CAGR: 6%Current Market Size: USD 13 BillionFastest Growing Region: APAC
Largest Market: North AmericaProjection Time: 2023-2030Base Year: 2022
The global food thickeners market is expected to grow from USD 13 billion in 2022 to USD 20.7 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6% during the Projection period 2023-2030. The growth of the food thickeners market is mainly driven by the changing consumer preference.
Food thickeners are chemicals that are added to food to enhance its consistency. Food thickeners are substances that raise the viscosity of a liquid without altering its characteristics. They are also used to change the texture of food and impart a creamy flavor to it. They are used as a food additive to increase the product's suspension and emulsification in order to stabilize it. Food thickeners are widely employed in a variety of food and beverage products, including food pulps, sauces, energy drinks, soups, puddings, and so on. Cornstarch, Agar-Agar, arrowroot, and gelatin are all examples of food thickeners. The fundamental benefit of employing food thickeners is that entirely solid food might induce choking during swallowing, whereas thickened liquid passes so readily that nutrients are not absorbed by the body; thus, food thickeners are employed to maintain balance. Recently, the demand for processed foods has increased rapidly. For example, the bakery industry is one of the primary targets of the food-thickening market, and there has recently been a surge in the consumption of bakery products (increasing demands, easy availability, and Food Vlogging). This opens up a wide range of market opportunities.
Sample Request: - Global Food Thickeners Market
Market Dynamics:
Drivers:
The rising demand for thickening agents such as agar in the bread and confectionary industries is propelling the food thickener market forward. Because agar gels can survive high temperatures, they have gained popularity as a thickening and stabilizer in icings, pie fillings, and meringues. Some agars, especially derived from Gracilaria chilensis, are commonly utilized in high-sugar confectionery goods such as fruit candies. Agar is widely used in the bakery and confectionary industries because it has no taste and does not alter the flavor of the dish. Food thickeners are in high demand because of their expanding use in the bread and confectionery industries.
Restraints:
The high cost of food thickeners is projected to stifle market expansion throughout the Projection period. Food thickeners such as starch-based fast food thickeners, liquid xanthan gum-based gel thickeners, powdered xanthan gum thickeners, and others.
Opportunities:
Various initiatives and promotions are implemented by government agencies and organizations to promote a healthy lifestyle, which is projected to generate growth possibilities for the market over the Projection period. Some of the schemes include the introduction of healthy and new goods that aid in the reduction of obesity, diabetes, and cholesterol levels, hence assisting in the growth of the market. The presence of a large consumer base for the food and beverage industry, together with the industry's rapid growth, is expected to promote market growth over the Projection period.
Challenges:
Because of the growing need for emulsifiers, gelling agents, and restaurants in the food and beverage industries, the food thickeners sector is highly competitive. However, the leading players in the food thickeners market face severe rivalry from local and small market players who offer low-cost and customized goods based on buyer specifications, which is projected to limit market growth throughout the Projection period. Local market players have strong penetration in certain locations, but inconsistent demand for food thickeners presents a challenge to small firms. As a result, high competition is projected to impede market growth over the Projection period.
Segmentation Analysis:
The global food thickeners market has been segmented based on type, source, application, and region.
By Type
The type segment is protein, hydrocolloids, and starch. The hydrocolloids segment led the largest share of the food thickeners market with a market share of around 40.23% in 2022. Alginate, pectin, guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan gum, xanthan gum, and beta-glucan are some of the hydrocolloids used as food thickeners. The fiber-rich characteristic of hydrocolloids under low pH increases their application in the food and beverage industries. Hydrocolloids are widely used as food additives and thickeners, such as a sugar substitute in whipped creams and steamed bread, a wheat flour substitute in cookies, a bulking agent in ice cream and yogurt, a coating material in nuts and dried fish, a food stabilizer in whipped cream, and a starch dispersion agent in rice.
