Licorice Extract Market

How big is Licorice Extract Market in 2026?

Licorice extract market is projected to grow at 5.5% CAGR between 2026 and 2036. Market value rises from USD 1,184.8 million in 2025 to USD 1,250.0 million in 2026 and is expected to reach USD 2,135.2 million by 2036.

Licorice extract is a highly used ingredient in food, beverage, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products, and is applied in small quantity. Its per-capita movement is supported by repeated production. The market was valued at USD 1184.8 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 1250.0 million in 2026 and USD 2135.2 million by 2036 at 5.5% CAGR. Confectionery and beverage products have created a mature demand base, whereas pharmaceutical and botanical applications are widening demand. Powder, block and semi-fluid or paste are used as per handling requirement, while standardized glycyrrhizin, glabridin and glycyrrhetinic acid are shifting a part of demand towards premium grade products. Use of natural high-intensity sweeteners is supporting the market demand.

Regional demand differs according to food, pharmaceutical and botanical applications. UK market is anticipated to grow at 6.9% CAGR, whereas USA market is projected to expand at 6.3% through 2036. As of September 25, 2026, the U.S. eCFR permits glycyrrhizin up to 0.15% in nonalcoholic beverages, 1.1% in chewing gum and 16.0% in hard candy [1]. In July 2026, the European Medicines Agency published the final revised EU herbal monograph (Revision 1) on Glycyrrhiza root preparations, covering permitted preparations and specified doses [2]. 

Key Takeaways of Licorice Extract Market

• Increasing use of licorice extract in food flavoring and regulated botanical products is one of the primary factors supporting the global product demand.
• Powder segment is projected to account for 48.3% of form demand in 2026, attributed to easy handling and measured dosing in dry production lines.
• Food grade segment is estimated to hold 45.9% share in 2026, owing to recurring use of licorice extract for food flavoring and sweetening.
• Food & beverages application is expected to represent 31.9% demand in 2026, due to wider use of licorice extract in repeated commercial recipes.
• UK licorice extract market is forecast to grow at 6.9% CAGR, whereas USA market is projected to expand at 6.3% through 2036.
• Licorice Extract Market includes MAFCO Worldwide LLC, Norevo GmbH, Huisong Pharmaceuticals, Sabinsa Corporation, Indena S.p.A., Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd and Licorice Extract LLC.

Analyst Perspective

"Increasing application of licorice extract in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products is expected to support the market demand. Manufacturers requires defined physical form and marker levels, due to which suppliers providing proper test method and regulatory documents are likely to gain better opportunities over the forecast period."

- Nandini Roy Choudhury, Principal Consultant, Future Market Insights.

How is the Licorice Extract Market segmented?

Licorice Extract Market is segmented by three primary commercial axes and region: form, grade, application and region.

Form covers powder, block, and semi-fluid/paste.
Grade covers food, pharmaceutical, and feed.
Application covers food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, and others.

What keeps powder preferred for routine dosing in the form category?

Powder is projected to hold 48.3% of form demand in 2026, supported by measured dosing in dry production systems.

Powder fits food plants that already meter dry ingredients through existing dosing systems. As of September 2026, the FDA food-substances database recognizes spray-dried licorice extract for specified food functions. The recognized form lets buyers qualify licorice beside powdered flavors and sweeteners without adding a separate liquid-handling process.

• Powder is projected to account for 48.3% of form demand in 2026, underpinned by measured dosing in dry production lines.
• Food formulators still check moisture and glycyrrhizin results before routine production begins.

What supports food grade use under current commercial ingredient rules?

Food is estimated to hold 45.9% of grade demand in 2026, underpinned by recurring flavor use under food rules.

Food grade licorice fits commercial recipes that use the ingredient for flavor or sweetness rather than therapeutic claims. As of September 2026, FDA records recognize licorice derivatives for specified food flavors and sweetening functions. Buyers can keep approval focused on identity, marker levels and lot consistency before regular production begins.

