INTRODUCTION
STUDY OBJECTIVES
This technical/marketing report updates a previous BCC Research study on commercial essential amino acids. Further, this study examines the current state of the commercial essential amino acid business, and presents an in-depth analysis that forecasts and tracks significant changes in the marketplace and identifies those amino acids with current or potentially greater commercial significance.
REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY
Commercial interest in amino acids is an outgrowth of an understanding of the many functions that these life-giving substances perform in humans and animals. As understanding of the functions and properties of amino acids increases, new commercial applications enter development, while current commercial uses continue to expand their markets on a worldwide basis. New production technology continues to make large-scale production of these products more economical. In turn, increased availability creates newer and larger markets for these vital substances.
Amino acids gained commercial significance shortly after the turn of the century with the discovery of the flavor-enhancing quality of glutamic acid and the marketing of monosodium glutamate in Japan. Increased knowledge of the role amino acids play in the value of nutritional protein led to their being used to fortify animal feeds, as food supplements for humans, and to sustain seriously ill patients who had to be fed with intravenous solutions.
Since the 20 protein amino acids can be arranged in any order to make any number of polypeptides, their potential for a variety of inventions in the field of medicine is extraordinary. Their current uses in animal feed and food additives will continue to grow as there are no substitutes for amino acids and their value has been well proven.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This comprehensive study provides facts, data, and insights to senior market and planning executives, venture capitalists and for the amino acid product interest community. It will assist manufacturers of products in any of the applicable markets, as well as technical personnel involved in research and development of production technology for commercial amino acids. This especially includes readers in:
- The chemical industry
- Research institutions involved with studying amino acids
- Amino acid manufacturing
- Industries that have amino acid byproducts
SCOPE OF REPORT
This technical/market report outlines the properties of the 20 commercial essential amino acids that are delineated in the genetic code, current and future uses, technology, and their manufacturers. This report focuses on three commercial amino acid markets: animal feed supplements, flavoring and nutritional additives for human food, and specialty uses including medical, therapeutic, research, and industrial applications. Feed and food applications offer steady growth opportunities to their manufacturers and their use will continue to grow both as a result of population increases and an overall increase in the worldwide standard of living.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Much of the information in this technical/marketing report has been gathered through telephone conversations with key industry figures, as well as conversations with some of the academic experts in amino acid research. The balance of the information comes from available trade, technical, and government publications as well as an on-line data search of databases that cover all existing literature, and an evaluation of patents and company/research activities, including foreign work with future applicability in the U.S.
All value of shipments and value of manufacturers’ sales refer to specific markets in the U.S. International figures are given where appropriate. Volume and value figures are expressed in millions of pounds (lb/MM) and millions of dollars ($/MM) unless otherwise indicated. All figures are expressed in constant 2008 U.S. dollars. To make projections for the 2008 time period, the report relies on information regarding forces affecting specific markets, expected product introductions, and anticipated pricing.
Where precise information was not forthcoming in some cases, a consensus was reached using a formulation of reasonable assumptions and estimates based on historical data. Projections are for the 2008 to 2013 time period.
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
The author of this report, Colleen S. Spiegel, is a chemical engineer with a broad background in the chemical and electronics industry. Spiegel is an engineering consultant for several industries. She has been an R&D manager and chemical engineer for more than 7 years, and her expertise is in the areas of design and modeling. Mrs. Spiegel has worked in several areas of research and process development and was instrumental in establishing new ideas for several companies. She also is the author of, “Designing and Building Fuel Cells” (McGraw-Hill, 2007).
Mrs. Spiegel has a BSChE and MSChE in chemical engineering, and a PhD in electrical engineering, all from the University of South Florida. She is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE), the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the National Association of Science Writers (NASW).
Report Code: BIO007H, Published: January 2009, Analyst: Colleen Spiegel
