Hydrocolloids Market Size

Global Hydrocolloids Market Overview

Hydrocolloids Market Size valued at USD 10.35 billion in 2023. The Hydrocolloids industry is projected to grow from USD 10.93 Billion in 2024 to USD 16.071 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.93% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Increased consumption of convenience food, rising demand for natural and healthy food products, and varied industrial application are the key market drivers enhancing the market growth.

Source: Primary Research, Secondary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

Hydrocolloids Market Trends

• Growing demand in the food industry is driving market growth

The rising demand in the food industry is driving the market CAGR for hydrocolloids. The wide range of features of hydrocolloids in the food industry is a key to market boost. The capability of hydrocolloids to bind water and enhance the properties of food ingredients is the property that is increasing its application in the food industry. Rising demand for healthy food products and the convenience offered by processed food are anticipated to boost the demand in the market.

Hydrocolloids are mainly used in a wide range of food formulations to improve the shelf-life and quality. They can alter the rheology of the food system, like viscosity and texture, which improves the sensory properties of food. Hence, hydrocolloids are key food additives to perform a specific function. The hydrocolloids impart thickness and stickiness to the aqueous dispersion, and some of the polymers are known to form gels. The textural properties of food items like brittleness or elasticity, spreadability or longevity, and creaminess or chewiness vary depending on the type of hydrocolloids being used. The other senses like mouth feel opacity and taste, also depend on the hydrocolloids used. Hydrocolloids are widely used in food & beverage products as thickening, gelling, stabilizing, coating, and emulsifying agents. The gum Arabic, locust bean gum, tara gum, gaur gum, methylcellulose, konjac mannan, and others are hydrocolloids that give a thickening property. The gelling that is used by the company is carrageenan, agar, pectin, alginate, cellulose, and gellan gum.

The increasing establishment of food & beverage manufacturing units and the rising customer spending on sophisticated and convenience food product is boosting the market. Hydrocolloids have the ability to alter the flow properties of liquids, and it has the gelling ability and property to make oil droplets emulsification and inhibition of ice re-crystallization, which increases their demand in the food industry. The seaweed-derived hydrocolloids have created a notable impact in the hydrocolloids industry as it is available in abundance, nutritionally rich, lower cost, and property of not impart any noticeable taste. The seaweed hydrocolloids are used as a texture enhancer in food products like gelling in a jam, thickener in dairy products, and many more. Thus, driving the Hydrocolloids market revenue.

Hydrocolloids Type Insights

The Hydrocolloids market segmentation, based on type, includes Gelatin, Xantham Gum, Carrageenan, Alginates, Pectin, Gaur Gum, Gum Arabic, Agar, and Locust Bean Gum. The gelatin segment dominates the hydrocolloid market as it is used in a broad range of pharmaceuticals for wound dressings, blood volume substitutes, and homeostatic sponges. Xantham category has the fastest growing market of hydrocolloids.

Hydrocolloids Function Insights

The Hydrocolloids market segmentation, based on function, includes Thickening, Gelling, Stabilizing, and Others. The thickening category of hydrocolloids dominates the market, as it has a wide application in the food industry as a thickening agent. They disperse in water easily and have a viscosity-producing effect, thus having application in various food types like soups, salad dressings, sauces, and gravies. Starch is the most commonly used thickener; alginates have applications in restructured vegetables and fruits, meat and fish, pudding and desserts, and others. 

Figure 1: Hydrocolloids Market, by Function, 2022 & 2032 (USD billion)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

Hydrocolloids Application Insights

The Hydrocolloids market segmentation, based on application, includes Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care & Cosmetics, and Others. The food & beverage segment of an application dominates the market with the highest revenue of 70% in 2022. This is due to their ability to alter the rheology of food systems, including the texture and viscosity. It has applications in a variety of food formulations.

