Gelatin Market: "Big Fish" Emerges, the East is Bright!
According to data from Syntun, since China’s collagen protein market surpassed 30 billion yuan in 2022, the market is expected to maintain an average annual growth rate of around 34%, and is projected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2026. This rapid growth has naturally attracted the entry of numerous domestic and international giants, with "big players" gradually emerging in the industry. Among them, "Audima" has gained increasing recognition as it continues to expand its presence in the fish gelatin and collagen protein sectors.
1. Rapid Growth of the Fish Collagen Protein Market
Market analysis by Market Monitor indicates that the global fish collagen peptide market was valued at 785 million USD in 2023 and is expected to grow to 1.271 billion USD by 2033. The Asia-Pacific region holds a dominant position in the global fish collagen peptide market. Growing consumer demand for skin and bone health has accelerated the growth of fish collagen protein in the Asia-Pacific region, driving the rapid development of related nutritional and health products.
2. Rapid Development of Fish Scale Gelatin
Fish collagen protein primarily comes from fish scales and skins. Collagen protein extracted from fish scales mainly comes from tilapia, which is highly adaptable to various environments and grows quickly under controlled farming conditions, lowering the cost of collagen extraction. According to the "2022-2026 China Fish Collagen Peptide Project Investment Feasibility Study Report" published by Xinsi Jie Industry Research Center, tilapia production in China has been on the rise over the past five years. In 2016, tilapia production in China was 1.55 million tons, increasing to 1.71 million tons by 2020. China also has a large tilapia processing capacity, with 600,000 tons of tilapia processed in 2022. Due to labor cost constraints, many large fish processing plants are gradually relocating to China, driving large-scale fish collagen protein production in the country.
Against this backdrop, Guangdong Audima Bioengineering Co., Ltd. has been gradually expanding its production in the fish gelatin and fish collagen protein sectors, with an annual production capacity of 3,000 tons of fish scale gelatin. Audima is located on the Leizhou Peninsula in the South China Sea, near the borders of Hainan Province, Guangxi Autonomous Region, and Guangdong Province. The company benefits from convenient transportation by sea, land, and air, a mild climate, and abundant aquatic resources, with a well-developed tilapia farming industry and rich fish scale raw material resources.
In Maoming, Guangdong, tilapia production accounts for one-third of Guangdong's total, one-seventh of China's total, and one-twelfth of the global total, providing a significant geographical advantage and scale in the industry.
As recorded in the ancient Chinese dictionary *Shuowen*, "scales are the armor of fish." Just as no two human fingerprints are identical, no two fish scales are exactly the same. Experienced fishermen can even deduce a fish’s age and growth patterns by examining its scales. Fish scale jelly has been a traditional food for fishermen and a medicinal ingredient. Historically in China, fish scale gelatin has been regarded as the "top of the Four Great Gels," followed by deer antler gelatin, turtle shell gelatin, and donkey-hide gelatin.
Modern research has found that fish scales and skins are rich in type I and type III collagen molecules. As a result, around 85% of collagen products are derived from fish scales and skins. Fish scale collagen protein not only helps with skin health but also offers significant benefits for bone health. A recent study published in *Biofabrication* documented how teams from Illinois Institute of Technology and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg used 3D printing technology to apply “fish scale gelatin” in bone repair.
3. The Big Fish Emerges, and the East is Bright
In addition to the annual production of 3,000 tons of fish gelatin, Audima’s production capacity for hide gelatin reaches 7,000 tons, and 2,500 tons of collagen protein. In the second half of 2024, it plans to produce 10,000 tons of beef bone gelatin. The company covers an area of 90,000 square meters, with a building area of 40,000 square meters. The production plant is designed and built according to GMP standards. The production line is automated, and the overall gelatin production equipment is at an advanced level in China. The product quality remains stable. Audima has received certifications for HACCP, ISO9001, ISO22000, and FSSC22000 quality management systems, as well as food safety systems, halal and kosher certifications for its fish gelatin and collagen protein. The company has also obtained EU market access for its fish gelatin products. Audima’s products are sold to over 40 countries and regions, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, South America, New Zealand, and the European Union. The company has been recognized by the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Department and awarded the title of "Guangdong Provincial Fish Gelatin and Collagen Peptide Engineering Technology Research Center."
Similar to many other core raw materials, the collagen protein market has matured after years of consumer education and cultivation. The rapidly growing market has attracted a wide array of competitors, including international giants. At the same time, more and more domestic companies are now focusing on the collagen protein and gelatin sectors. In this competitive environment, the “big fish” continue to leap out of the water, showcasing the brilliance of the East.
"The original article is from New Nutrition, reprinted from New Nutrition."
