Food Thickening Agents Market - Global Market Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2032
The global food thickening agents market was estimated to be US$ 13.47 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 25.28 Billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 6.5%.
Food thickening agents are substances added to food to increase its viscosity or thickness, resulting in a more appealing texture and mouthfeel. They are commonly used in various food products such as soups, sauces, gravies, desserts, and beverages to improve their consistency, stability, and sensory properties.
There are several types of food thickening agents, including natural thickeners like starches, gums, and proteins, as well as synthetic thickeners like modified starches and cellulose derivatives. Some common examples of food thickeners include cornstarch, xanthan gum, guar gum, agar-agar, gelatin, and pectin.
Food thickening agents are used for various reasons, including improving the texture of a food product, preventing separation or settling of ingredients, enhancing flavor release, and improving the appearance of the food. They are also used in medical settings, such as for patients with swallowing difficulties or dysphagia, to thicken liquids for easier consumption.
Food Thickening Agents Market Drivers
Increasing demand for convenience foods is driving the market growth
The Global Food Thickening Agents Market is being driven by several factors, including increasing demand for convenience foods, rising demand for food products with improved texture and mouthfeel, and the growth of the food and beverage industry. Consumers are seeking food products that are easy to prepare and consume, resulting in an increase in the consumption of packaged and processed foods.
Food thickeners play a vital role in enhancing the texture and stability of such food products, thus driving the demand for these ingredients. Additionally, the rising demand for food products with improved texture and mouthfeel has led to a growing demand for thickening agents, as they help create the desired consistency and sensory experience for consumers.
Finally, the growth of the food and beverage industry has led to an increasing number of food and beverage companies and startups entering the market, driving the demand for thickening agents.
Application Segmentation of Global Food Thickening Agents Market
Convenience and Processed Foods is the largest application in the market
Based on application, the largest segment in the Global Food Thickening Agents Market is the Convenience and Processed Foods segment. This is due to the increasing demand for convenience foods worldwide, driven by factors such as busy lifestyles, urbanization, and the rising demand for ready-to-eat meals and snacks.
Thickening agents are commonly used in convenience and processed foods such as canned soups, ready-to-eat meals, and frozen dinners, to enhance their texture, mouthfeel, and stability. These products need to maintain their quality and freshness for longer periods, and food thickeners play a crucial role in achieving this. Moreover, the Convenience and Processed Foods segment has a wide range of products, including snacks, chips, canned foods, and other processed foods, which are highly consumed across the globe.
The increasing demand for convenience foods has led to the development of new and innovative food products, which require the use of thickening agents to achieve the desired texture and consistency. As a result, the Convenience and Processed Foods segment is expected to continue dominating the Global Food Thickening Agents Market in the coming years.
Regional Trends of the Global Food Thickening Agents Market
North America is the largest market for food thickening agents
Geographically, the global food thickening agents market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America.
Following are some of the major trends in these regions –
North America: North America is the largest market for food thickening agents, driven by factors such as the high demand for convenience and processed foods, the growing demand for clean-label and natural food products, and the presence of established food and beverage companies in the region. The region has a highly developed food and beverage industry and is home to several large food companies, which are driving the demand for food thickening agents in the region.
Europe: Europe is also a significant market for food thickening agents, driven by factors such as the increasing demand for natural and organic food products, the growing trend towards clean-label and plant-based foods, and the high consumption of bakery and confectionery products. The region has a well-established food industry and is home to several large food companies, which are driving the demand for food thickening agents in the region.
Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, driven by factors such as the increasing demand for convenience foods, the growing population and urbanization, and the rising disposable income of consumers in the region. The region has a large and growing food industry, with several emerging economies such as China and India, which are driving the demand for food thickening agents in the region.
Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa region is also expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, driven by factors such as the increasing demand for convenience foods, the growing tourism industry, and the rising disposable income of consumers in the region. The region has a growing food industry, with several countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, and South Africa, which are driving the demand for food thickening agents in the region.
South America: South America is a smaller market for food thickening agents, driven by factors such as the growing demand for convenience and processed foods, the increasing demand for natural and organic food products, and the growing trend towards plant-based diets. The region has a growing food industry, with countries such as Brazil and Argentina, which are driving the demand for food thickening agents in the region.
