DRIED HERBS MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

Market Size and Trends

The global dried herbs market is estimated to be valued at USD 3.81 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.65 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2024 to 2031.

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The market is witnessing positive trends due to factors such as the growing demand for organic and natural food ingredients among consumers. With rising health awareness, people prefer consuming dried herbs which are considered to have additional health benefits. The trend of using dried herbs and spices for culinary purposes has been increasing globally. Moreover, dried herbs are increasingly being used in various packaged food products and ready-to-eat meals by food processing companies. Changing lifestyles and busy schedules have furthered the demand for convenient packaged food products infused with dried herbs. Growing demand from the food and beverages industry is expected to drive the global dried herbs market during the forecast period.

Expanding Culinary Trends

The globalization of cuisine has increased the popularity of herbs and spices in different cultures worldwide. More people are growing accustomed to new flavors and ingredients beyond their traditional diets. Food networks and online videos have made it easy for home cooks to learn recipes from various international cuisines. This culinary curiosity has heightened the demand for a wide variety of dried herbs and spices. Products that were once only found in niche ethnic grocery stores can now be seen in mainstream supermarkets as well. Food trends that have gained immense popularity like Thai, Indian, and Mexican are helping drive the market for herbs associated with those cuisines like lemongrass, cumin, chili peppers. Lifestyles have also become more fast-paced in many countries pushing the demand for convenience foods that require only a few ingredients and minimal preparation. Dried herbs are well-suited to fulfill this need as they can easily enhance the flavor of pre-made meals, snacks, and ready-to-eat products. Their long shelf-life is also attractive to consumers with increasing health awareness who prefer avoiding preservatives. With continued evolution of multicultural diets and preferences for ease-of-cooking, the global dried herbs market is expected to benefit from the widespread adoption of international flavors.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

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In recent years, there has been considerable consumer interest in avoiding artificial additives, colors, and preservatives in food products. This clean label movement has boosted the demand for ingredients that are natural, organic, and chemical-free. Dried herbs are an attractive option since they do not require extensive processing and contain no artificial components. The dehydration process used for drying herbs helps retain most of their nutritional value as well as flavors and aromas. However, industries also need formulations that perform well and meet consumer expectations. Dried herbs deliver functionality from their natural constituents like antioxidants, antimicrobials, colors, and flavors. This has made them appealing alternatives to synthetic counterparts across many applications from snacks and soups to meat products and baked goods. With consumers increasingly scrutinizing labels and favoring natural ingredients, companies are reformulating existing products or developing new lines featuring clean, dried herbs, and spices. This is expected to create ongoing sales opportunities for companies involved in sourcing, processing, and supplying high-quality dried herbs globally.

Key Takeaways from Analyst:

The global dried herbs market is poised to experience steady growth in the coming years. The market is driven by growing health consciousness among consumers and increasing preference for fresh and natural ingredients in food preparation. Dried herbs are becoming increasingly popular as they allow the use of herbs throughout the year. The growing attraction towards authentic ethnic cuisines across regions is also supporting market expansion.

Irregular supply of specific herbs from certain geographic locations may pose a challenge for manufacturers. Strict quality standards and the risk of contamination also add pressures in the supply chain. The market also faces restraints from the availability of low-cost fresh herb alternatives in some regions.

North America currently dominates the dried herbs market and is expected to retain its leading position, supported by well-established distribution channels and changing consumer preferences towards healthier diets. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific are likely to see hearty growth. The rising disposable incomes and expanding middle-class population are increasing the demand for high-quality dried herbs in these regions.

Market Challenges: Price fluctuations of raw materials

The fluctuating prices of raw materials used in dried herbs is a major challenge adversely impacting the growth of the global dried herbs market. Herbs are agricultural commodities, so their production is heavily dependent on variables like weather conditions, crop yields, and availability of arable land. Significant swings in these factors from season to season directly influence the supply and pricing of raw herbs.

Market Opportunities: Product innovation through new flavors and forms

Product innovation through new flavors and forms presents a major opportunity for growth in the global dried herbs market. With consumers constantly seeking variety in their food and beverages, dried herb producers that experiment with novel flavor profiles and presentations stand to capture more market share. Numerous trends point to the sizable gains that can come from innovation. As people continue traveling the world more than ever, they bring back new culinary inspirations that expand what dried herbs they regularly use. Popular international cuisines like Thai, Indian, and Italian routinely feature herbs not traditionally found in certain regions. This cross-pollination of ingredients increases enthusiasm for testing creative herb blends that merge styles. Younger generations also tend to have more adventurous palates and follow influencers online touting unique flavor pairings from across the globe.

