Stevia Market Trends: Plant-Based Sweeteners, Health-Driven Consumption & Forecast to 2034

Rising health consciousness, busy lifestyles, and demand for natural alternatives are fueling stevia's momentum, supported by clean-label trends, innovation in taste profiles, and expanding distribution through retail and e-commerce channels. According to IMARC Group's latest data, the global stevia market was valued at USD 873.8 Million in 2025. Looking forward, IMARC Group estimates the market to reach USD 1,525.6 Million by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.39% from 2026-2034.

Stevia represents a rapidly expanding segment within the global sweetener market, now valued at close to USD 820 million and showing consistent upward momentum. Growth is powered by rising health awareness, increased scrutiny of sugar consumption linked to diabetes and obesity, and surging interest in plant-based, zero-calorie alternatives with clean-label credentials. Product innovation in high-purity steviol glycosides like Reb M and Reb D has significantly improved taste profiles, addressing the historic aftertaste challenge. Major application areas include beverages, tabletop sweeteners, food products, and pharmaceuticals, with powder extracts leading at 67.3% market share due to superior shelf stability and ease of formulation.

Stevia Market Growth Drivers:

• Rising Health Awareness and Sugar Reduction Mandates

Consumers worldwide are prioritizing wellness and actively seeking alternatives to traditional sugar amid growing concerns about obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. Over 537 million people globally live with diabetes, a figure the International Diabetes Federation projects will reach 151.5 million in South-East Asia alone by 2045. In the United States, more than 40% of adults face obesity, with 23% of those also managing diabetes, according to the CDC. These health challenges are driving demand for zero-calorie, plant-based sweeteners like stevia. Government initiatives reinforce this trend sugar taxes in the UK, France, and other markets push manufacturers to reformulate products, while industry commitments like UNESDA's 10% sugar reduction pledge accelerate adoption.

• Innovation in Taste Technology and Product Formulations

Technological breakthroughs in stevia processing are addressing the historic aftertaste challenge that once limited widespread adoption. Companies are investing heavily in developing superior-tasting glycosides like Reb M and Reb D, which offer sugar-like sweetness without bitterness. In July 2024, Tate & Lyle launched Optimizer Stevia 8.1, delivering the taste profile closest to sugar yet at lower cost than premium sweeteners. Ingredion introduced PURECIRCLE Clean Taste Solubility Solution (CTSS) in April 2024, a breakthrough ingredient 100 times more soluble than standard Reb M, enabling complete sugar reduction with no additives.

• Expanding Applications Across Multiple Industries

Stevia's application portfolio continues broadening beyond traditional tabletop sweeteners into diverse categories including beverages, dairy, bakery, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Beverages represent the largest segment, capturing 35% of market value, with major brands like Coca-Cola reformulating Fanta and Sprite using stevia to achieve significant portfolio sugar reductions. The pharmaceutical sector increasingly uses stevia in syrups, chewable tablets, and vitamins to improve palatability without compromising health benefits. Sports nutrition is witnessing notable growth brands leverage stevia's heat stability and zero-calorie properties in protein powders and energy drinks, with roughly 15% of products now incorporating stevia as the primary sweetener.

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Stevia Market Trends:

• Bioconversion and Fermentation Technologies Transforming Production

Advanced production technologies are revolutionizing how stevia reaches the market, with bioconversion and precision fermentation enabling efficient, sustainable manufacturing of high-purity steviol glycosides. Cargill's EverSweet platform uses closed-loop corn-sugar feedstock to produce Reb M and Reb D through fermentation, significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to traditional leaf extraction. Ingredion expanded its bioconversion facility in Malaysia to scale these advanced capabilities, while obtaining FDA GRAS approval in May 2025 for enzyme-modified glycosides strengthened regulatory confidence. These biotechnology approaches deliver cost advantages over conventional leaf processing while improving taste consistency and ingredient quality.

• Strategic Consolidation and Vertical Integration

Market leaders are pursuing vertical integration and strategic acquisitions to secure supply chains and control high-purity ingredient production. Ingredion consolidated its position with an 88% stake in PureCircle, complemented by a USD 100 million bioconversion facility investment. Tate & Lyle completed a USD 1.8 billion acquisition of CP Kelco in November 2024, integrating hydrocolloids into its sweetener portfolio for enhanced cross-selling in dairy and beverage markets. The company also partnered with Manus in October 2024 to launch the first large-scale, all-Americas-sourced stevia Reb M ingredient, improving supply chain security.

• Clean-Label Reformulation Becoming Standard Practice

Product reformulation with stevia is shifting from tactical sugar reduction to standardized ingredient architecture across multi-SKU platforms. Manufacturers increasingly treat stevia as a permanent ingredient choice rather than experimental alternative, with procurement programs emphasizing performance consistency and supply continuity. Nearly 58% of beverage manufacturers now rely on stevia for sugar reduction initiatives, standardizing formulations that can replicate across production facilities and regions. Private-label and upstart brands in hydration and sports drinks embrace stevia as a market differentiator's iPRO Hydrate expanded across European markets with naturally sweetened, sugar-free sports drinks, securing listings in major retail chains.

Recent News and Developments in Stevia Market

• February 2025: S&W Seed Company launched the first U.S. commercial stevia planting program in California' San Joaquin Valley, partnering with PureCircle Limited on an initial 100-acre site with strategic expansion plans targeting 1,000 acres. The initiative addresses mechanization challenges in domestic stevia cultivation and develops viable profit models for American farmers, reducing dependence on international supply chains while supporting local agriculture.
• December 2024: Tate & Lyle formed a strategic partnership with BioHarvest to develop next-generation plant-based ingredients, initially focusing on botanical sweeteners like stevia. The collaboration leverages BioHarvest's proprietary Botanical Synthesis platform to deliver sugar-like taste without aftertaste, utilizing non-GMO, sustainable technology that requires significantly less land and water than traditional cultivation methods.
• November 2024: Tate & Lyle completed its USD 1.8 billion acquisition of CP Kelco, creating a leading global specialty food and beverage solutions business. The integration combines Tate & Lyle's sweetening expertise with CP Kelco's hydrocolloid capabilities, enabling enhanced cross-selling opportunities in dairy, beverage, and fortification applications while expanding the company's portfolio of natural ingredient solutions.

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