North America Castor Oil Market

North America Castor Oil Market Size and Share:

The North America castor oil market size was valued at USD 802.99 Thousand Tons in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group estimates the market to reach USD 889.24 Thousand Tons by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 1.08% from 2025-2033. The United States dominates the market, driven by the rising demand for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biodiesel, supported by consumer preference for natural ingredients, industrial applications, and government policies promoting bio-based products.

The North America castor oil market growth is driven by the growing demand for bio-based products in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and lubricants. Consumers are increasingly opting for natural and sustainable ingredients, boosting the use of castor oil in skincare, hair care, and medicinal formulations, which is aiding the market growth. Castor oil is primarily composed of ricinoleic acid, a distinctive fatty acid that makes up approximately 90% of its total content. This acid is responsible for many of its therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to its use in medicinal applications. Additionally, the rising adoption of biodiesel, supported by government policies promoting renewable energy, is contributing to the market expansion. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical sector benefits from the medicinal properties of castor oil, driving its use in laxatives, anti-inflammatory drugs, and drug delivery systems, thus impelling the market growth.

Another key driver is the expanding industrial applications of castor oil in paints, coatings, and lubricants, where its unique chemical properties enhance performance. In confluence with this, the stable supply chain and advancements in extraction and refining technologies contribute to consistent production and quality improvements, providing an impetus to the market. Concurrently, the growing preference for eco-friendly and biodegradable materials in the automotive and aerospace industries is fueling the North America castor oil market demand. Apart from this, the increasing research and development (R&D) investments in bio-based polymers and specialty chemicals, are thereby propelling the market forward. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies castor oil as a stimulant laxative for temporary relief of occasional constipation, enhancing its role in the health and wellness industry.

 North America Castor Oil Market Trends:

Increasing Demand for Bio-Based and Sustainable Products

The North America castor oil market trends experience a shifting preference for bio-based sustainable products because environmental awareness and regulatory support continue to increase. The market for castor oil experiences increasing demand because consumers together with industries select plant-derived ingredients for cosmetics, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. For instance, an adult male patients need a daily dosage between 15 to 60 mL of castor oil solution. The combination of castor oil with juice makes it easier to consume. Moreover, the market receives additional growth support from government programs that back renewable resources including both bio-lubricants and biopolymers. Furthermore, the market expansion in the region for castor oil remains stable because companies choose it as their preferred sustainable option for various uses including coatings, adhesives, and plastics due to its non-toxic and biodegradable properties.

Expanding Applications in Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare

The North America castor oil market is expanding, significantly because pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers use its medicinal properties. Reports suggest that using a 2-L PEG with castor oil (PEG-CaO) solution may be an effective alternative to the standard 4-L split PEG solution for colonoscopy preparation in hospitalized patients. The patients who received 2-L PEG-CaO solution achieved better bowel cleansing results according to their scores on the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). Castor oil finds extensive pharmaceutical usage in laxatives, drug delivery systems, and anti-inflammatory formulations because of its therapeutic properties. Besides this, the rising incidence of digestive disorders and skin conditions has generated increased use of castor oil in different therapeutic applications. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry shows increasing interest in using pharmaceutical-grade castor oil as an injectable drug carrier. Also, the expanding medical field expects additional growth for castor oil applications because of increased financial support for healthcare developments and plant medicine research.

Growth in Industrial and Automotive Applications

Castor oil serves as a valuable industrial and automotive resource throughout North America because of its distinctive chemical makeup. The chemical composition of castor oil makes it suitable for high-performance lubricants, paints and coatings, and biopolymers because it demonstrates exceptional thermal stability and moisture resistance properties. For example, bio-polyamides, particularly PA 11 and PA 12 derived from castor oil, are increasingly used in automotive components such as fuel lines, brake systems, and air ducts due to their strength, flexibility, and high thermal resistance. Moreover, the automotive sector uses castor oil derivatives to produce environmentally friendly plastics and biofuels so they can fulfill strict emission standards. Apart from this, the aerospace and construction industries are increasing their demand for castor oil-based materials because of new developments in polymer and adhesive technology. As a result, the industrial sector maintains the growing interest in castor oil as it serves as a sustainable material, thus enhancing the North America castor oil market outlook.

