Bay leaf is an aromatic dried leaf of bay tree, majorly cultivated in the Mediterranean region. Bay leaf finds its major application as culinary herb for flavor in food preparation. Apart from cooking, it also possesses medicinal benefits and used to control blood sugar level, kidney stones, appetite stimulant, and others. Bay leaf has high content of lauric acid, which is used to produce insect repellant.

Market Dynamics:-

Bay leaf finds its major application in food & beverages industry for the seasoning of processed and cooked foods owing to its great flavor and health benefits. It is also used in beverages to enhance taste and nutritional value. Growing demand for processed food & beverages owing to increasing population and changing lifestyle is expected to propel demand for bay leaf during the forecasted period. For instance, according to Institute for Plant and Food Research, New Zealand, global food & beverages industry was pegged at US$ 5.8 trillion in 2016, and expected to reach US$ 20 trillion by 2030, with 5% annual growth.

Bay leaf contains 1.5-2.5% essential oil by weight, which has various applications in the cosmetics and personal care industry. It is used in shampoo and oil to treat dandruff, Bay leaf oil is also used in soaps and detergents. Growing cosmetics & personal care industry is expected to provide major traction to global bay leaf industry. For instance, according to European Commission, Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, in 2016, the cosmetic industry in Europe was valued at US$ 115.44 billion, which is expected to reach US$ 178.8 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 4.45%.

Market Outlook:-

Europe held the dominance in the consumption of bay leaf in the global market, owing to its multiple applications in food & beverages, pharmaceutical and personal care & cosmetics industries in the region. The region is also expected to witness high growth rate in the bay leaf market during the forecast period. For instance, according to Eurostat Database 2018, Germany imported 409 tons of bay leaves in 2015, which increased to 522 tons in 2017.

Key Developments:-

In June 2018, Naturevibe Botanicals entered in Indian market with launch of herbal powders. The company will eventually launch 30-40 products which will include spices and herbal tea. The company also plans to expand its presence in Australia and Europe.
In June 2019, Feragaia launched its non-alcoholic spirit in U.K. market. The spirit contains 14 botanicals including bay leaf, seaweed, and chamomile and is hand-blended.
In 2016, bay leaf became the first medicinal plant from state of Uttarakhand, India which got registered at geographical indicator registry office (Chennai, India). The bay leaf of Uttarakhand is known as sweet Tej Patta and is used for making ayurvedic formulations. The geographical indicator registration will help in increasing demand for bay leaf.

Key Players in the Global Bay Leaf Market:-

Key players operating in the global bay leaf market include Augustus Oils Ltd., Alpina Organic Company, Naturevibe Botanicals, Zizira, McCormick & Company Inc., Masterfoods Australia New Zealand Ltd., Aldera Co. Ltd., Hoby Agriculture and Forest Product Co. Ltd., Mountain Rose Inc. and Pacific Spice Company Inc.

Market Taxonomy:-

On the basis of form, the global bay leaf market is segmented into:

Whole leaf
Powder
Oil

On the basis of type, the global bay leaf market is segmented into:

California Bay Leaf
Mexican Bay Leaf
Indonesian Laurel
Indian Bay Leaf
Bay Laurel
Indonesian Bay Leaf
West Indian Bay Leaf

On the basis of application, the global bay leaf market is segmented into

Food & Beverages
Pharmaceutical
Cosmetics & Personal Care
Nutraceutical

On the basis of distribution channel, the global bay leaf market is segmented into:

Hypermarket
Supermarket
Online
Convenience stores
Others

On the basis of region, the global bay leaf market is segmented into:

Asia Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- ASEAN
- Australia
- South Korea
- Rest of Asia Pacific
North America
- U.S.
- Canada
- Mexico
Europe
- U.K.
- Germany
- France
- Spain
- Italy
- Russia
- Rest of Europe
South America
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Rest of South America
Middle East
Africa

About Author

Pankaj Poddar is a seasoned market research consultant with over 12 years of extensive experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and plastics material industries. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration with specialization in Marketing from Nirma University, one of India’s reputed institutions, which has equipped him with a solid foundation in strategic marketing and consumer behavior.

As a Senior Consultant at CMI for the past three years, he has been instrumental in harnessing his comprehensive understanding of market dynamics to provide our clients with actionable insights and strategic guidance. Throughout his career, He has developed a robust expertise in several key areas, including market estimation, competitive analysis, and the identification of emerging industry trends. His approach is grounded in a commitment to understanding client needs thoroughly and fostering collaborative relationships. His dedication to excellence and innovation solidifies his role as a trusted advisor in the ever-evolving landscape of not only FMCG but also chemicals and materials markets.