Hydrocolloids Market Report 2026

The hydrocolloids market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $13.86 billion in 2025 to $15.11 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of processed food consumption, growth of pharmaceutical manufacturing, rising demand for texture-enhancing ingredients, availability of botanical raw materials, increasing use of stabilizers in food products.

The hydrocolloids market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $20.88 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing focus on natural and sustainable ingredients, rising adoption of plant-based diets, expansion of functional food applications, growing pharmaceutical excipient demand, increasing innovation in multi-functional hydrocolloids. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for clean-label food ingredients, rising use of natural thickening agents, growing application in pharmaceutical formulations, expansion of plant-based hydrocolloids, enhanced functional performance customization.

The growing number of nutritionally conscious consumers is expected to drive the growth of the hydrocolloids market during the forecast period. Consumers are increasingly choosing nutritious foods, as proper nutrition supports psychological well-being, muscle strength, respiratory function, infection prevention, wound healing, and cardiovascular health. Hydrocolloids are functional food ingredients that provide significant nutritional benefits and can be used to tailor nutritional value and deliver potential health advantages by controlling gastric emptying, intestinal brake mechanisms, glycemic response, plasma cholesterol levels, and carbohydrate fermentation in the large intestine. For example, in May 2023, according to the International Food Information Council, a US-based nonprofit educational organization, approximately 50% of Americans reported following a specific eating pattern or diet in the previous year. Popular patterns included high-protein (18%), mindful eating (17%), calorie-counting (12%), clean eating (12%), and intermittent fasting (12%), primarily motivated by desires for improved health, digestion, weight management, energy, and long-term wellness. Therefore, the rise in nutritionally aware consumers is driving the growth of the hydrocolloids market.

Key players in the hydrocolloids market are focusing on advanced solutions, such as high-performance gelling systems, to improve texture modification, stability, and formulation versatility across food, beverage, and personal care applications. These systems leverage the multifunctional properties of gellan gum - including gelation, stabilization, thickening, suspension, and film formation - to meet increasing demand for enhanced product performance. For instance, in July 2023, DSM-Firmenich, a Switzerland-based science company, launched GELLANEER, a next-generation gelling agent derived from gellan gum. Known for its strong thickening ability and stability under heat and varying pH conditions, GELLANEER is widely used in beverages, desserts, and plant-based alternatives. The product line includes high-acyl gellan gum for softer, more elastic gels and low-acyl gellan gum for firm, brittle gels, providing manufacturers greater flexibility in designing customized textures and functional properties.

In November 2024, Tate & Lyle PLC, a UK-based provider of sweetening, mouthfeel, and fortification solutions, acquired CP Kelco for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to expand Tate & Lyle’s presence in the hydrocolloids and specialty food ingredients market by integrating CP Kelco’s portfolio of pectin, specialty gums, and other nature-based functional ingredients. CP Kelco is a US-based producer of specialty hydrocolloid solutions.

Major companies operating in the hydrocolloids market are Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Cargill Incorporated, CP Kelco US Inc., Darling Ingredients Inc., DuPont de Nemours Inc., Hispanagar S.A., Ingredion Incorporated, Kerry Group plc, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Aquarev Industries SAS, BASF SE, Fiberstar Inc., FMC Corporation, Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Lotus Gums & Chemicals, Palsgaard A/S, Hawkins Watts Limited, J.F. Hydrocolloids Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Tate & Lyle plc, Gelymar S.A., Gum Technology Corporation, Gums n Gums Limited, KIMICA Corporation, Lucid Colloids Ltd., Nexira, Silvateam S.p.A., Taiyo International.

North America was the largest region in the hydrocolloids market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the hydrocolloids market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the hydrocolloids market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The hydrocolloids market consists of sales of hydrocolloids by type, including starch and xanthan. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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