The Global Plant-based Squalene Market was valued at USD 93.7 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 139.2 Million by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.8% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is primarily driven by the global shift towards cruelty-free, sustainable ingredients in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, coupled with increasing consumer awareness of the health and environmental benefits of plant-derived alternatives to traditional shark liver-derived squalene.
As the personal care and pharmaceutical industries accelerate their transition to natural and ethical sourcing, the focus intensifies on the key manufacturers pioneering bio-based squalene production. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Plant-based Squalene Industry—a dynamic mix of biotechnology innovators, specialty chemical producers, and ingredient suppliers shaping the future of this vital market.
🔟 1. Amyris, Inc.
Headquarters: Emeryville, California, USA
Key Offering: Neossance® Squalane (plant-derived)
Amyris is a leading biotechnology company that utilizes synthetic biology and fermentation processes to produce sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived and animal-based ingredients. Its flagship product, Neossance Squalane, is derived from fermented sugarcane and serves as a high-purity, sustainable emollient for skincare and cosmetics.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Pioneering bio-fermentation technology for scalable, sustainable squalane production
- Commitment to 100% renewable carbon sources
- Strategic partnerships with major cosmetic brands for ingredient integration
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Plant-based Squalene Market – View in Detailed Research Report
9️⃣ 2. Sophim
Headquarters: Peyruis, France
Key Offering: Phytosqualan® (Olive-derived Squalane)
Sophim is a French specialty ingredients company renowned for its high-quality, olive-derived squalane. With a strong focus on natural and sustainable sourcing from the olive oil industry’s by-products, Sophim has established itself as a key European supplier to the cosmetic industry.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Upcycling olive oil production waste streams
- COSMOS and Ecocert organic certification for its products
- Continuous R&D to enhance purity and functionality
8️⃣ 3. Kishimoto Special Liver Oil Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Olive Squalane, Sugar-derived Squalane
While historically known for shark liver oil, Kishimoto has strategically expanded into plant-based squalene to meet evolving market demands. The company leverages its deep expertise in lipid chemistry to produce high-purity squalane from olive and sugarcane sources for the Asian market.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Diversification from animal-based to plant-based squalene production
- Investment in purification technologies for pharmaceutical-grade ingredients
- Focus on supplying the high-growth Japanese and South Korean beauty markets
7️⃣ 4. Nucelis
Headquarters: San Diego, California, USA
Key Offering: Sustainable Squalene via Microbial Fermentation
Nucelis is a biotechnology firm specializing in engineering microbial strains for the efficient production of high-value ingredients. Their proprietary platform enables the sustainable and cost-effective production of squalene, positioning them as an innovator for the pharmaceutical and premium cosmetic sectors.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Development of proprietary yeast strains for squalene production
- Focus on creating a stable, non-commodity supply chain
- Collaborations with partners for commercial-scale fermentation
Download FREE Sample Report:
Plant-based Squalene Market – View in Detailed Research Report
6️⃣ 5. Caribbean Natural Products Inc.
Headquarters: St. Lucia
Key Offering: AmeOil™ Squalene (from Amaranth Oil)
Caribbean Natural Products specializes in sourcing and processing unique botanical oils from the Caribbean region. Their amaranth seed-derived squalene offers a distinctive and traceable supply chain, catering to brands seeking novel and sustainable ingredient stories.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Utilization of amaranth, a drought-resistant crop, promoting agricultural sustainability
- Direct partnerships with local farmers, ensuring fair trade practices
- Development of a vertically integrated supply chain from seed to finished product
5️⃣ 6. Clariant AG
Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Vegasqualene™ (Plant-based Squalene)
Clariant, a global specialty chemicals leader, offers high-performance, bio-based ingredients for personal care through its Care Chemicals division. Their Vegasqualene product line provides a sustainable and reliable alternative for formulators in the cosmetics industry.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Integration of plant-based squalene into a broad portfolio of eco-friendly additives
- Commitment to Clariant’s EcoTain® sustainability standards
- Strong technical support and formulation expertise for global customers
4️⃣ 7. Arista Industries, Inc.
Headquarters: Wilton, Connecticut, USA
Key Offering: Olive-derived and other Vegetable Squalene Oils
Arista Industries is a long-standing supplier of natural oils and lipids, with a significant presence in the plant-based squalene market. The company sources and distributes high-quality olive squalene, serving as a crucial link between European producers and the North American market.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Strategic sourcing from certified sustainable olive groves
- Rigorous quality control and testing for purity and stability
- Providing a diverse range of natural lipid-based ingredients
3️⃣ 8. EFP Biotek
Headquarters: Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Key Offering: Tefsqualene® (Sugar-derived Squalane)
EFP Biotek is a prominent Korean biotech company focused on developing and manufacturing functional ingredients for cosmetics. Their Tefsqualene, produced through bio-fermentation, is a key product aimed at the innovative K-beauty market and beyond.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Specialization in fermentation-derived bioactive ingredients
- Strong R&D focus on enhancing the efficacy of squalane in skincare formulations
- Expansion of production capacity to meet growing Asian demand
2️⃣ 9. SynShark
Headquarters: Halle (Saale), Germany
Key Offering: Biosynthetic Squalene
SynShark is a German biotech startup leveraging cutting-edge metabolic engineering to produce squalene directly from renewable resources via microbial fermentation. This approach offers a highly scalable and consistent alternative to traditional plant extraction methods.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- EU-funded research projects aiming for industrial-scale production
- Focus on achieving cost-parity with conventional squalene
- Development of a completely animal- and plant-free production process
1️⃣ 10. Wilshire Technologies
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Key Offering: Plant-based Squalene (Olive and Amaranth sources)
Wilshire Technologies is a significant supplier of pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients in the Asian region. The company provides plant-based squalene sourced from olives and amaranth, catering to the rapidly growing demand for natural ingredients in India and neighboring countries.
Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:
- Focus on local sourcing and processing to reduce carbon footprint
- Development of squalene-based formulations for the pharmaceutical industry (e.g., vaccine adjuvants)
- Strategic positioning to serve the price-sensitive yet quality-conscious markets
Get Full Report Here:
Plant-based Squalene Market – View in Detailed Research Report
🌿 Outlook: The Future of Plant-based Squalene Is Sustainable and High-Tech
The plant-based squalene market is experiencing a paradigm shift. While traditional olive oil sourcing remains dominant, the industry is rapidly embracing advanced biotechnologies like fermentation and metabolic engineering to ensure scalability, consistency, and a reduced environmental footprint.
📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:
- Accelerated adoption of bio-fermentation for sustainable, scalable production
- Growing demand from the pharmaceutical sector for high-purity squalene in vaccine adjuvants
- Stringent regulations and consumer preference driving the complete phase-out of shark-derived squalene
- Innovation in sourcing from non-traditional plants like amaranth and rice bran
Get Full Report Here:
Plant-based Squalene Market – View in Detailed Research Report
The companies listed above are not only supplying a vital ingredient—they are actively pioneering the green chemistry revolution in the personal care and pharmaceutical industries.
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