipeline is evidenced by recent industry data. According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), in 2025, the sector experienced a 70% reduction in small molecule development investments following recent legislative and regulatory shifts. This sharp contraction in development activity directly correlates to a dampened demand for essential binders in solid dosage forms, impeding the overall volume growth of the povidone market.

Key Market Trends

Innovation in Next-Generation Hydrogel and Nanofiber Wound Care Scaffolds is driving specialized demand for povidone-iodine and cross-linked PVP polymers. As healthcare providers seek advanced solutions for chronic ulcers and surgical site infections, manufacturers are integrating povidone into complex matrices that offer controlled antiseptic release and moisture management. This shift moves beyond traditional antiseptics into bioactive healing systems where the polymer serves as a functional scaffold component. The commercial viability of these advanced systems is reflected in the strong performance of major medtech divisions. According to Smith+Nephew, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results', the Advanced Wound Management business unit delivered an underlying revenue growth of 12.2 percent in the fourth quarter, driven by the adoption of infection management and bioactive therapies.

The Transition Toward Bio-Based Precursors and Green Manufacturing Processes is reshaping the supply chain as the industry addresses carbon footprint concerns. Suppliers are increasingly replacing fossil-based feedstocks like acetylene and formaldehyde with renewable biomass-balanced alternatives to produce N-vinylpyrrolidone, the key monomer for povidone. This reduces the cradle-to-gate carbon impact of the final excipient without altering its chemical structure or regulatory status, appealing to sustainability-conscious pharmaceutical and cosmetic brands. The environmental impact of this strategic shift is measurable. According to BASF SE, May 2025, in the 'BASF Coatings expands business with biomass-balanced products' press release, the company’s portfolio of biomass-balanced products saved approximately 8 million kilograms of CO2 emissions in 2024, highlighting the scale of industrial adoption for sustainable chemical intermediates.

Segmental Insights

The Adhesives segment represents the fastest-growing category in the Global Povidone Market, primarily fueled by rising demand within the packaging and stationery industries. Manufacturers increasingly utilize industrial-grade povidone for its exceptional water solubility, high bonding strength, and non-toxic profile, which are critical for producing glue sticks and hot-melt adhesives. Additionally, the polymer's approval for use in indirect food additives by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supports its widespread adoption in secure food packaging. This blend of regulatory compliance and versatile performance characteristics drives the segment's robust upward trajectory.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific leads the global povidone market due to significant production capacities in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries. China and India function as primary manufacturing centers for generic drugs, necessitating high volumes of povidone for use as a binder and stabilizer. This industrial growth is supported by regulatory frameworks from agencies like the National Medical Products Administration in China, which streamline supply chain operations. The availability of raw materials and established manufacturing infrastructure further allows the region to meet both domestic and export demands efficiently.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory launched a new series of antiseptic products in Japan, specifically introducing a 10% povidone-iodine solution packaged in convenient antiseptic cartridges. These innovative cartridges were designed to be compatible with a dedicated applicator, facilitating a more hygienic and efficient preparation process for surgical site disinfection. The company developed this delivery system to enhance safety and usability in clinical settings, allowing healthcare professionals to apply the povidone-iodine solution without direct contact. This product launch expanded the company’s portfolio of surgical aids and infection control solutions available to medical institutions.
• In October 2024, Ashland showcased its newly improved polyplasdone LN superdisintegrant at the CPHI Milan exhibition, offering a breakthrough solution for the pharmaceutical excipients market. The company re-engineered this crospovidone product to feature significantly reduced and controlled nitrite levels, directly addressing the industry's critical need to minimize nitrosamine formation in drug formulations. By providing a high-purity excipient with declared nitrite specifications, the company aimed to support pharmaceutical manufacturers in developing safer oral solid dosage forms, thereby ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory standards regarding impurities in medicines.
• In April 2024, Firebrick Pharma announced the commercial launch of Nasodine, a povidone-iodine-based nasal spray, in the United States market. The company introduced the product via a direct-to-consumer online platform, positioning it for nasal hygiene applications rather than therapeutic claims to comply with regulatory pathways. This strategic launch marked a significant step in making povidone-iodine formulations accessible for personal care, leveraging the ingredient's broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. The company highlighted that the product release was supported by safety data from clinical trials, aiming to address growing consumer demand for effective nasal hygiene solutions.
• In January 2024, iNova Pharmaceuticals completed the strategic acquisition of the consumer health business of Mundipharma, which encompasses the globally recognized Betadine povidone-iodine product line. This major transaction transferred the ownership of the market-leading antiseptic brand, allowing the acquiring company to expand its portfolio in the consumer healthcare sector. The divestment enabled the seller to realign its focus toward its prescription medicine business, while the povidone-iodine assets were integrated into the new owner's operations to support further market growth and product development in infection prevention categories across various international territories.

Key Market Players

• Ashland Inc
• BASF SE
• Boai NKY Pharmaceuticals Ltd
• Glide Chem Private Limited
• Hangzhou Motto Science & Technology Co. Ltd
• JH Nanhang Life Sciences Co.,Ltd.
• Sichuan Tianhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

By End-Use Application	By Sales Channel	By Region
Pharmaceutical Food & Beverages Personal Care & Cosmetics Adhesives Others	Direct Sale Indirect Sale	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Povidone Market, By End-Use Application:

• Pharmaceutical
• Food & Beverages
• Personal Care & Cosmetics
• Adhesives
• Others

• Povidone Market, By Sales Channel:

• Direct Sale
• Indirect Sale

• Povidone 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