Top 10 Companies in the Global Citric Acid Ester Market (2025): Market Leaders Innovating Sustainable Solutions for Food, Pharma, and Beyond

In Business Insights
September 25, 2025

The Global Citric Acid Ester Market was valued at US$ 356 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 512 Million by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.3% during the forecast period (2023–2030). This growth is being driven by expanding applications in food and beverages as emulsifiers and stabilizers, rising demand from pharmaceuticals and personal care for bio-based ingredients, and the push toward sustainable, non-toxic alternatives in detergents and cleansers.

As the chemical industry evolves toward greener, multifunctional additives amid stricter regulations on synthetic preservatives, the attention turns to leading producers who are pioneering bio-derived citric acid esters. These compounds, derived from natural citric acid, offer versatile properties like emulsification, preservation, and stabilization. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Global Citric Acid Ester Market—a blend of established multinationals, specialty manufacturers, and innovative suppliers fueling advancements across diverse sectors.


🔟 1. Kasel Group

Headquarters: Singapore
Key Offering: Citric acid esters for food emulsification, including mono- and di-citryl tartaric acid (MDCTA)

Kasel Group stands out as a key player in the Asia-Pacific region, specializing in high-purity citric acid esters tailored for the food industry. With a strong emphasis on natural-derived ingredients, the company supplies emulsifiers that enhance texture and shelf life in baked goods, beverages, and dairy products, while their ISO-certified operations ensure broad market accessibility in emerging regions.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Utilization of renewable citric acid sources from citrus by-products

  • Implementation of water-efficient production technologies to reduce environmental impact

  • Partnerships with local farmers to promote sustainable agriculture for raw materials

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Citric Acid Ester Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Avril Group

Headquarters: Paris, France
Key Offering: Bio-based citric acid esters for personal care and detergents

Avril Group, a French cooperative with roots in agriculture, excels in producing citric acid esters from vegetable oils and citric acid, targeting eco-conscious applications in cosmetics and household cleaners, benefiting from Europe’s REACH regulations that favor biodegradable alternatives.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Promotion of non-GMO vegetable feedstocks for ester production

  • Investment in circular economy projects to recycle production waste

  • Collaboration with EU programs for green chemistry advancement


8️⃣ 3. Fine Organics

Headquarters: Mumbai, India
Key Offering: Specialty citric acid esters for food processing and industrial uses

Fine Organics is a prominent Indian manufacturer known for its range of citric acid-based additives, particularly esters used as anti-staling agents in bakery and confectionery, with exports to over 50 countries addressing challenges in humid climates through innovative solvent-free processes.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Adoption of solar energy in manufacturing plants to lower emissions

  • Development of low-VOC ester formulations for reduced environmental release

  • Community programs focused on sustainable sourcing of citric acid precursors


7️⃣ 4. Azelis

Headquarters: Antwerp, Belgium
Key Offering: Distribution and custom citric acid esters for pharmaceuticals and nutrition

Azelis operates as a global distributor and solutions provider, offering pharma-grade esters like triethyl citrate for coatings and plasticizers, ensuring compliance with USP and EP standards through an extensive network spanning Europe, Americas, and Asia.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Promotion of bio-based esters in supply chain to support green procurement

  • Carbon-neutral logistics through optimized routing and electric fleets

  • Educational workshops on sustainable formulation practices for customers

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Citric Acid Ester Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Henan Zhengtong Food Technology

Headquarters: Zhengzhou, China
Key Offering: Industrial-scale citric acid esters for food and beverage stabilization

Henan Zhengtong Food Technology is a major Chinese producer capitalizing on abundant citric acid resources to manufacture esters at competitive prices, with production capacity exceeding 10,000 tons annually for beverages and instant noodles through enzymatic processes.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Integration of waste heat recovery systems in production

  • Shift toward organic citric acid sourcing for eco-friendly esters

  • Compliance with international standards for reduced effluent discharge


5️⃣ 6. Jungbunzlauer

Headquarters: Weng, Austria
Key Offering: Natural citric acid esters for organic food and personal care

Jungbunzlauer, a family-owned Austrian firm, leads in natural ingredients with citric acid esters derived from fermentation, serving as multifunctional additives in organic products like fruit juices and skincare, emphasizing purity without synthetic catalysts.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • 100% renewable energy usage in European facilities

  • Biodiversity preservation through responsible raw material procurement

  • Zero-waste initiatives in ester manufacturing processes


4️⃣ 7. Vertellus

Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Key Offering: Triethyl citrate and other citric acid esters for plastics and pharma

Vertellus is a specialty chemicals leader producing citric acid esters like triethyl citrate as non-toxic plasticizers for medical devices and food packaging, expanding into bio-based options to meet regulatory pressures against phthalates.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of phthalate-free ester alternatives

  • Energy-efficient distillation technologies in production

  • Recycling programs for manufacturing by-products


3️⃣ 8. Jeevika Yugchem

Headquarters: Ahmedabad, India
Key Offering: Cost-effective citric acid esters for detergents and food applications

Jeevika Yugchem, an Indian exporter, focuses on affordable citric acid esters as builders in eco-friendly detergents and dough conditioners in baking, with exports growing to the Middle East and Africa through competitive pricing and hybrid innovations.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Biodegradable ester development to minimize water pollution

  • Solar-powered operations in key plants

  • Local sourcing to reduce transportation emissions


2️⃣ 9. ASPEK

Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
Key Offering: Citric acid esters for Southeast Asian food and personal care markets

ASPEK emerges as a regional powerhouse in Indonesia, producing citric acid esters optimized for tropical climates to enhance stability in palm oil-based foods and cosmetics, aligning with RSPO standards and advancing microencapsulation for pharmaceuticals.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • RSPO-certified sustainable palm integration in esters

  • Rainforest conservation partnerships

  • Low-water usage in ester synthesis processes


1️⃣ 10. DuPont

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Advanced citric acid esters like dimethyl citrate for food, pharma, and industrial uses

DuPont tops the list as a global innovator in citric acid esters, leveraging its nutrition and biosciences division to develop high-tech products like acetyl tributyl citrate for pharmaceutical coatings and food additives, ensuring FDA and EFSA compliance through biotechnology.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Net-zero emissions goal by 2050 across operations

  • Bioengineering for efficient, low-impact ester production

  • Collaborations on circular packaging using recyclable esters

Read Full Report: Global Citric Acid Ester Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Citric Acid Esters Is Greener and More Versatile

The global citric acid ester market is experiencing a transformative phase. While conventional synthetic additives persist, investments are surging in bio-based, multifunctional esters that align with circular economy principles and regulatory shifts toward sustainability.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Acceleration in bio-based ester adoption across food and pharma in Europe and Asia

  • Regulatory incentives for phosphate replacements in detergents by 2030

  • Digital tools for supply chain optimization and quality assurance

  • Strategic alliances between producers and end-users for custom formulations

Read Full Report: Global Citric Acid Ester Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies highlighted here are not only supplying essential citric acid esters—they’re leading the sustainable evolution of the chemical landscape, enabling safer, greener products for tomorrow’s world.

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Citric Acid Ester Market – View in Detailed Research Report