Global Leading Market Research Publisher QYResearch announces the release of its latest report “Feed β-Glucanase – Global Market Share and Ranking, Overall Sales and Demand Forecast 2026-2032″. Based on current situation and impact historical analysis (2021-2025) and forecast calculations (2026-2032), this report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Feed β-Glucanase market, including market size, share, demand, industry development status, and forecasts for the next few years.
The global market for Feed β-Glucanase was estimated to be worth US$ 45.83 million in 2025 and is projected to reach US$ 75.21 million, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2026 to 2032. In 2024, global feed β-glucanase production reached 7,120 tons, with an average global market price of US$ 6,010 per ton. For feed manufacturers and integrated livestock operations utilizing barley, wheat, and oats in monogastric diets, the core challenge remains mitigating the anti-nutritional effects of β-glucans, which increase digesta viscosity and reduce nutrient absorption. This market addresses those pain points through exogenous enzyme preparations produced by fungal or bacterial fermentation, specifically designed to degrade β-glucans in cereal cell walls, directly supporting feed utilization efficiency and animal growth performance.
Feed β-glucanase refers to exogenous β-glucan-degrading enzymes produced by fungal or bacterial fermentation. It is a functional enzyme preparation specifically used in the feed industry. Its primary function is to degrade β-glucans, the non-starch polysaccharide components in the cell walls of cereals (such as barley, wheat, and oats), reducing their anti-nutritional effects in the animal digestive tract, thereby improving feed utilization. It is used in monogastric animals such as poultry and pigs, as well as in aquaculture.
From an upstream and downstream supply perspective, the upstream sector includes suppliers of the microbial strains required for production (such as genetically engineered strains of Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus niger) and fermentation raw materials (such as carbon and nitrogen sources like corn starch and soybean meal). The midstream sector comprises enzyme manufacturers, and the downstream end-users are large-scale feed producers and integrated livestock operations, which add complex enzyme products containing β-glucanase to premixes and complete feeds.
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1. Market Drivers and Recent Industry Data (Last 6 Months)
Since late 2025, the feed β-glucanase sector has witnessed accelerated adoption driven by increasing use of barley in animal feed formulations due to corn price volatility and tightening regulations on in-feed antibiotics. According to the International Grains Council November 2025 report, global barley production reached 156 million tons in 2025, up 8% from 2024, with a growing proportion directed to animal feed as feed wheat and corn prices remained elevated.
In the European Union, barley is the second most widely used cereal in animal feed after wheat, accounting for approximately 25% of compound feed grain content in northern member states. The EU’s complete phase-out of pharmacological zinc oxide in piglet feeds (effective June 2025) has driven demand for alternative gut health solutions. Feed β-glucanase reduces digesta viscosity and promotes beneficial microbiota, partially compensating for the absence of zinc oxide. Danish feed cooperative DLG reported a 32% increase in β-glucanase inclusion rates in weaner diets during Q4 2025 compared to pre-ban levels.
In Canada, the world’s largest barley exporter, domestic feed use has increased as Canadian cattle feeders and hog producers substitute barley for higher-priced corn. Canadian Feed Industry Association data shows that β-glucanase enzyme sales grew 18% year-on-year in 2025, driven by barley-based finishing diets for swine and backgrounding rations for feedlot cattle.
The aquaculture sector has emerged as a significant growth driver. Norwegian salmon feed producers have increased barley inclusion in extruded feeds from 10–15% to 20–25% in response to soy protein price volatility, directly boosting demand for thermostable feed β-glucanase formulations capable of withstanding extrusion temperatures (100–120°C).
2. Technology Differentiation: Acidic vs. Neutral Feed β-Glucanase – pH-Specific Activity
From a type segmentation perspective, acidic and neutral feed β-glucanase are optimized for different regions of the monogastric digestive tract and different animal species:
- Acidic Feed β-Glucanase (dominant segment, ~62% of market revenue): Exhibits optimal activity at pH 3.5–5.5, matching the gastric environment of pigs and poultry. These enzymes begin degrading β-glucans in the stomach, reducing digesta viscosity before nutrients reach the small intestine. Leading producers: Novozymes, AB Enzymes, and Sunson Industry Group. Average pricing: US$ 5,800–7,200 per ton. Key application: swine and poultry diets, particularly for young animals (piglets, chicks) with less developed digestive systems.
- Neutral Feed β-Glucanase (fastest-growing segment, +8.2% CAGR): Exhibits optimal activity at pH 6.0–7.5, matching the intestinal environment. These enzymes complement acidic variants by continuing β-glucan degradation in the small intestine. Particularly valuable in aquaculture (fish have near-neutral stomach pH) and in multi-enzyme complexes. BASF and DSM-Firmenich lead this segment. Growth driver: increasing demand for aquaculture-specific formulations and heat-stable variants for extruded aquafeeds.