Hydrocolloids Regional Insights

By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The Asia Pacific hydrocolloids market area dominates this market, owing to an increase in demand for processed foods and fast food. The functional and clean-labeled outlook of the product led to an increase in adoption, and the rising population and demand for natural food ingredients have surged the hydrocolloid market in this region. China's hydrocolloids industry contributes the largest market share in this region.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The U.S., Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 2: Hydrocolloids MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

North American Hydrocolloids market accounts for the second-largest market share due to the rising demand for low-calorie food products and the trend of consuming fortified convenience food products. Further, the US hydrocolloids held the largest market share and Canada hydrocolloids industry held the significant share in the market in the North American region

The European Hydrocolloids Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. This is due to the food industry’s rise and extensive utilization of natural ingredients in food products. Moreover, the UK’s market of hydrocolloids held the largest market share, and the German Hydrocolloids was the fastest-growing market in the European region.

The South American hydrocolloids market is driven due to incorporation into the food industry as a clean-label food additive. The Middle East and Africa's leaning towards ready-to-eat food products and convenience food is driving the hydrocolloids industry.

Hydrocolloids Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development in order to expand their product lines, which will help the Hydrocolloids market grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking a variety of strategic activities to expand their footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, the Hydrocolloids industry must offer cost-effective items.

Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the Hydrocolloids industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the Hydrocolloids industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to the food and beverage industry. Major players in the Hydrocolloids market, including Ingredion, Cargill Incorporated, Kerry Group plc, Associated Archer Daniels Midland Company, CP Kelco US. Inc., BASF, Nexira, Ashland, TIC Gums INC., DuPont Inc., and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.

Cargill Inc. is a 150years old American privately held food corporation that has helped farmers grow more by connecting them to broader markets. They are constantly developing products to provide the consumer's needs seeking for advance nutrition, food safety, and sustainability. They help the partners manage the risk and develop a new product that provides nourishment. With new technology and insights, it serves as the trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 1525 countries. In July 2021, Cargill Inc. announced an investment of $45 million in adding soluble fibers to its European portfolio of sweeteners, texturizers, and starches in Poland. Furthermore, in February 2021, it introduced a new label friendly WavePure seaweed powder for food manufacturers. This product is extracted without chemical modification and produced from native seaweed. Cargill is the first to develop large, commercial-scale quantities of this versatile ingredient available to its European customers.

In December 2020, CP Kelco introduced GENU Pectin YM-FP-2100, a clean-label-friendly ingredient that gives a medium-to-high viscosity in the fruited drinking yogurt and ease of pump ability at the fruit preparation stage. CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer, and industrial product manufacturers globally. They use ingredients innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that give regional insights, meet the manufacturer's goal and address consumer needs. The product includes gellan gum, xantham gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, and refined locust bean gum.

Key Companies in the Hydrocolloids market include

• Ingredion


• Cargill Incorporated


• Kerry Group plc


• Associated Archer Daniels Midland Company


• CP Kelco US. Inc.


• BASF


• Nexira


• Ashland


• TIC Gums INC.


• DuPont Inc.

Hydrocolloids Industry Developments

November 2021: Ingredion has included a range of single hydrocolloids in its food & beverage portfolio. This new product range consists of Pre-Hydrated Gum Arabic Spray Dry Powder, TIC Gum Arabic FT Powder, Ticalose CMC 400 Granular Powder, TIC Tara Gum 100, and Ticaxan Xantham ED.

July 2021: W Hydrocolloids, Inc., a leading carrageenan supplier, developed two new products, Ricogel 88150 for food application in marmalade, yogurt, and dulce de leche and Ricogel 84668 for plant-based burgers.

May 2019: Cargill Inc., for the development of the pectin plant in Bebedouro, Brazil, invested USD 150 million. They produced HM pectin, derived from citrus fruits, that will help the increasing worldwide demand for label-friendly pectins for fruit preparations, dairy, confectionary, and bakery food applications.

Hydrocolloids Market Segmentation

Hydrocolloids Type Outlook

• Gelatin


• Xantham Gum


• Carrageenan


• Alginates


• Pectin


• Gaur Gum


• Gum Arabic


• Agar


• Locust Bean Gum

Hydrocolloids Function Outlook

• Thickening


• Gelling


• Stabilizing


• Others

Hydrocolloids Application Outlook

• Food & Beverages


• Pharmaceutical


• Personal Care & Cosmetics


• Others

Hydrocolloids Regional Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  

• Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  

• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  

• Rest of the World
  
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  • Latin America