Food Thickeners Global Market Report 2024

Food thickeners play a crucial role in maintaining and creating the texture of food. These substances, agents, or ingredients are added to food to alter its viscosity, resulting in a stiffer and denser consistency.

The primary types of food thickeners include starch, protein, and hydrocolloids. Starch, a polysaccharide formed by numerous glucose monomers connected by glycosidic bonds, is sourced from plants, microorganisms, and animals. It finds application in various food categories such as bakery products, confectionery items, sauces, dressings, marinades, gravies, beverages, dairy and frozen desserts, as well as convenience and processed foods. The versatile nature of food thickeners contributes to their widespread use in enhancing the texture and consistency of a diverse range of food products.

The food thickeners market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides food thickeners market statistics, including food thickeners industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a food thickeners market share, detailed food thickeners market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the food thickeners industry. This food thickeners market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The food thickeners market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $12.28 billion in 2023 to $13.24 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth observed in the historic period can be attributed to several factors. These include an increased demand for processed and convenience foods, a growing aging population facing swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), the necessity for texture modification in food products, the global expansion of the food and beverage industry, regulatory approval and the safe usage of food thickeners, and a rise in the prevalence of neurological disorders affecting swallowing. Collectively, these factors contributed to the increased adoption and utilization of food thickeners during the historic period.

The food thickeners market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $17.79 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to several key factors. These include the increased adoption of plant-based and algae-derived thickeners, a heightened emphasis on texture-modified diets in healthcare and geriatric care settings, ongoing research and development efforts to introduce novel thickening agents tailored for specific applications, a growing demand for thickeners in nutritional and functional food products, the expansion of thickener applications in pet food and nutraceuticals, and a rising interest in customized texture solutions within the foodservice industry. Noteworthy trends expected during the forecast period encompass the prominence of plant-based and algae-derived thickeners, the adoption of customized texture solutions, advancements in texture modification for dysphagia management, an increased focus on transparency and clean label claims, the application of texture-modified solutions in pet food, and the development of functional thickeners with associated health benefits.

The expansion of food and beverage applications is anticipated to be a driving force behind the growth of the food thickeners market in the foreseeable future. Within the food and beverage industry, encompassing entities involved in food processing, packaging, and the distribution of both packaged and freshly prepared dishes alongside alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food thickeners play a vital role. These thickeners contribute by elevating the viscosity of food or beverages, thereby maintaining their desired consistency. For example, data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) highlights an increase in processed food product exports from $11,671 million in 2020-21 to $13,261 million in 2021-22 in India. This upsurge underscores the significant use of food thickeners in driving the market's growth within food and beverage applications.

The escalating demand for processed foods is poised to propel the food thickeners market forward. Processed foods, altered in some manner during their manufacturing process, commonly incorporate food thickeners to enhance their texture and consistency. Projections from a joint study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Grant Thornton underscore a potential influx of $33 billion in investments within the processed food sector by 2024 in India. This sector displays substantial interest in advancements related to food handling and processing equipment, aligning with estimations that India's overall food production will double by 2024. Consequently, the surge in demand for processed foods contributes significantly to the growth trajectory of the food thickeners market.

Product innovation emerges as a prominent trend gaining traction within the food thickeners market. Key industry players are focused on innovating new products to fortify their position in this market segment. For instance, in January 2021, Tate & Lyle, a UK-based provider specializing in food and beverage solutions and ingredients, introduced REZISTA® MAX thickening starches and BRIOGEL gelling starches. Tapioca starch, a component of these new offerings, possesses distinctive formulation attributes like transparent color and a soft, gel-like texture, particularly desirable in dairy desserts, specific sauces, confectionery, and processed cheese. These tapioca starches enable food manufacturers to deliver superior products due to their enhanced process tolerance, mouthfeel, fluidity, and texture. Such innovations contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of food thickeners in meeting diverse industry demands.

Major companies in the food thickeners market are continually innovating with products such as ThickenUp Clear. ThickenUp Clear is a food and beverage thickener made from xanthan gum, offering a tasteless, colorless, odorless, and amylase-resistant solution. An example of such innovation is evident in the launch by Nestlé, a Switzerland-based food company, of ThickenUp Clear in January 2023. This particular thickener is designed to aid individuals with swallowing difficulties, particularly oropharyngeal dysphagia.

In February 2021, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc., a US-based chemical manufacturing company, completed a merger with DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences, with a significant financial transaction amounting to $26.2 billion. This strategic merger brought together the expertise of IFF in fragrances and food flavors with DuPont's leading position. DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences, now known as Danisco Animal Nutrition & Health, is a Denmark-based company recognized for producing natural food thickeners. This collaboration positions both companies to leverage their strengths and contribute to the ongoing advancements in the food thickeners market.

Major companies operating in the food thickeners market include Cargill Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Ingredion Incorporated, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., CP Kelco ApS, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Kerry Group PLC, Darling Ingredients Inc., Tate & Lyle PLC, Medline Industries Inc., Guar Resources LLC, Deosen Biochemical (Ordos) Ltd., GELITA AG, Solvay S.A., VIKAS WSP Ltd., Koninklijke DSM N.V., Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences ApS, Biorigin SA, Fuerst Day Lawson, FMC Corporation, Naturex, Nexira, Palsgaard A/S, Premium Ingredients International, Taiyo International, TIC Gums Inc., W Hydrocolloids Inc.

Europe was the largest region in the food thickeners market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in food thickeners market share report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the food thickeners market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.

The food thickeners market consists of sales of starches, vegetable gums, pectin, eggs, collagen, gelatin, blood albumin. 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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