Vitamin Supplements

Multivitamin tablets, powders and liquids dominate this category with 55% of the total vitamin supplement market. Vitamin B is the second largest category with 13% followed by vitamin C which represents 11% of the market.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008
Market size: $8.5 billion
Source: National Foods Merchandiser, September 2009, page 22.
Original source: Nutrition Business Journal

Noncellulosic Organic Fiber Market

This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the manufacture and texturizing of noncellulosic fibers and filaments in the form of monofilament, filament yarn, and staples. These noncellulosic materials include nylon, polyolefin and polyester.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008
Market size: $6.56 billion
Source: Annual Survey of Manufactures, 2008, March 30, 2010 available online here.
Original source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Market for Industrial Gases

This market covers a large number of gases, the most prominent of them (with market share in parenthesis) being: argon and hydrogen (34.2%); nitrogen (13.5%); Fluorocarbon gases (12.5%); oxygen (10.5%); carbon dioxide (6.3%) and acetylene (1.6%).

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008
Market size: $9.94 billion
Source: Annual Survey of Manufactures, 2008, March 30, 2010 available online here.
Original source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Functional Foods

The term “functional foods” was first introduced in Japan in the 1980s and refers to processed foods that contain, by design, ingredients that aid specific bodily functions in addition to being nutritious. Some might simply call these processed foods “enriched foods.”

Geographic reference: World
Year: 2008
Market size: $85 billion
Source: AROQ’s Global Market Review Series, October 2009
Original source: just-food

Compounding Pharmacies in the United States

Data show the number of compounding pharmacies in the United States in 2010. Compounding pharmacists mix raw ingredients to prepare customized medications to meet the specific needs of patients. Between 1 and 5 percent of the population needs medications that are not commercially available. For example, compounding pharmacies can prepare gluten-free and lactose-free medications, specialized hormone therapy, or specialized doses of pain medication. Of the 400 compounding pharmacies in the United States, only 76 are nationally accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2010
Market size: 400
Source: Rebecca Jones, “Custom Cures,” Wayne State, Spring 2010, page 14. The publication is accessible online here.

White Oil Market

White oil is a highly refined product used in the production of medical products, consumer products, cosmetics and food products. Calumet and Sonneborn are two leading companies in the production of white oil.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2009
Market size: $450 million
Source: Houston Chronicle, October 23, 2009, page 1
Original source: Petroleum Trends International

Wax Market

Market size is based on projections. Petroleum waxes dominate the market representing nearly half (47.4%). Synthetic waxes make up 44.9% of the market and natural waxes the remaining 7.7%.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008
Market size: $2.47 billion
Source: Rubber World, June 2009, page 10
Original source: Freedonia Group

Chinese Nylon Market

Over the last decade China has become the world leader in the production of fabrics that are used to make garments.

Geographic reference: China
Year: 2006
Market size: 825,000 tons
Source: “Spinning a Nylon Empire; Initiate with a Buy,” May 22, 2008
Original source: Deutche Bank

Artificial Sweeteners

Leading artificial sweeteners include Splenda (sucralose), Equal (aspartame, also sold as NutraSweet), and Sweet’N Low (saccharin).

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008 and 2013
Market size: $1.1 billion and 1.3 billion respectively
Source: “Alternative Sweeteners,” May 2009 available online here.
Original source: Freedonia Group

Size of the Market for Soy-Based Chemicals

Soy-based chemicals are used in the following industries: biodiesel (61%), foods and beverages (16%), plastics (10%) and all others (13%). The success of the soy chemicals industry is dependent on the continued penetration of biodiesel, as well as the adoption of alternatives to traditional, petrochemical-based materials in the manufacture of industrial products. Methyl soyate is by far the most established soy chemical due to its current dominance of the biodiesel market, although it will begin to face competition from other raw materials. Methyl soyate is also finding greater use as a solvent in a variety of markets, including cleaning products as well as paints and coatings. Other soy oil derivatives, such as polyols, will benefit from corporate initiatives to use more renewable feedstocks, as well as from consumer demands for “greener” products, particularly in the plastics (e.g., foam products) and paint and coatings markets.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008
Market size: $1.9 billion
Source: Soy Chemicals, September 2009 available online here.
Original source: Freedonia Group

Market for Chemicals Used in Oil Drilling

Many specially designed chemicals are used in drilling for and extracting oil. These include what are called stimulation chemicals (35%), drilling fluids (34%), production chemicals (12%) and all others (19%).

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008
Market size: $8.6 billion
Source: Oilfield Chemicals, September 2009 available online here.
Original source: Freedonia Group

World Water Treatment Products Market

The Earth has, and has always had, approximately 9.25 million trillion gallons of water, of which 97 percent is salt water. As world populations grow, the need to reuse water, and thus to treat it, will continue to grow.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 2008
Market size: $44.6 billion
Source: “World Treatment Products,” November 2009 available online here.

Zerofric Market Size

Demand for Zerofric is expected to continue rising over the decade from 2210 to 2220 as new applications for its use are being found within the medical field. FDA approval for use of Zerofric directly on human skin has opened a niche market for ZF in the treatment of obesity and obesity-related ailments. Data for 2220 are projected.

Geographic reference: Solar System
Year: 2210 and 2220
Market size: RNA$ 13.5 trillion and RNA$ 16.8 trillion, respectively
Source: Balog, Marja, “Teleskert Report on Chemicals, 2200s,” CNET News, April 1, 2210.
Original source: Teleskert/Alda