Exclusive technical insight: The industry is seeing development of “broad-pH” feed β-glucanase variants through protein engineering. These enzymes maintain 70%+ of peak activity across pH 3.5–7.5, providing flexibility for use across species and feed formulations. Qingdao Vland Biotech launched a broad-pH β-glucanase in Q4 2025 targeting the Asian aquaculture market, where feed formulations vary widely in buffering capacity.
3. Fermentation Technology and Supply Chain Dynamics
From an upstream and downstream supply perspective, the production of feed β-glucanase relies on specialized microbial fermentation:
Upstream sector – Suppliers of production inputs:
- Microbial strains: Genetically engineered strains of Trichoderma reesei (filamentous fungus, high protein secretion capacity) and Aspergillus niger dominate commercial production. Strain development focuses on increasing volumetric productivity (grams of enzyme per liter of fermentation broth) and thermostability. Novozymes and DSM-Firmenich maintain proprietary strain libraries developed through classical mutagenesis and directed evolution.
- Fermentation raw materials: Carbon sources (glucose, corn starch hydrolysate, molasses), nitrogen sources (soybean meal, corn steep liquor, yeast extract, ammonium sulfate), and mineral salts (magnesium, potassium, phosphate). Price volatility in corn (affecting starch hydrolysate) and soybean meal (affecting nitrogen sources) directly impacts production costs.
Midstream sector – Enzyme manufacturers: Submerged fermentation (SmF) in stirred-tank bioreactors (10,000–200,000 liter scale) dominates production. Downstream processing includes cell removal (centrifugation or filtration), concentration (ultrafiltration), stabilization (addition of carriers and preservatives), and formulation (liquid, powder, or granulated). Wuhan Sunhy Biology has invested in continuous downstream processing technology, reducing production costs by an estimated 12–15%.
Downstream sector – End users: Large-scale feed producers and integrated livestock operations account for 70–75% of feed β-glucanase consumption. Major global buyers include Charoen Pokphand Foods, New Hope Group, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Nutreco, and Land O’Lakes. These customers increasingly demand thermostable formulations for pelleted and extruded feeds, as well as technical support for optimal inclusion rate determination.
4. Sector-Specific Adoption: Poultry, Swine, Aquaculture, and Others – Species-Specific Benefits
The market segments by application reveal distinct physiological mechanisms and economic drivers:
- Poultry (largest segment, ~42% of revenue): Broilers, layers, and turkeys fed barley-based diets experience increased digesta viscosity, reduced feed intake, and wet litter issues. Feed β-glucanase reduces viscosity, improves feed conversion, and reduces sticky droppings. A typical user case: a 20-million-bird broiler integrator in the United Kingdom switched from wheat-based to barley-based diets (40% barley inclusion) in Q3 2025, adding β-glucanase at 100g/ton. The operation maintained feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 1.58 (compared to 1.56 on wheat) while reducing feed cost by £12/ton. Technical challenge: maintaining enzyme activity through pelleting (80–90°C). Coated and thermostable formulations are essential.
- Swine (second-largest, ~32% of revenue): Barley-based grow-finish diets are common in Canada, northern Europe, and Australia. β-Glucans increase digesta viscosity, reducing nutrient absorption and causing soft feces. A 5,000-head finishing barn in Alberta reported that adding neutral β-glucanase to a 60% barley diet improved average daily gain by 6% and reduced feed conversion ratio from 2.85 to 2.71 during Q4 2025 trials. Weaned piglets are particularly responsive due to their limited endogenous enzyme production.
- Aquaculture (fastest-growing segment, +9.5% CAGR): Salmon, trout, and tilapia feeds increasingly include barley and wheat as cost-effective carbohydrate and protein sources. β-Glucans increase digesta viscosity in fish, reducing feed intake and nutrient absorption. A Norwegian salmon feed trial (January 2026) showed that acidic feed β-glucanase inclusion at 150g/ton reduced fecal viscosity by 45%, improved lipid digestibility by 8%, and allowed a 12% increase in barley inclusion without compromising growth. Shrimp feeds (containing wheat and barley by-products) also benefit, with improved water stability of fecal pellets.
- Others (rabbits, horses, ducks, geese): ~6% of revenue, growing at 5–6% CAGR. Horse feeds containing oats and barley benefit from β-glucanase to reduce colic risk associated with high-viscosity digesta.