• Food is estimated to hold 45.9% of grade demand in 2026, aided by recurring flavor uses under defined food rules.
• Food buyers require identity and lot records before routine production begins with a qualified grade.

Why do food and beverage uses retain the application share?

Food & beverages is expected to represent 31.9% of application demand in 2026, reinforced by recurring food flavor programs.

Small licorice doses can change flavor or sweetness without forcing a broader recipe change, which supports repeat food and beverage use. Norevo's August 2025 material lists powder, paste, granules and blocks in its confectionery ingredients portfolio. Plants can match powder to dry dosing and use paste or blocks where another feeding method is more practical.

• Food & beverages is expected to hold 31.9% of application demand in 2026, sustained by recurring flavor and sweetening programs.
• Plants select physical form around dosing and dispersion needs before licorice reaches routine production.

What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the Licorice Extract Market?

In the licorice extract market, the key driver is repeat food use, the key restraint is qualification control and the key opportunity is standardization.

• Driver: Recognized food uses support repeat licorice purchasing in established beverage and confectionery recipes during the forecast period.
• Restraint: Dose limits and local use rules can extend buyer review before regular purchasing begins.
• Opportunity: Common test methods can reduce retesting and make supplier certificates easier to compare during the projection period.

Repeat Food Use Supports Demand

Recurring food demand comes from recipes that return to production on a fixed schedule. As of September 2026, FDA records recognize licorice derivatives for flavoring and sweetening. The federal listing gives beverage flavoring teams a defined permitted-use basis during formulation review. Once the recipe is approved, procurement shifts to batch consistency. Stable flavor and marker results allow the same licorice grade to remain in the formula, which supports repeat ingredient orders.

Product Rules Extend Buyer Qualification

Some licorice-derived ingredients carry dose or use conditions beyond ordinary flavoring rules, which extends buyer review. In April 2025, the UK Food Standards Agency updated the authorised record for flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza glabra. The record sets conditions for listed flavonoid products and requires buyers to match the planned dose with the finished use. A mismatch sends the formula back to regulatory review even if ingredient supply is available. Extra regulatory work can delay launch timing and postpone routine purchasing.

Standardized Methods Reduce Retesting Work

According to FMI analysis, retesting increases if supplier and buyer laboratories use different methods for the same botanical material. In August 2025, Huisong Pharmaceuticals completed a group standard covering purification and testing of plant-derived actives used in medicine-food materials. The standard gives botanical ingredients one reference for process control and test methods. Clear method names on certificates let buyers compare marker results without first reconciling two test systems. During the forecast period, common test formats can reduce repeat testing before customer release.

Which country CAGRs are profiled in the Licorice Extract Market?

Country	CAGR
USA	6.3%
UK	6.9%
Germany	3.9%
Japan	5.3%
South Korea	4.5%
Mexico	5.9%

How do country-level CAGRs compare in the licorice extract market?

Country outlooks differ mainly in what buyers must prove before commercial use. Procurement in the USA and UK usually begins with a check on permitted-use status. Germany, Japan and South Korea rely more heavily on formal test methods, while Mexico first separates herbal medicine from supplement routes.

• USA food buyers check federal identity and use rules before routine formulation work begins with licorice ingredients.
• UK buyers confirm current authorization status before regulated food or feed procurement begins.
• German buyers use official pharmacopoeial tests that place assay method beside botanical identity during regulated qualification.
• Japanese pharmaceutical buyers use the national pharmacopoeia to define quality tests for crude herbal materials and extracts.
• South Korean herbal manufacturers use national pharmacopoeial methods to qualify imported botanical materials for regulated use.
• Mexican buyers classify herbal products before local registration and importer-document review begins.

Full report country CAGRs cover: North America; Latin America; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; East Asia; South Asia and Pacific; Middle East and Africa.