Key players and market strategies:
Companies operating in the Global Food Thickening Agents Market are adopting various growth strategies to expand their market presence and increase their revenue.
Some of the major growth strategies adopted by these companies include:
Mergers and acquisitions: Companies are acquiring other companies to expand their market presence and diversify their product portfolio. For example, Ingredion Incorporated acquired Penford Corporation in 2017 to expand its product offerings and strengthen its position in the food ingredients market.
Product launches and innovations: Companies are investing in research and development to launch new and innovative products that meet the evolving needs of consumers. For instance, Tate & Lyle launched a new range of tapioca-based starches in 2019 to cater to the growing demand for clean-label and natural food ingredients.
Partnerships and collaborations: Companies are forming partnerships and collaborations to leverage each other's expertise and capabilities. For example, CP Kelco and Cargill formed a joint venture in 2018 to produce and market high-quality pectin products for the food and beverage industry.
Expansion of production facilities: Companies are expanding their production facilities to cater to the growing demand for food thickening agents. For instance, Archer Daniels Midland expanded its starch and sweeteners facility in Tianjin, China in 2018 to meet the growing demand for food ingredients in the Asia-Pacific region.
Marketing and advertising: Companies are investing in marketing and advertising campaigns to increase awareness about their products and reach a wider audience. For example, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences launched a new marketing campaign in 2020 to promote its range of food ingredients and solutions.
Archer Daniels Midland Company, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Cargill, Incorporated, CP Kelco, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., FMC Corporation, Ingredion Incorporated, Kerry Group plc, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Lonza Group AG, Nestlé S.A., PPG Industries, Inc., Tate & Lyle PLC, The Dow Chemical Company, Univar Solutions Inc. and many more.
Global Food Thickening Agents Market Segmentation:
By Type:
- Starches
- Proteins
- Gums
- Others
By Source:
- Plant-based
- Animal-based
- Synthetic
By Application:
- Beverages
- Bakery and Confectionery
- Dairy and Frozen Desserts
- Convenience and Processed Foods
- Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments
- Others
By Region
- North America
- United States
- Canada
- Rest of North America
- Europe
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Japan
- India
- China
- Australia
- South Korea
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Middle East & Africa
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Rest of the Middle East & Africa
- South America
- Brazil
- Rest of South America
- Introduction
- Research Objectives
- Report Assumptions
- Research Methodology
- Abbreviations
- Preface
- Market Definition
- Report Scope and Market Segmentation
- Research Highlights
- Market Synopsis: Global Food Thickening Agents Market
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Qualitative Analysis
- Trends
- Market trends
- Technology Trends
- PESTLE Analysis (For 3 prominent countries)
- Market Influencers
- Driving Forces
- Hindering Forces
- Opportunities
- COVID-19 impact
- Porter’s Five Forces
- Innovations in product protection material
- Trends
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast, by Type
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Type, 2019 – 2032
- Starches
- Proteins
- Gums
- Others
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast, by Source
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Source, 2019 – 2032
- Plant-based
- Animal-based
- Synthetic
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast, by Application
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Application, 2019 – 2032
- Beverages
- Bakery and Confectionery
- Dairy and Frozen Desserts
- Convenience and Processed Foods
- Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments
- Others
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast, by Region
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- Global Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Region, 2019 – 2032
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Middle East & Africa
- South America
- North America Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- North America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Type, 2019 – 2032
- Starches
- Proteins
- Gums
- Others
- North America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Source, 2019 – 2032
- Plant-based
- Animal-based
- Synthetic
- North America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Application, 2019 – 2032
- Beverages
- Bakery and Confectionery
- Dairy and Frozen Desserts
- Convenience and Processed Foods
- Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments
- Others
- North America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), Country, 2019 – 2032
- The U.S.