North America Castor Oil Industry Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the North America castor oil market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels from 2025-2033. The market has been categorized based on end-use.

Analysis by End-Use:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Lubricants
• Paints
• Soaps
• Others

The pharmaceutical industry represents the largest end-use segment, accounting for the majority of the North America castor oil market share. The medicinal properties of castor oil which include anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and laxative effects lead to its use as a main component in pharmaceutical formulations. In addition, the pharmaceutical industry utilizes castor oil across drug delivery systems as well as topical ointments and injectable medications especially when producing ricinoleic acid derivatives. Moreover, the rising number of digestive disorders along with joint pain and skin conditions has driven the pharmaceutical market to increase its demand for castor oil. Castor oil has gained more importance in pharmaceutical formulations due to both the increasing use of plant-based medicine and clean-label ingredients. Moreover, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved castor oil for various medical applications, further supporting its widespread adoption. Apart from this, the extensive research into new drug formulations is supporting high-quality castor oil consumption in North America, which is impelling the market growth.

Country Analysis:

• United States
• Canada

The United States is the largest market for castor oil in North America, driven by strong demand across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial applications. The pharmaceutical industry in the country maintains a high demand for castor oil because it requires the oil for creating drug formulations such as laxatives and coatings and emulsifiers. According to reports, the U.S. market value for castor oil reached 49.4 Thousand Tons due to rising industrial and automotive applications. The market has experienced growth because consumers increasingly choose natural sustainable ingredients which are used in personal care products and bio-based polymers. The market demand especially for bio-lubricants and biodiesel is rising due to government initiatives that support renewable energy (RE) alongside biodegradable products. For example, the U.S. government introduced a program that promotes castor oil and other renewable bio-based materials as petroleum-based material alternatives for industries that produce plastics and biodiesel. The sustainable energy and sustainability movement supports market requirements for biodiesel and bio-lubricants as part of its broader renewable energy initiative. The U.S. castor oil market demonstrates steady development because of technological improvements in processing and stable supply chain maintenance.

Competitive Landscape:

The North America castor oil market experiences high competition because multiple companies use innovative products and strategic business plans to gain market dominance. The market requires companies to refine their processes and produce superior derivatives for pharmaceuticals cosmetics and industrial purposes. Moreover, the rising market need for sustainable bio-based solutions drives players to invest in eco-friendly production methods which provide them with competitive advantages. Additionally, the market expansion of players in the petrochemical industry occurs through strategic partnerships with automotive and healthcare sectors and agricultural players to boost their market potential. Furthermore, organizations frequently merge with other entities and acquire businesses to enhance their operational capacity while obtaining market access.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the North America castor oil market with detailed profiles of all major companies.

Latest News and Developments:

• In October 2024, Oleon, a leading manufacturer of oleochemicals, completed the acquisition of a Brazilian oleochemicals company. This strategic move is expected to enhance Oleon's production capabilities and expand its market presence in the Americas.
• In September 2024, Kumar Organic Products has made significant inroads into the North American market, showcasing their castor oil-based personal care products at In-Cosmetics Latin America 2024. Their sustainable sourcing and product innovation help boost North American demand for castor oil derivatives in personal care and cosmetics.
• In June 2024, BASF partnered with Indian castor oil supplier Pragat to enhance sustainable sourcing of castor oil. This partnership will contribute to BASF's efforts to expand its bio-based product portfolio in North America, especially in the footwear and automotive sectors, where demand for sustainable castor oil derivatives is rising.
• In July 2023, Stine Seed Company expanded its retail operations into Canada by launching first in Ontario, marking a key milestone in its international growth strategy and broadening its market presence in North America.

North America Castor Oil Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the North America castor oil market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the North America castor oil market.
• Porter's Five Forces analysis assists stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the North America castor oil industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.