By Source
The source is plant, animal, and microbial. The plant segment led the largest share of the food thickeners market with a market share of around 45.48% in 2022. Plant-based ingredients are the most commonly utilized ingredients in most applications, including bakery, confectionery, and ready-to-eat meals, due to their high efficacy and reasonable pricing. Cornstarch, rice flour, tapioca, agar, xanthan gum, and pectin are some of the most often used plant-based food thickeners. Food thickeners made from plants are sustainable and in high demand from customers, owing to the growing trend of veganism and vegetarian diets, particularly in bakeries, confectionery, and processed food. The cheap availability of raw materials for the production of plant-based food thickeners, together with customer preference for the product, is likely to drive the segment over the Projection period.
By Application
The application segment is bakery, sauces & dips, confectionery, convenience & processed food, beverages, and others. The bakery segment led the largest share of the food thickeners market with a market share of around 25.56% in 2022. Due to the ability of agar gels to survive high temperatures, agar is gaining importance as a stabilizer and thickener in pie fillings, icings, and meringues, and demand for thickening agents such as agar has been seen with a rising trend in the baking and confectionery industry. Some agars, particularly those derived from Gracilaria chilensis, are widely used in high-sugar confectionaries, such as fruit candy. Because agar has no taste and does not interfere with the flavors of meals, its use in food and beverage items is increasing dramatically.
Global Food Thickeners Market - Sales Analysis.
The sale of the food thickeners market expanded at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2016 to 2022.
Continuous product innovation, shifting consumer tastes for high-quality products, and strengthened government food regulations are all projected to boost the market growth. Favorable government rules linked to the expansion of the food and beverage industry are expected to boost demand during the Projection period. Various government agencies and non-governmental organizations have established and implemented programs to promote healthy living. These plans include the launch of novel healthy goods to combat diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol levels, hence increasing industry demand. The robust growth of the food and beverage industry, combined with the presence of a large consumer base, is expected to raise product consumption over the Projection period.
Thus, owing to the aforementioned factors, the global food thickeners market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6% during the Projection period from 2023 to 2030.
By Regional Analysis:
The regions analyzed for the food thickeners market include North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. North America region dominated the food thickeners market and held a 38.2% share of the market revenue in 2022.
Global Food Thickeners Market - Country Analysis:
Germany's food thickeners market size was valued at USD 0.75 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 1.19 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2030. Due to the increased need for the baking and confectionary industries in the region. Rising demand for energy drinks and packaged juices will further drive market expansion during the Projection period. The region's food thickeners industry benefits from a growing consumer market for packaged meals, beverages, dairy, and dairy products.
China’s food thickeners market size was valued at USD 0.78 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 1.26 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2023 to 2030. Due to the high food safety rules of the regulatory bodies in China. Furthermore, good application of these food rules helps greatly to the growth of the regional market. Furthermore, rising awareness of the necessity of food thickeners among food product makers drives regional market expansion.
India's food thickeners market size was valued at USD 0.60 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 0.96 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2023 to 2030. Because of the presence of a vibrant bakery and confectionery industry, as well as rising consumer demand. Additionally, increased demand for packaged juices and energy drinks is likely to drive market expansion throughout the Projection period.
Key Industry Players Analysis:
To increase their market position in the global food thickeners market business, top companies focus on tactics such as adopting new technology, mergers & acquisitions, product developments, collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures, etc.
Latest Development:
Report Metrics
Report Attribute |
Details |
Study Period |
2022-2030 |
Base year |
2022 |
CAGR (%) |
6% |
Market Size |
13 billion in 2022 |
Projection period |
2023-2030 |
Projection unit |
Value (USD) |
Segments covered |
By Type, By Source, By Application, and By Region. |
Report Scope |
Revenue Projection, competitive landscape, company ranking, growth factors, and trends |
Companies covered |
Cargill, Inc., Ingredion Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, FDL Limited, CP Kelco, Kerry Inc., DuPont De Nemours, Inc., Tate & Lyle PLC, Ashland, TIC Gums, Inc., Naturex S.A., Medline Industries, Inc., and Darling Ingredients Inc. |
By Type |
|
By Source |
|
By Application |
|
Regional scope |
|
Scope of the Report
Global Food Thickeners Market By Type:
Global Food Thickeners Market By Source:
Global Food Thickeners Market By Application:
Global Food Thickeners Market By Region:
Global food thickeners market is expected to reach USD 20.7 billion by 2030.
