Annato Seed Extraction Plant Manufacturers, Capacity: 100 TPD

1. DESCRIPTION

• Annatto is a natural food colorant and flavoring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa Orellana), native to tropical America and widely naturalized in India.
• Color: Yellow to orange-red due to carotenoids (mainly bixin & norbixin).
• Flavor & Aroma: Slightly peppery, nutty, and sweet, with hints of nutmeg.
• Forms: Seeds, powder, paste, oil-soluble, and water-soluble extracts.
• Uses: Food coloring, cosmetics, and traditional medicine.

2. CULTIVATION & AVAILABILITY

• Grown mainly in Southern India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala) and also Orissa, Assam, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.
• Thrives in warm, dry climates; unsuitable for wet/foggy regions.
• Harvesting: Seeds extracted from spiky pods, dried, and ground.
• Markets: Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (~180–250 tonnes/year). Available in local markets such as Tuni, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
• Seeds are processed and stored, ensuring year-round availability.

3. USES

• Annatto is primarily used as a natural food coloring, imparting a yellow to orange hue, but it also offers various health benefits and has traditional uses beyond food.
• Derived from the seeds of the achiote tree, used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

• Food Coloring:
  • Popular natural colorant replacing synthetic dyes in cheese, butter, ice cream, baked goods.
  • Provides vibrant yellow to orange colour with a subtle nutty, peppery, or floral aroma/flavour.
  • Available as powder, paste, liquid, oil-soluble, and water-soluble extracts.
• Health Benefits:
  • Rich in carotenoids (antioxidants) that protect cells from free radical damage.
  • Traditional uses: fever, burns, skin diseases.
  • Supports heart health, reduces inflammation, age-related cardiac issues.
  • Helps with stomach issues, fever, headaches.
  • Believed to have antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties.
• Other Uses:
  • Used as a cosmetic (hair, body painting) in cultural traditions.
  • Traditional remedy for snake bites and poison antidote.
  • Seeds used as insect repellent.
  • Applied to rice, pasta, poultry, sauces, and more.
  • Cosmetics: lipsticks, body paints.

4. PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

• pH Adjustments:
  • Affects color stability and solubility.
  • Stabilized with acidic (acetic acid) or alkaline (sodium hydroxide) conditions.
• Precipitation Method:
  • Alkaline extraction dissolves bixin, acidification precipitates pigments.
  • Produces ~25% bixin powder.
• Purification:
  • Defatting (hexane), filtration, centrifugation, solvent extraction.
  • Recrystallization, thin-layer chromatography, aqueous two-phase extraction.

5. MARKET OVERVIEW

• Global Market Size (2024): USD 233.6 Million.
• Forecast (2033): USD 337.2 Million (CAGR 4.15%).
• Drivers: Demand for natural food colorants, clean-label products, supportive regulations, health-conscious consumers.
• Trends: Expansion in processed food, cosmetics, organic farming, innovations in extraction.
• Geographic Trends:
  • Europe: Largest market due to strict synthetic dye regulations.
  • Asia-Pacific: Fastest growing, driven by processed food demand.
• Challenges: Raw material fluctuations, competition from synthetic dyes.
• Opportunities: Rising demand for organic and non-GMO ingredients.

6. MARKET SEGMENTATION

• By Product Type: Annatto-bixin (oil-soluble, butter, cheese, snacks); Annatto-norbixin (water-soluble, beverages, dairy, confectionery).
• By Nature: Organic (largest share) vs. Conventional.
• By Form: Processed (liquid, powder, extract – largest) vs. Raw.
• By Sales Channel: B2B dominant (food, cosmetics, pharma industries).
• By Region: Europe leads; Asia-Pacific, North America, Latin America also significant.

7. KEY PLAYERS

• Aarkay Food Products
• AICAcolor
• Amerilure Inc.
• Biocon Del Peru S.A.
• DDW The Color House (Givaudan)
• Kalsec Inc.
• Others: Mergers, acquisitions, R&D, sustainable sourcing strategies.