The global xanthan gum market was valued at US$860 million in 2017 and is expected to reach US$1.27 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 4.99% during the forecast period.
The global xanthan gum market is divided by foam, function, application and region. In terms of foam, the xanthan gum market is divided into dry and liquid. Thickeners, stabilizers, gelling agents, fat substitutes and coatings are the functions of the global xanthan gum market. Food and beverages, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals are the application areas of the xanthan gum market. Geographically distributed to North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.
Xanthan gum is a microbial polysaccharide used as a thickener in many industries such as food and beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is also known by other names, such as bacterial polysaccharide and corn sugar gum. Xanthan gum is made by fermenting corn sugar with a bacteria called Xanthomonas Campestris.
Among the various market segments, the dried form of xanthan gum occupies a major share, which is attributed to the excellent functions provided by the product, such as ease of use, handling, storage and transportation. Because of these features, it is expected that this market segment will continue to maintain its dominant position and drive market growth throughout the evaluation period.
Divided by function, the thickener segment is estimated to be the largest market in 2017. In the past few years, the increase in the use of xanthan gum as a thickener in various personal care applications such as shampoos and lotions has been driving its demand.
The food and beverage and oil and gas industries are the two largest consumers of xanthan gum in the world, and it is estimated that these two application areas will together account for more than 80% of the market share. Xanthan gum can be used in a variety of foods, such as seasonings, condiments, meat and poultry products, bakery products, confectionery products, beverages, dairy products, etc.
As the consumption of products in food and beverages, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and other fields continues to grow, North America has occupied a major share of the market. The growing demand for xanthan gum in food additives, as well as its widespread use in drugs and tablets, has prompted the region to achieve higher growth during the evaluation period.