Curcumin is the main biologically active phytochemical compound of Turmeric. It is extracted, concentrated, standardized and researched. Curcumin, which gives the yellow color to turmeric, was first isolated almost two centuries ago, and its structure as diferuloylmethane was determined in 1910. Extensive research within the last half a century has proven that its renowned range of medicinal properties, once associated with Turmeric, is due to Curcumin.
Curcumin is widely used to colour many foods. The Draft Codex General Standard for Food Additives provides an extensive list of such foods. Curcumin is listed for use in dairy products, fats, oils and fat emulsions, edible ices, fruit and vegetable products, confectionery, cereal products, bakery wares, meat and meat products, fish and fish products, eggs and eggs products, spices, soups, sauces and protein products, foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses, beverages, ready-to-eat savouries and composite foods. Use levels of curcumin are in the range from 5 to 500 mg/kg depending on the food category.
Global curcumin market share is highly fragmented in nature due to the presence of several small and large scale manufacturers mainly concentrated in India. Cosmetic application expects the highest growth increasing at over 13% CAGR. Certain skin advantages owing to the presence of natural anti-oxidants in the products will drive curcumin based cosmetic products demand.
India & China are the major supplier of Curcumin, The turnover of Curcumin could reach USD 94.32 million in 2022. Indian Curcumin market size accounted for over 81% of the overall Asia Paciffic revenue most of these as a food coloring agent.India contributes 80% of world production and roughly 60% of export. As a whole there is a good scope for new entrepreneur to invest in this business.
Few Indian major players are as under:
• Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd.
• Concert Spices & Exports Ltd.
• Enjayes Spices & Chemical Oils Ltd.
• Naturite Agro Products Ltd.
• Sanat Products Ltd.
• Sunrise Foods Pvt. Ltd.
• Synthite Industries Pvt. Ltd.