- Canada
- Rest of North America
- Europe Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- Europe Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Type, 2019 – 2032
- Starches
- Proteins
- Gums
- Others
- Europe Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Source, 2019 – 2032
- Plant-based
- Animal-based
- Synthetic
- Europe Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Application, 2019 – 2032
- Beverages
- Bakery and Confectionery
- Dairy and Frozen Desserts
- Convenience and Processed Foods
- Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments
- Others
- Europe Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), Country, 2019 – 2032
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- Asia Pacific Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Type, 2019 – 2032
- Starches
- Proteins
- Gums
- Others
- Asia Pacific Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Source, 2019 – 2032
- Plant-based
- Animal-based
- Synthetic
- Asia Pacific Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Application, 2019 – 2032
- Beverages
- Bakery and Confectionery
- Dairy and Frozen Desserts
- Convenience and Processed Foods
- Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments
- Others
- Asia Pacific Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), Country, 2019 – 2032
- Japan
- India
- China
- Australia
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Middle East & Africa Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- Middle East & Africa Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Type, 2019 – 2032
- Starches
- Proteins
- Gums
- Others
- Middle East & Africa Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Source, 2019 – 2032
- Plant-based
- Animal-based
- Synthetic
- Middle East & Africa Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Application, 2019 – 2032
- Beverages
- Bakery and Confectionery
- Dairy and Frozen Desserts
- Convenience and Processed Foods
- Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments
- Others
- Middle East & Africa Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), Country, 2019 – 2032
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- UAE
- Rest of Middle East
- South America Food Thickening Agents Market Analysis and Forecast
- Overview and definitions
- Key segment analysis
- South America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Type, 2019 – 2032
- Starches
- Proteins
- Gums
- Others
- South America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Source, 2019 – 2032
- Plant-based
- Animal-based
- Synthetic
- South America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), by Application, 2019 – 2032
- Beverages
- Bakery and Confectionery
- Dairy and Frozen Desserts
- Convenience and Processed Foods
- Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments
- Others
- South America Food Thickening Agents Market Size Estimates (US$ Mn), Country, 2019 – 2032
- Brazil
- Rest of South America
- Competition Analysis – Food Thickening Agents Market
- Market Composition
- Market Share Analysis (%), by Supplier (2022)
- Company Profiles
- Archer Daniels Midland Company
- Business overview
- Geographic presence
- Financial facts
- Relevant news and strategic view
- Ashland Global Holdings Inc.
- Cargill, Incorporated
- CP Kelco
- DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
- FMC Corporation
- Ingredion Incorporated
- Kerry Group plc
- Koninklijke DSM N.V.
- Lonza Group AG
- Nestlé S.A.
- PPG Industries, Inc.
- Tate & Lyle PLC
- The Dow Chemical Company
- Univar Solutions Inc.
- Archer Daniels Midland Company
- Conclusion & Recommendations
Frequently asked questions about this report
How big is food thickening agents market?
The food thickening agents market size is expected to reach US$ 25.28 Billion by 2032.
What is the food thickening agents market growth?
The food thickening agents market is expected grow at a CAGR of 6.5% between 2023 to 2032.
What are the major drivers for the global food thickening agents market?
The food thickening agents market is being driven by several factors, including increasing demand for convenience foods, rising demand for food products with improved texture and mouthfeel, and the growth of the food and beverage industry.
What was the size of the global food thickening agents market in 2022?
The food thickening agents market size was estimated to be US$ 13.47 Billion in 2022.
What are some of the uses of food thickening agents?
Food thickening agents are largely used in the Beverages, Bakery and Confectionery, Dairy and Frozen Desserts, Convenience and Processed Foods, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments, others.
Which is the largest regional market for food thickening agents?
North America is the largest market for food thickening agents, driven by factors such as the high demand for convenience and processed foods, the growing demand for clean-label and natural food products, and the presence of established food and beverage companies in the region.
Which application is the largest in the food thickening agents market?
The largest segment in the global food thickening agents market is the Convenience and Processed Foods segment. This is due to the increasing demand for convenience foods worldwide, driven by factors such as busy lifestyles, urbanization, and the rising demand for ready-to-eat meals and snacks.
Who are the key players in food thickening agents market?
Archer Daniels Midland Company, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Cargill, Incorporated, CP Kelco, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., FMC Corporation, Ingredion Incorporated, Kerry Group plc, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Lonza Group AG, Nestlé S.A., PPG Industries, Inc., Tate & Lyle PLC, The Dow Chemical Company, Univar Solutions Inc among others, are the major players in this market.