Country-wise Analysis

• USA demand is projected to rise at 6.3% CAGR over the forecast period. Federal food rules make product form part of the buying decision, with every form subject to the same release limits. As of August 2026, the eCFR recognizes liquid, spray-dried powder, paste and block forms of licorice. The rule also requires a glycyrrhizin assay and limits heavy metals and arsenic. A food plant checks whether the material fits its handling system and whether the batch meets federal limits. Powder suits dry dosing, while paste or block needs different feeding equipment. Certificates that identify the exact form and test result can shorten technical review before commercial supply.
• Future Market Insights estimates UK demand will rise at 6.9% CAGR during the assessment period. Authorization status is the first commercial filter for regulated uses, so price and delivery discussions come later. In April 2025, the Food Standards Agency updated its licorice-extract record for all animal species. The record remained under review since no re-evaluation application was received by the stated deadline. The review status separates material with a current authorization path from uses that may need further review. Suppliers that confirm intended use early can avoid preparing samples, pricing and delivery terms for an application that still lacks regulatory clearance. Early classification keeps commercial work focused on uses that can proceed to procurement.
• German buyers place the test method beside the assay value during regulated qualification. Licorice extract demand is estimated to post 3.9% CAGR by 2036. In August 2025, Pharmeuropa changed the liquorice dry-extract assay from three-point to single-point calibration and added system-suitability requirements. The method change has a direct commercial effect, as an acceptable assay number may still require retesting under an older procedure. Using the current method gives supplier and buyer laboratories the same release basis. The common method reduces interpretation work during approval and lets buyers compare qualified lots on the same analytical basis. The 3.9% outlook fits a market where the current test method remains part of routine botanical purchasing.
• Japan's licorice extract outlook is expected to advance at 5.3% CAGR over the projection period. National pharmacopoeial standards give pharmaceutical buyers a common basis for reviewing crude drugs and extracts. In April 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued the Nineteenth Edition of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. The edition keeps crude-drug standards and test methods in one official reference. Supplier certificates can be compared directly with the local release method. Data produced under another procedure may need interpretation or retesting before approval. Matching assay data and manufacturing documents to the herbal medicinal products route reduces technical work and gives buyers a clearer path to scheduled purchasing.
• South Korean herbal manufacturers use the national pharmacopoeia as the reference for imported botanical ingredients. Licorice extract demand is projected to grow at 4.5% CAGR during the forecast period. In March 2026, MFDS registered the English version of the Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia with monographs and crude-drug tests. Overseas suppliers can review local methods before preparing certificates or sending qualification samples. A Korean laboratory can assess a result more directly if the supplier used the same sample preparation and test method. Clear method disclosure lowers technical questions during approval and helps imported licorice move from document review to routine ordering with less rework.
• Mexican buyers first classify licorice as herbal medicine or herbal supplements because each class follows a different filing route. Sales are forecast to expand at 5.9% CAGR by 2036. In August 2025, COFEPRIS updated its national medicine registration lists. In January 2026, the regulator also defined dietary supplements as products that can contain herbs or plant extracts in accepted oral forms. The two records separate medicine and supplement pathways before import planning begins. The same botanical input can need different documents under a different finished-product class. Early product classification lets suppliers prepare the correct Spanish-language technical file before local review and avoids reworking the application later.

Who are the notable companies in the Licorice Extract Market?

Notable companies in the Licorice Extract Market include MAFCO Worldwide LLC, Norevo GmbH, Huisong Pharmaceuticals, Sabinsa Corporation, Indena S.p.A., Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd, and Licorice Extract LLC.

Licorice extract competition is fragmented across three commercial routes with different product specifications. MAFCO Worldwide LLC, Norevo GmbH and Licorice Extract LLC sell direct forms for food and formulation work. Huisong Pharmaceuticals, Sabinsa Corporation and Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd compete on standardized marker levels for cosmetic chemicals and nutraceutical ingredients. Indena S.p.A. supplies purified 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid for regulated pharmaceutical use. A buyer's shortlist depends on the finished application, required physical form and release test, so supplier strengths differ by use case.

