Global Food Thickeners Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report - Forecast 2034

Food Thickeners Market: Industry Perspective

The global food thickeners market size was worth around USD 15.86 Billion in 2024 and is predicted to grow to around USD 27.87 Billion by 2034 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 5.8% between 2025 and 2034. 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 industry.

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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.

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 5.8% over the forecast period (2025-2034).
• Regarding revenue, the global food thickeners market size was valued at around USD 15.86 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 27.87 Billion by 2034.
• The food thickeners market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to Rising demand for texture-enhanced and stable processed foods fuels market growth. Use in gluten-free and low-fat formulations supports adoption across food industries.
• Based on Type, the Starch-based segment is expected to lead the global market.
• On the basis of Source, the Plant segment is growing at a high rate and will continue to dominate the global market.
• Based on the Application, the Bakery segment is projected to swipe the largest market share.
• By End-user, the Commercial segment is expected to dominate the global market.
• Based on region, Asia-Pacific is predicted to dominate the global market during the forecast period.

Food Thickeners Market: Growth Drivers

Increasing the application of corn starch as a thickener to drive 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 materials 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 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 Analysis

The global food thickeners market is segmented based on Type, Source, Application, End-user, and region.

Based on Type, the global food thickeners market is divided into Starch-based, Protein-based, Hydrocolloids.

On the basis of Source, the global food thickeners market is bifurcated into Plant, Animal, Microbial.

By Application, the global food thickeners market is split into Bakery, Confectionery, Dairy, Soups & Sauces, Beverages, Dressings & Condiments.

In terms of End-user, the global food thickeners market is categorized into Commercial, Household, Industrial.

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 the 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.

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: Competitive Analysis

The report provides a company market share analysis to give a broader overview of the key market players. In addition, the report also covers key strategic developments of the market, including acquisitions & mergers, new product launches, agreements, partnerships, collaborations & joint ventures, research & development, and regional expansion of major participants involved in the food thickeners market on a global and regional basis.

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.

The global food thickeners market is segmented as follows;

By Type

• Starch-based
• Protein-based
• Hydrocolloids

By Source

• Plant
• Animal
• Microbial

By Application

• Bakery
• Confectionery
• Dairy
• Soups & Sauces
• Beverages
• Dressings & Condiments

By End-user

• Commercial
• Household
• Industrial

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