Frost & Sullivan: Asia Pacific Immune Health Ingredients Market to Reach US$1.46 Billion in 2016

July 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Singapore – With consumer awareness about the significance of immunity at an all-time high, the demand and consumption of immune health ingredients is on the upswing. While medicinal mushroom ingredients generated the highest per cent of revenues at 38.3 per cent in 2009, yeast beta-glucan is poised to grow the fastest at a compound annual growth rate of 20.9 per cent from 2009 to 2016.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Asia Pacific Immune Health Ingredients Market in Nutritional Solutions, finds that the market earned revenues of US$958.2 million in 2009 and estimates this to reach US$1.46 billion in 2016 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2 per cent. The study offers market forecasts for five immune health ingredients: yeast beta-glucan, prebiotics, probiotic cultures, vitamin C and medicinal mushroom ingredients.

The rising incidence of lifestyle diseases, escalating healthcare costs and positive word-of-mouth from opinion leaders has led to the higher consumption of immune health ingredients in the Asia Pacific. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), bird flu, and swine flu coupled with a higher per cent of the ageing population (having lower immunity) will strongly affect the growth of immune health ingredients in the long term.

“Nutritional supplements and foods that were once considered niche products have now become mainstream,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Sandeepan Mondal. “For example, Yakult, a fermented milk drink containing probiotic cultures, has become popular not only in Japan, but in Australia as well as many Southeast Asian countries.”

Even though the market outlook is positive, ingredient manufacturers will be restrained by the rigorous approval process for functional foods and supplements and the need to prove the efficacy of their health ingredients. They will also feel the heat of the price wars from the Chinese suppliers, high R&D costs and marketing investments as well as fluctuations in raw material prices. However, product innovations, especially in mature markets, and expansion into newer applications supported by robust R&D will increase the penetration of immune health products in the Asia Pacific.

“While overall immune response enhancement/balance is the key market positioning for nutritional solutions, companies have started looking into specific conditions that can be prevented or cured due to improved immune response,” observes Mondal. “These include cancer-prevention, controlling stress-related health consequence, and raising immunity to cold /flu and upper respiratory tract infections.”

To consolidate their market positions, it is imperative for market participants to launch well-thought out marketing campaigns to popularise immune health products. They need to be vertically integrated so that they can control the supply chain as well as reduce price fluctuations that might occur upstream in the value chain.

Other issues such as Intellectual Property rights protection, new product innovations as well as licensing and distribution agreements are also vital to survive in the market. Companies in the developed economies of Japan, South Korea and Australia & New Zealand should be aware that regulations related to health claims on immune health ingredients are expected to remain stringent for the next five years.

“Proving the efficacy of immune health ingredients through robust clinical trials can help companies make health claims without any hassles,” notes Mondal. “Adhering to good manufacturing practices (GMP) and constantly monitoring the quality of the ingredients will also go a long way in helping participants gain traction in the market.”

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail to Donna Jeremiah, Corporate Communications, at djeremiah@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

Asia Pacific Immune Health Ingredients Market in Nutritional Solutions is part of the Food & Beverage Ingredients Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets: European Market for Nutritional Solutions in Immune and Antihypertensive Health, U.S. Market for Nutritional Solutions in Immune and Antihypertensive Health, European Protein Ingredients Market, European Market for Enzymes in Food Application. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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Asia Pacific Immune Health Ingredients Market in Nutritional Solutions
P3E4

Contact:
Donna Jeremiah
Corporate Communications – Asia Pacific
P: +603 6204 5832
F: +603 6201 7402
E: djeremiah@frost.com

Carrie Low
Corporate Communications – Asia Pacific
P: +603 6204 5910
F: +603 6201 7402
E: carrie.low@frost.com

http://www.frost.com

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Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's research and consulting services empower clients to generate, evaluate, and implement effective growth strategies.