• Direct licorice formats: MAFCO Worldwide LLC, Norevo GmbH and Licorice Extract LLC.
• Standardized botanical extracts for nutraceutical ingredients: Huisong Pharmaceuticals, Sabinsa Corporation and Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd.
• Purified licorice-derived actives: Indena S.p.A.

Competitive Benchmarking: Licorice Extract Market

Company	Format Breadth	Marker Standardization	Cross-Application Access	Geographic Reach
MAFCO Worldwide LLC	High	High	High	Low
Norevo GmbH	High	Medium	High	High
Huisong Pharmaceuticals	Medium	High	High	High
Sabinsa Corporation	Low	High	High	High
Indena S.p.A.	Low	High	Medium	High
Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd	Low	High	Medium	Medium
Licorice Extract LLC	High	Medium	Medium	Low

Key Developments in the Licorice Extract Market

• In August 2026, L'Oréal Paris published a licorice extract ingredient entry identifying glabridin and liquiritin in skin-care formulations. The named compounds let cosmetic formulators assess licorice against defined actives instead of a generic botanical label.
• In April 2026, Rohto Pharmaceutical reported acceptance of a functional food using gliasperin B from Licorice Extract Powder (Liconine®). The filing shows a standardized licorice-derived ingredient moving through a documented functional-food route in Japan.

Key Players in the Licorice Extract Market

Licorice Format and Extract Supply

• MAFCO Worldwide LLC
• Norevo GmbH
• Huisong Pharmaceuticals
• Licorice Extract LLC

Standardized Botanical and Active Ingredients

• Sabinsa Corporation
• Indena S.p.A.
• Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd

Licorice Extract Market - Report Scope

Coverage field	Report scope
Market breakdown	Form, Grade, Application, and Region.
Quantitative Units	USD million.
Market Definition	Revenue includes licorice extract sold as Powder, Block, and Semi-fluid/ Paste across Food, Pharmaceutical, and Feed grades and the defined applications. Downstream finished-product revenue plus adjacent or substitute ingredient revenue are excluded.
Regions Covered	North America; Latin America; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; East Asia; South Asia and Pacific; Middle East and Africa.
Countries Covered	USA, UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and more than twenty-five additional countries in the full report.
Key Companies Profiled	MAFCO Worldwide LLC, Norevo GmbH, Huisong Pharmaceuticals, Sabinsa Corporation, Indena S.p.A., Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd, Licorice Extract LLC.
Forecast Period	2026 to 2036.
Approach	Primary and secondary research with market triangulation.

Licorice Extract Market - Research Methodology

Method	Approach
Primary Research	FMI analysts gathered input from manufacturers, service providers, technology developers, distributors, end users, procurement teams, and subject-matter experts. Interviews examined purchasing decisions, product or service evaluation, adoption barriers, approval requirements, pricing considerations, and expectations for technical or commercial support. Respondents were also asked what evidence is required before a trial, pilot, or initial order develops into regular purchasing.
Desk Research	Desk research covered government statistics, regulatory publications, trade data, industry associations, technical literature, standards, company filings, product information, and official corporate announcements. Sources were reviewed for relevance, publication date, geographic coverage, and consistency with the defined market scope. Claims relating to performance, applications, approvals, capacity, investment, and commercial activity were retained only when supported by credible public evidence.
Market Sizing and Forecasting	The market model combined the baseline value with historical performance, segment structure, pricing and volume indicators, adoption levels, company participation, and country-level demand conditions. Forecast assumptions considered economic activity, investment trends, regulatory developments, technology adoption, purchasing cycles, supply availability, and barriers to wider market use. Segment and regional estimates were reconciled before the final market total was calculated.
Data Validation	Estimates were checked against multiple independent indicators, including public data, company activity, trade patterns, industry developments, and findings from primary interviews. Validation also tested whether products, services, applications, and company revenues fell within the defined market boundaries. Adjacent categories, unsupported claims, overlapping revenues, and activities without direct market relevance were excluded to reduce double counting and maintain consistency across segments and countries.

