How Has The Food ThickenersMarket Size Evolved In Recent Years?
The food thickeners market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The market for food thickeners has seen robust growth in recent years, with its size set to increase from $13.24 billion in 2024 to $14.27 billion in 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%.
The expansion during the historical period is linked to various factors, such as the rise in demand for processed and convenience foods, increase in the elderly population suffering from swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), the requirement for texture alterations in food items, global growth of the food and beverage industry, approvals from regulatory bodies and safe application of food thickeners, and an increase in neurological disorders impacting swallowing.
What Is The Projected Growth Of The Food Thickeners Market?
The food thickeners market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• In the coming years, the market size for food thickeners is predicted to experience significant growth, estimating to escalate to $19.12 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%.
This increase during the projection period can be ascribed to the increased use of plant-based and algae-based thickeners, a focus on texture-altered diets in healthcare and elderly care, research and progress in novel thickening agents for specific uses, an increased demand for thickeners in nutritious and functional food items, the expansion of thickener applications in pet food and nutraceuticals, and a rising interest in custom texture solutions for the foodservice industry. Major trends in the forecast period comprise plant-based and algae-based thickeners, personalized texture solutions, texture alteration for dysphagia management, transparency and clean label assertions, texture-modified pet food, and functional thickeners with health advantages.
What Are The Key Drivers Fueling Growth In The Food Thickeners Market?
The anticipated growth of the food thickeners market can largely be attributed to their significant use in the food and beverages industry. These sectors consist of companies involved in the processing, packaging, and distribution of both packaged and freshly prepared foods, alongside alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Food thickeners play a crucial role in this context by increasing the viscosity of either a meal or drink and preserving its consistency. As an example, the India Food Services Report-2024, published by the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), highlighted that the food services sector contributes 1.9% to the total GDP of India. It is projected to grow from INR 5.69 trillion ($68 billion) to INR 7.76 trillion ($92 billion) by 2028. This growth indicates an 8.1% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024 to 2028, demonstrating the industry's resilience and potential impact on the nation's economy. Consequently, the significant usage in the food and beverages sector is propelling the food thickener market's expansion.
What Are The Principal Market Segments In The Global Food Thickeners Industry?
The food thickeners market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Starch, Protein, Hydrocolloids
2) By Source: Plant, Microbial, Animal
3) By Application: Bakery, Confectionery, Sauces, Dressings, Marinades, and Gravies, Beverages, Dairy and Frozen Desserts, Convenience and Processed Food
Subsegments:
1) By Starch: Modified Starch, Native Starch, Dextrins
2) By Protein: Gelatin, Whey Protein, Soy Protein
3) By Hydrocolloids: Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Agar-Agar, Pectin
Pre-Book The Food Thickeners Global Market Report 2025 Report For Swift Delivery And Comprehensive Insights:
Which Emerging Market Trends Are Altering The Food Thickeners Sector?
One of the principal trends observed in the food thickeners market is the innovation of new products by key companies. This strategy helps these firms maintain their standing in the industry. For instance, Ingredion Incorporated, a pioneer of clean label ingredients and a global supplier of specialty ingredient solutions to the food and beverage manufacturing industry in the US, introduced NOVATION Indulge 2940 starch in February 2024. This latest product broadens their range of clean label texturizers and stands as the first non-GMO functional native corn starch, offering a distinct texture desirable for gelling and co-texturizing in popular dairy, alternative dairy products, and desserts.
Who Are the Key Players 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.
What are the Regional Insights into the Food Thickeners Market?
Europe was the largest region in the food thickeners market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the food thickeners market report include Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