5. Key Players and Competitive Landscape (2025–2026 Update)
The Feed β-Glucanase market is segmented as below:
Leading manufacturers include:
Novozymes, AB Enzymes, DSM-Firmenich, Aum Enzymes, BASF, Kemin Industries, Creative Biogene, Guangdong Vtr Bio-Tech, Wuhan Sunhy Biology, Fuda Biotech, Sunson Industry Group, Beijing Strowin Biotechnology (BSB), Shandong Sukahan Bio-Technology, Qingdao Vland Biotech
Segment by Type:
- Acidic
- Neutral
Segment by Application:
- Swine
- Poultry
- Aquaculture
- Others
Exclusive observation: A clear bifurcation is emerging between global enzyme leaders and regional specialists. Novozymes and DSM-Firmenich lead in thermostable and broad-pH technologies, commanding premium pricing (US$ 7,000–9,000 per ton) and holding key patents on production strains. Chinese manufacturers (Wuhan Sunhy Biology, Sunson Industry Group, Qingdao Vland Biotech, Shandong Sukahan Bio-Technology) have gained significant share in Asia, Africa, and Latin America through cost leadership (US$ 4,500–5,800 per ton) and responsive customer service. However, thermostability of Chinese-produced enzymes remains a gap for high-temperature extrusion applications (aquaculture, pet food).
Kemin Industries has focused on liquid feed β-glucanase formulations for post-pellet application, capturing market share in North American swine operations. Beijing Strowin Biotechnology (BSB) specializes in ruminant applications (dairy calves, feedlot cattle), a niche with less competition and higher margins. Guangdong Vtr Bio-Tech has developed a β-glucanase-xylanase dual-enzyme product specifically for wheat-barley mixed diets common in southern China.
6. Technical Challenges and Policy Environment
Three persistent technical challenges face the feed β-glucanase industry:
- Thermostability for feed processing – Pelleting (80–95°C) and extrusion (100–120°C) denature most native β-glucanases. Solutions include: (a) thermostable enzyme variants from thermophilic fungi (Thermomyces lanuginosus, Myceliophthora thermophila), (b) coating/encapsulation with lipids or polysaccharides, and (c) liquid post-pellet application. Each approach adds 15–25% to production costs. Best-in-class thermostable β-glucanases retain 70–85% activity after standard pelleting.
- Substrate specificity variation – Barley β-glucans have different molecular weight distribution and solubility than oat or wheat β-glucans. Not all feed β-glucanases are equally effective across cereal sources. This has driven demand for enzyme characterization data and in vitro digestibility testing by feed manufacturers.
- Storage stability in tropical climates – Liquid β-glucanase formulations stored at ambient temperatures (30–40°C) in Southeast Asia and Latin America can lose 20–40% activity within six months. Refrigerated storage or dry powder formulations are recommended, adding logistics complexity.
On the policy front, the EU’s revised Animal Feed Additives Regulation (effective March 2026) requires re-authorization of all feed enzymes, including β-glucanase, with additional data on environmental fate and antimicrobial resistance gene transfer. This favors larger manufacturers with regulatory resources. China’s Ministry of Agriculture added feed β-glucanase to the “National Catalog of Priority Feed Additives for Domestic Substitution” (December 2025), providing tax incentives for domestic production and expedited registration for Chinese-owned manufacturers. The U.S. FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine issued guidance in January 2026 clarifying that β-glucanase produced through precision fermentation in non-pathogenic hosts (e.g., Bacillus subtilis, Pichia pastoris) is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), reducing regulatory barriers for novel production strains.
7. Exclusive Industry Outlook and Regional Dynamics
Our analysis suggests that the next wave of growth will come from thermostable feed β-glucanase formulations for extruded aquafeeds. The global aquafeed market is growing at 6–7% annually, with extrusion temperatures increasing to improve starch gelatinization and water stability. β-Glucanase that retains activity after extrusion (95–120°C for 10–30 seconds) commands a significant premium (US$ 10,000–15,000 per ton). Novozymes’ “Extru-Zyme β-G” (launched September 2025) is the current market leader, but Wuhan Sunhy Biology has announced a competitive product expected in Q3 2026.
Additionally, the integration of feed β-glucanase with other feed enzymes (xylanase, phytase, protease) into all-in-one multi-enzyme complexes continues to accelerate. Single-dose solutions reduce feed mill inventory complexity and dosing errors. AB Enzymes’ “Beta-Max Plus” (β-glucanase + xylanase + phytase) captured 14% of the European broiler market within eight months of its May 2025 launch, particularly in barley-growing regions (UK, Ireland, Scandinavia).
The development of precision fermentation-derived β-glucanase using engineered yeast and bacterial hosts is reducing production costs. Traditional fungal fermentation requires 7–10 days; bacterial fermentation (Bacillus subtilis) reduces cycle time to 48–72 hours. Sunson Industry Group has transitioned 60% of its β-glucanase production to bacterial fermentation, cutting production costs by 22%.
By 2030, we anticipate that feed β-glucanase will be included in over 70% of barley-based compound feeds globally (up from approximately 50% in 2025), with the market exceeding US$ 110 million. The technology will have expanded into new applications, including high-fiber pet foods (where β-glucans from oats and barley contribute to flatulence and soft stools) and equine feeds (where β-glucanase reduces colic and impaction risk).
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