D-Limonene is a naturally occurring biodegradable solvent and is one of the most common citrus terepenes. It is a major constituent in many citrus oils and is commonly found in lemons, oranges, mandarin, lime and grapefruit. Limonene is available in the market in the form of commercial juices for consumption as well as in fragrances due to its volatile nature and lemony aroma. The D-Limonene products market is expected to grow at a rapid rate due to its varying applications in the health, dietary, cleaning and chemical industries.
D-Limonene is an effective and relatively safe cleaning solvent, and is used in many industries as a cleansing agent especially in industries that use oil and grease extensively. As the limonene is and organic solvent it performs better than water based solvent and can be utilized as a noncaustic and nonreactive surface cleaner. The D-Limonene market is driven by various factors such as its anti rusting and anti corrosive properties, its varied applications in industrial cleaning and its bio degradable and organic nature. The increase in awareness about human safety in working environment and the rising environmental concerns are also driving the limonene market as it is neither hazardous to users nor an environmental pollutant. The growing demand for aerosol propellants and petrochemical derived solvents is expected to further boost the D-Limonene market in coming years. As the limonene is currently regulated as a volatile organic compound (VOC), its usage is graded as non toxic and hazardous.
There has been a steep increase in the popularity of personal care products and cleansers owing to health concerns culminating into a growing demand for dietary supplements. D-Limonene has many anti-oxidant properties and is non carcinogenic or mutagenic, which makes it an ideal option for numerous supplements and medicinal nutrients. This is helping the limonene find novel applications everyday leading to market growth.
Though the D-Limonene market is growing at a rapid rate, the market is dominated by the fluctuating price trends, affecting manufacturers and blenders all over the world. As the production of limonene primarily depends on agricultural output, the weather and natural conditions may create challenges for the growth and price management in the market. Also there is impending threat from the Myralene solvent which is available at lower costs and similar properties.
The U.S. market is the largest market for limonene in terms of use and revenue and is expected to remain so in coming years. European region is also a developed market for D-Limonene and limonene products but the Central and South American market is anticipated to be the fastest growing market. This is mainly attributed to the emerging economy of Brazil and the orange production and export.
The limonene market is characterized by many industry participants such as, Moellhausen SPA, Florida Chemical Company, Lemon Consentrate S.L., XR-2000, Inc., Schepise Chemical Sales, LLC, Orchidia Fragrances, Sharp Methanol India Ltd, Citroflavor Essential Oils, Hunter Sales, Inc., EZclean and Frutech International. The major focus of these companies is to achieve lower prices and to develop products with niche application and their investments are driven in the same direction.
In 2015, the D-Limonene market was adversely affected by the Endemic Citrus Greening, a disease affecting all types of oranges, tangerine and its derivatives especially the Central and South American produce. This situation created a dramatic rise in the world-wide prices and a steep decline in the supply and production of limonene and its derivatives.