Licorice Extract Market by Segments

Licorice Extract Market segmented by Form:

• Powder
• Block
• Semi-fluid/ Paste

Licorice Extract Market segmented by Grade:

• Food
• Pharmaceutical
• Feed

Licorice Extract Market segmented by Application:

• Food & Beverages
• Pharmaceuticals
• Tobacco
• Others

Licorice Extract Market by Region:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Chile
• Western Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Benelux
  • Nordics
• Eastern Europe
  • Poland
  • Czech Republic
  • Romania
  • Hungary
• East Asia
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
• South Asia and Pacific
  • India
  • ASEAN
  • Australia and New Zealand
• Middle East and Africa
  • GCC Countries
  • South Africa
  • Türkiye
  • Israel

Research Sources and Bibliography

• [1].Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. (2026). 21 CFR § 184.1408 Licorice and licorice derivatives. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
• [2].Food Standards Agency. (2025, April 1). Glycyrrhiza glabra L.: Licorice extract [All animal species].
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. (2026, April 10). The Japanese Pharmacopoeia, Nineteenth Edition.
• European Medicines Agency. (2026, July 20). Final European Union herbal monograph on Glycyrrhiza glabra L.; Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat.; Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., radix - Revision 1.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Substances Added to Food: Licorice extract (Glycyrrhiza spp.). Retrieved September 27, 2026.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Substances Added to Food: Licorice extract powder (Glycyrrhiza spp.). Retrieved September 27, 2026.
• Food Standards Agency. (2025, April 1). Flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. [Authorised novel food record].
• European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare. (2025, August). Pharmeuropa: Useful information, August 2025.
• Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Republic of Korea. (2026, March 31). The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia, English version.
• Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios. (2025, August 21). Listados de Registros Sanitarios de Medicamentos [Lists of medicine health registrations].
• Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios. (2026, January 13). Suplementos Alimenticios [Dietary supplements].
• Norevo GmbH. (2025, August). Confectionery Performers.
• Norevo GmbH. (n.d.). Licorice extract. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
• MAFCO Worldwide LLC. (2026, April). New product launch: Crystal-clear solubilized 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid.
• Huisong Pharmaceuticals. (2026, January 28). Huisong Pharmaceuticals product catalogue v8.3.
• L’Oréal Paris. (2026, August 12). Licorice extract.
• Huisong Pharmaceuticals. (2025, September 11). Technical regulation for the purification of bioactive components in homology of medicine and food materials.
• Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (2026, April 21). Rohto Group’s proprietary ingredient “Licorice Extract Powder (Lyconin®)”-derived ingredient, Gliasperin B, is the first functional food product in Japan to receive approval.
• Sabinsa Corporation. (n.d.). Herbal extracts, research and analytical development. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
• Indena S.p.A. (2025, October). International pharmaceutical product list.
• Vitafoods Europe. (2026, May). BGG Europe SA [Exhibitor profile].
• Sunpure Extracts Pvt Ltd. (n.d.). Cosmoceuticals: Glycyrrhiza glabra root extracts. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
• Licorice Extract LLC. (n.d.). Licorice extract products and company contacts. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
• Swisseutic. (2025, April 15). Swisseutic announces strategic distribution partnership with Qinghai Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

This bibliography is provided for reader reference. The full report contains the complete reference list and detailed citations.

This Report Answers

• How large is the Licorice Extract Market through the forecast period?
• Which licorice extract segments hold the main 2026 parent-category shares?
• How does the Licorice Extract Market country outlook differ through 2036?
• Which companies supply licorice extract inside the defined market boundary?
• Which conditions can delay licorice extract qualification for commercial buyers?
• What does the Licorice Extract Market report include and exclude?