- Press Release -

Rockville, Md. Softgel dietary supplements are winning share from tablets as consumers favour formats that are easier to swallow, taste better and digest more comfortably, according to Fact.MR. Rather than a single headline figure, the outlook is best read through its segments, where vitamins and minerals lead the ingredient mix, general well-being drives use, and North America sets the pace.

Botanical supplements hold a meaningful early share, pharmacies remain the main point of sale, and women make up the largest group of users. Europe and Asia Pacific excluding Japan round out a broadly based global market.

Ingredients, Applications and Buyers

Ingredient mix is where the market's direction is clearest. Botanical supplements account for a little over 28% of sales in 2017, but the balance is tilting toward vitamins and minerals, which are expected to feature in one of every two softgels sold by 2022. General well-being is the leading application, drawing more than a quarter of demand, as buyers reach for supplements to support everyday health rather than treat a specific condition.

Distribution stays concentrated in pharmacies and drug stores, though direct selling is gaining ground and made up close to 20% of sales in 2017. On the demand side, women are the largest end users, with nearly US$ 32 Bn worth of softgel supplements consumed by women in 2017, while consumption among men remains moderate.

North America dominates by revenue and is expected to expand quickly, supported by strong wellness cultures across the United States and Canada. Europe is set to surpass US$ 24 Bn by 2022 on steady growth, and Asia Pacific excluding Japan remains lucrative, helped by ample raw material supply and lower production costs in China and India, where growth is expected to be impressive.

Format Preference Reshapes Demand

The shift toward softgels is as much about experience as efficacy. As more consumers lean on supplements for daily health, the convenience of a softgel, easy to take and gentle to digest, becomes a deciding factor. That preference, combined with rising health awareness, is steering both product development and how manufacturers position their ranges.

Suppliers and Their Playbook

The field brings together nutrition, chemical and pharmaceutical majors.

• Herbalife International, Inc., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Glanbia plc., Koninklijke DSM N.V., BASF SE, Bayer Aktiengesellschaft, Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Amway Corporation, and Alphabet Holding Company, Inc. are among the leading players profiled in the report.

Reading the Market for Decisions

For manufacturers, the pull toward vitamins and minerals and toward general well-being points to where formulation and marketing should focus. Investors get a market driven by durable wellness demand and a clear format preference. Procurement and retail teams can plan around pharmacies leading distribution, women as the core customer, and North America and Asia Pacific offering the strongest regional prospects through 2022.

About the Report

Fact.MR's study covers the global softgel dietary supplements market for the forecast period through 2022, with segmentation by ingredient, application, distribution channel, end user and region. It examines each segment, maps the competitive field, and weighs the consumer forces shaping demand. Further detail is available in the softgel dietary supplements market report.

About Fact.MR

Fact.MR is a market research and consulting agency with deep expertise in emerging market intelligence. The firm is known for its syndicated research, custom research and consulting solutions, helping clients make decisions on demand, competition, investment, procurement and future growth.