Global Liquorice Root Extract Market Strategic Research Report

Scope of the Report

The global Liquorice Root Extract market size is predicted to grow from US$ 476 million in 2025 to US$ 745 million in 2032; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2026 to 2032.

In 2025, global sales volume of liquorice root extract reached 23,000 metric tons, with an average price of $21,053 per ton.

Liquorice root extract is a natural plant extract obtained from the dried roots and rhizomes of plants in the Glycyrrhiza genus (Fabaceae family)—primarily Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Glycyrrhiza inflata—using processes such as water extraction, alcohol extraction, or supercritical fluid extraction. It is rich in active ingredients such as glycyrrhizin, liquiritin, isoliquiritin, glabridin (specific to Glycyrrhiza glabra), and flavonoids, offering multiple benefits including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, skin-brightening, soothing, and liver-protective properties, as well as natural sweetness.

The raw materials for liquorice root extract are primarily derived from the roots of Glycyrrhiza species (e.g., G. glabra, G. uralensis). Major production areas are concentrated in China's Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu regions, as well as in Central and South Asian countries such as Iran, Uzbekistan, and India. China is the world's largest supplier of liquorice raw materials; in recent years, the "contract farming" model has covered over 18,000 hectares of cultivation area, securing the supply for nearly 52% of large-scale B2B procurement contracts. Harvesting relies mainly on wild resources supplemented by cultivated crops; wild liquorice requires 3–5 years of growth (5–8 years for G. glabra) to meet medicinal standards. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin content fluctuates significantly depending on the origin and harvest year (typically ranging from 2% to 12%), making quality consistency a primary challenge for the industry. Cold-storage and low-humidity warehousing infrastructure—maintaining humidity levels below 12%—can reduce post-harvest losses by 22%. The cost structure is primarily composed of raw material procurement (approx. 35%–45%), extraction and processing (approx. 25%–35%), quality testing and standardization (approx. 10%–15%), packaging and logistics (approx. 8%–12%), and R&D and compliance costs (approx. 5%–10%). Fluctuations in raw material prices are the most critical factor affecting total costs, significantly influenced by climatic conditions, the risk of wild resource depletion, and harvesting policies. In the processing stage, traditional solvent extraction offers lower costs but entails high solvent consumption; conversely, emerging technologies such as spray drying and membrane filtration—despite requiring higher initial investment—can boost extraction efficiency by 18% and reduce solvent consumption by 27%, effectively lowering the cost per ton processed in the long run. For pharmaceutical-grade and standardized extracts, additional costs for purification, testing, and certification (e.g., GMP and pharmacopoeia compliance) significantly drive up the final price; pharmaceutical-grade costs are typically 2–3 times those of food-grade products. Meanwhile, ultra-high-purity cosmetic-grade extracts (such as glabridin) represent the most extreme cost structure: due to raw material scarcity (yielding only 100g from 1 ton of plant material) and complex purification processes, raw material costs account for as much as 50%–60% of the total.

Key Questions Addressed in this Report

What is the 10-year outlook for the global Liquorice Root Extract market?

What factors are driving Liquorice Root Extract market growth, globally and by region?

Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?

How do Liquorice Root Extract market opportunities vary by end market size?

How does Liquorice Root Extract break out by Type, by Application?

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the global Liquorice Root Extract market, covering market size and forecast, segmentation by product type and application, competitive landscape, leading players and regional and country-level outlook.

Segment by Type

• Pharmaceutical Grade
• Food Grade
• Feed Grade
• Others

Segment by Product Form

• Powder
• Fluid Extract
• Solid Extract Block
• Other

Segment by Extraction Method

• Solvent Extraction
• Supercritical CO₂ Extraction
• Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction
• Membrane Separation/Ceramic Membrane Ultrafiltration

Segment by Application

• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Food Industry
• Cosmetic Industry
• Others

Who Can Use This Report?

This report is written for decision-makers who need a clear, data-backed view of the global Liquorice Root Extract market:

• Manufacturers, suppliers and solution providers benchmarking their position and planning product, capacity and go-to-market strategy
• Distributors, channel partners and end users in Pharmaceutical Industry, Food Industry, Cosmetic Industry evaluating demand and sourcing options
• Investors, financial analysts and consultants assessing growth opportunities, competitive dynamics and M&A potential
• Government agencies, industry associations and research institutions tracking industry developments and policy impact