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In terms of product type, bay leaves is expected to contribute 26.0% share of the global dried herbs market in 2024, owing to its widespread culinary and medicinal uses globally. As one of the most commonly used herbs in European, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisine, bay leaves are a staple ingredient in many soups, stews, braised meats and seafood dishes. They impart an aromatic, woodsy flavor that enhances the taste of hearty comfort foods. In traditional medicine as well, bay leaves are highly valued for their anti-inflammatory and digestive health benefits. Steeping them in hot water produces a caffeine-free herbal tea that soothes coughs, cold symptoms and gastrointestinal issues. Moreover, the bay leaf trade benefits from stable production across the Mediterranean region and favorable weather conditions that allow for year-round harvesting. Major suppliers like Turkey, Greece, and Morocco have built reliable global supply chains, ensuring consistent availability of quality bay leaves worldwide.

Insights, by Nature: Organic Offering Greater Health and Environmental Upside

In terms of nature, the organic segment is expected to account for 71.2% share of the global dried herbs market in 2024, due to the growing consumer demand for clean-label products. People are increasingly health-conscious and interested in natural remedies as alternatives to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Organic certification gives them confidence that herbs were grown chemical-free, without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers or GMOs. This perception of higher nutritional value and purity drives premium pricing. At the same time, consumers also consider the environmental impact of their purchases and prefer organic farming methods that replenish rather than deplete soils. The booming organic dried herbs sector affords sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers while conserving biodiversity and traditional cultivation techniques. As public sensitization on wellness and sustainability increases worldwide, more consumers will likely gravitate to certified organic dried herbs options.

Insights, by Application: Food and Beverage Continues to Lead Application Space

In terms of application, the food and beverage segment is expected to generate the strongest demand in the global dried herbs market. This is due to the indispensability of herbs in daily cooking traditions globally with 37.6% of the market share in 2024. From ground spices enhancing curries and chili pastes in Asia Pacific to dried herb blends seasoning potatoes, meats, and pasta dishes in Europe, herbs play a key role in elevating flavors across world cuisines. Busy consumers also rely on dried herbs for convenient ingredients to add flavor and nutrition to homemade meals. The food service industry too depends on dried herbs to craft consistent tastes in restaurant and fast-food operations. Even as novel dried herb products enter cosmetics and pharma, widespread cookery use will ensure the food and beverage segment drives the dried herb market growth. After all, herbs have long been humanity's most trusted natural flavor enhancers to bring appetite, nourishment, and enjoyment to the table.

Regional Insights

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North America has emerged as the largest regional market for dried herbs globally. The region is expected to account for 37.8% of the market share in 2024. The U.S. accounts for the major share due to high consumption and demand for dried herbs in both food and pharmaceutical applications. Strong presence of major food processing companies along with established herbal processing facilities have enabled the consistent supply and availability of diverse dried herbs. Furthermore, the rising popularity of Mediterranean cuisine incorporating more herbs and seasonings has dramatically boosted the sales of dried herbs. Additionally, increasing health consciousness among consumers has fueled the demand for dried herbs for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Asia Pacific represents the fastest growing regional market for dried herbs worldwide. Countries like India and China are at the forefront of market expansion attributable to rising disposable incomes, growing health awareness, and shifting preference towards herb-based cuisines and home-cooked meals. In India, extensive use of dried herbs and spices in preparations of daily food items as well as Ayurvedic and herbal medicines has been a principal factor for market growth. Meanwhile in China, dried herbs are ubiquitously used in traditional Chinese medicine to offer therapeutic benefits. Additionally, improving production agronomy and processing techniques in these developing Asian countries are enabling higher yields and quality of dried herbs for domestic consumption as well as exports.

Market Report Scope

Key Developments

• In 2023, Dabur Vatika launched ‘rosemary hair growth oil with hibiscus & coconut oil’
• In 2023, Aliver's latest rosemary oil product line was launched in the European market with tremendous response
• In 2021, NatureCode launched a new range of dry herbs and Ayurvedic wellness products

*Definition: The global dried herbs market refers to the worldwide business of producing, processing, packaging, and distributing various types of dried herbs. It includes dried herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, savory, and bay leaves which are used worldwide in cooking, seasoning, flavoring, and preserving foods. Dried herbs have a longer shelf life compared to fresh herbs and are therefore popular with commercial food manufacturers and consumers.

Market Segmentation

• Product Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Oregano
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Savory
  • Mint
  • Thyme
  • Bay Leaves
  • Others
• Nature Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Organic
  • Conventional
• Application Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Food and Beverage
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Cosmetics and Personal Care
  • Others
• Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • Spain
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
    • GCC Countries
    • Israel
    • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
  • Mevive International
  • All-Season Herbs Pvt. Ltd.
  • British Pepper & Spice Company
  • McCormick and Company, Inc.
  • DF World of Spices GmbH
  • Koninklijke Euroma BV
  • Paulig Group
  • Olam International
  • Kräuter Mix GmbH
  • RAMÓN SABATER S.A.U.
  • Naturalin
  • Husarich GmbH
  • Royal Spices
  • Elite Spice
  • U.S. Spice Mills Inc.
  • Verstegen Spices & Sauces B.V.
  • Aum Agri Freeze Foods
  • Aadhunik Ayurveda
  • Flex Foods
  • Saipro Biotech Private Limited