The food thickeners market is projected to have a CAGR of 6%.
Based on the type, the food thickeners market is segmented into protein, hydrocolloids, and starch.
The rising demand for thickening agents such as agar in the bread and confectionary industries is propelling the food thickener market forward. Because agar gels can survive high temperatures, they have gained popularity as a thickening and stabilizer in icings, pie fillings, and meringues.
Based on the application, the global food thickeners market has been segmented into bakery, sauces & dips, confectionery, convenience & processed food, beverages, and others.
Leading market players active in the global food thickeners market are Cargill Inc., Archer Daniels Midland Company, DuPont De Nemours Inc., Tate & Lyle PLC, CP Kelco U.S. Inc., Kerry Inc., Ingredion Incorporated, Ashland, TIC Gums Inc., FDL Limited, Naturex S.A., Medline Industries Inc., Darling Ingredients Inc among others.
Political Factors- Globally, governments have extensive regulatory frameworks for every area of the food business. This includes commercial kitchen cleanliness, produce storage and transportation regulations, and even labourer requirements in the food industry. Without a question, this makes the food industry one of the most strictly controlled. On the good side, this ensures that consumers are not exposed to low-quality nourishment, but the difficulties of regulation undoubtedly reduce the food industry's profits.
Economic Factors- The global population is becoming increasingly wealthy. That means those in the lowest, middle, and upper classes have more money to spend on pleasures like restaurant cuisine. As a result, the food industry's overall revenue is increasing as people cook less and dine out more. This benefits everyone in the industry, including restaurateurs, food distributors, and those working in these establishments. Labourers are making more money these days, therefore disposable income is increasing. Hiring labour is becoming more expensive across all businesses. This is due to both increased demand for employment and rising government requirements for minimum pay.
Social Factors- Scientists now understand more about the relationship between food and our bodies than ever before. Consumers are aware that there is a definite link between the food we eat and our personal health. As a result, more people are seeking healthier ways to feed their bodies. This may not necessarily have a positive or negative impact on the food industry, but it does indicate that businesses will need to adapt in order to remain relevant. Fast food restaurants, for example, will almost certainly have to shift away from typical, high-calorie fried items and towards healthier choices such as salads.
Technological Factors- In the food business, many types of automation are becoming more prevalent. The use of self-checkout screens at fast food restaurants such as Mcdonald's is perhaps the best example, but it is not the only one! Recently, social media platforms went berserk after a viral video of a hotel's robot creating omelettes began to circulate. There will be less need for labourers as we discover more methods to use technology, particularly robots, in the food business. Overall, this is a positive development for the industry because it will help businesses to increase revenue while decreasing the probability of human error.
Environmental Factors- There is a growing awareness of the health consequences of the food we eat and the environmental consequences of the food we eat. Meat is a particularly troublesome dietary group in terms of environmental impact. Meat production, particularly red meat production, consumes a large amount of water and has a considerable carbon impact. Not only that, but the meat industry is clearing vast swaths of forest to make way for new farmland. As a result, an increasing number of people are transitioning to plant-based diets, and governments are taking notice. Again, this isn't inherently a bad thing for food businesses, but they will have to consider the long-term implications of this move.
Legal Factors- As mentioned in the Politics section of this PESTLE research, the food business has strict safety regulations. Every country has a plethora of rules governing how food should be transported, kept, and prepared, including guidelines on what temperatures specific food types can reach, how they should be cleaned, and so on. While this is mostly a political issue, it becomes a legal issue if any of these regulations are broken. As a result, those in the food industry must exercise considerable caution to ensure that they follow these guidelines in order to avoid costly litigation.
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