Food Thickeners Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2028

Food Thickeners Market Size & Industry Analysis:

The global food thickeners market size was worth around USD 12.2 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 17.7 billion by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 5.5% between 2022 and 2028. The report analyzes the global food thickeners market’s drivers, restraints/challenges, and the effect they have on the demands during the projection period. In addition, the report explores emerging opportunities in the food thickeners market.

Food Thickeners Market: Overview

Food thickeners are ingredients 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 to stabilize it. Food thickeners are widely employed in a variety of food and beverage products, including food pulps, energy drinks, puddings, sauces, soups, and so on. Cornstarch, arrowroot, Agar-Agar, and gelatin are all examples of food thickeners.

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Key Insights

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global food thickeners market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 5.5% over the forecast period (2022-2028).
•  In terms of revenue, the global food thickeners market size was valued at around USD 12.2 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 17.7 billion, by 2028.
• Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. The global food thickeners market is projected to grow owing to increasing demand from the food & beverages industry.
• Based on the type, the hydrocolloids accounted for the largest market share in 2021.
• Based on the source, the plant segment is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period.
• Based on the application, the bakery segment is projected to hold the majority of the market share during the forecast period.
• Based on region, North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

Food Thickeners Market: Growth Drivers

Increasing the application of corn starch as a thickener to drive the market growth

Corn starch is in high demand as a food thickener in the global food and beverage sector. According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), global corn consumption amounted to 44,511 million bushels in 2018, with the United States consuming 12,415 million bushels in 2018-2019, with 240 million bushels used as starch globally in 2018. Furthermore, the food industry's demand for corn-based starch as a thickening agent in sauces, gravies, and pudding is driving the global food thickeners market. Starch is also used to stuff culinary items. Maize starch, often known as corn starch, is widely utilized in the baking industry. Products with different organoleptic properties, as well as cleaner components, have gained popularity. Thus, driving the market growth during the forecast period.

Food Thickeners Market: Restraints

High R&D cost and volatility in the price of raw material is expected to hamper the market expansion

Depending on the use, each food thickener functions differently. As a result, food thickener manufacturers must have a robust and focused R&D facility to develop food thickeners that are novel and fit for demanding product formulations. The high R&D expenses connected with the extraction and manufacturing of vegetable gum and starch derivatives are limiting the market's small and medium-sized producers. Manufacturers are facing a problem in extracting thickening agent derivatives from novel natural sources for physical and chemical uses in food and drinks.

Crushing, sifting, centrifuging, and hydrolysis are all technical and technological factors that must be considered and add to the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the price of raw hydrocolloids impacts the price of food thickeners, which in turn affects the price of finished food products. Therefore, the high R&D cost and volatility in the price of raw materials are expected to hamper the global food thickeners market growth during the forecast period.

Food Thickeners Market: Opportunities

Increasing demand for food thickeners in bakery & confectionery products is expected to provide a lucrative opportunity for the market expansion

Agar is becoming more popular as a stabilizer and thickener in pie fillings, icings, and meringues due to agar gels' capacity to tolerate high temperatures, which has been observed as a rising trend in the demand for thickening agents like agar in the bakery and confectionery industries. For sweets with high sugar content, like fruit candies, several agars, particularly those derived from Gracilaria chilensis, are often utilized. Agar's use in food and beverage items is expanding significantly because it has no taste and doesn't alter the flavors of foods. Thus, this is expected to provide a lucrative opportunity for market expansion.

Food Thickeners Market: Segmentation

The global food thickeners market is segmented based on type, source, application, and region

Based on the type, the global market is bifurcated into protein, starch, and hydrocolloids. The hydrocolloids segment accounted for the largest market share and is expected to show its dominance during the forecast period. Alginate, pectin, locust bean gum, guar gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan gum, and beta-glucan are among the numerous hydrocolloids used as food thickeners. Because hydrocolloids are fiber-rich and stable under low pH conditions, their use in the food and beverage industry is increased. Moreover, the use of hydrocolloids as food additives and thickeners is very common.

For instance, they are used as a wheat flour substitute in cookies, a sugar substitute in whipped creams and steamed bread, a coating material in nuts and dried fish, a food stabilizer in whipped cream, a bulking agent in ice cream and yogurt, and for the dispersion of starch in the rice. On the other hand, the starch segment is expected to grow at a significant rate over the forecast period. The use of starch as a food thickener is anticipated to increase throughout the projected period due to factors including high viscosity, stability, and low cost. Further fueling product demand is anticipated to be the growing demand for gluten-free goods.

Based on source, the market is segmented into animal, plant, and microbial. The plant-based thickener is expected to lead the market over the projected period. Plant-based goods are the most widely utilized ingredients in most applications, including baking, confectionery, ready-to-eat meals, and others. This is due to their high efficacy and affordable pricing. Cornstarch, tapioca, agar, xanthan gum, rice flour, and pectin are a few of the popular plant-based food thickeners.

Additionally, 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 forecast period.

Based on application, the global food thickeners market is bifurcated into the bakery, confectionery, sauces & dips, beverages, convenience & processed food, and others. The bakery segment is projected to hold the majority of the market share during the forecast period. The growth in the segment is attributed to the rising demand for organic and natural baked goods and the trend of healthy snacks. On the other hand, convenience & processed food is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecasted period owing to the increasing demand for convenience foods owing to rising consumer awareness toward products with exotic and traditional taste. Furthermore, rising disposable incomes, along with changing lifestyles as a result of rapid urbanization, have resulted in a shift in food consumption habits, which should drive up demand throughout the forecast period.

Recent Developments:

• In January 2021, Tate & Lyle expanded its line of tapioca-based starches. The expansion includes the launch of new REZISTA MAX thickening starches and BRIOGEL gelling starches. This has helped the company to widen its product portfolio.
• In May 2019, Bioriginal introduced a new product named XanFlax which is a natural thickening agent that can be used as a non-GMO replacement for xanthan gum in a variety of food applications.

Food Thickeners Market Report Scope:

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Food Thickeners Market: Regional Analysis

North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period

North America is expected to dominate the global food thickeners market during the forecast period owing to the notable demand for the product from various industries located in U.S. and Canada. The highly developed food and beverage industries in the United States and Canada dominate the North American market. The existence of many global food processing and manufacturing enterprises further benefits the market, resulting in greater demand for the product. However, Europe witnessed a significant market share during the forecast period owing to the presence of a robust bakery and confectionery industry coupled with growing consumer demand. Thus, driving regional growth during the projection period.

Food Thickeners Market: Competitive Analysis

The global food thickeners market is dominated by players like Ingredion Incorporated, Cargill, Incorporated, CP Kelco U.S., Inc., Tate & Lyle, DuPont Nutrition Bioscience ApS, Ashland, ADM, Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Deosen Biochemical (Ordos) Ltd., GELITA AG, Solvay, VIKAS WSP LTD., DSM, Guar Resources, LLC., Medline Industries, LP, Kent Precision Foods Group, Inc., Chimique (India) Ltd, Fooding Group Limited, HL Agro Products Pvt. Ltd., Emsland Group, among others.

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The global food thickeners market is segmented as follows:

By Type

• Protein
• Starch
• Hydrocolloids

By Source

• Animal
• Plant
• Microbial

By Application

• Bakery
• Confectionery
• Sauces & Dips
• Beverages
• Convenience & Processed Food
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa