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Base Year: 2024
Companies covered: 15
Tables & Figures: 165
Countries covered: 18
Pages: 235
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Industrial Starch Market
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Industrial Starch Market Size
The global industrial starch market size was valued at USD 58.5 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 6% from 2025 to 2034. Industrial starch is a versatile carbohydrate polymer derived from natural sources like corn, potato, wheat, and cassava, widely used across various industries for its thickening, binding, and stabilizing properties. In the food and beverage industry, it serves as a thickener and stabilizer in products like sauces, soups, and confectionery.
Beyond food, industrial starch is crucial in the paper and textile industries, where it enhances paper strength and acts as a sizing agent in fabrics. Additionally, it finds applications in adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and biodegradable packaging. With growing demand for sustainable and bio-based materials, industrial starch is gaining prominence as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic polymers, supported by advancements in modification techniques to enhance its functional properties.
Industrial Starch Market Trends
The market is witnessing significant growth driven by increasing demand across various industries, including food and beverages, paper, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. In the food industry, starch is widely used as a thickening, gelling, and stabilizing agent, with rising consumer preference for natural and clean-label ingredients, boosting demand for modified and specialty starches.
The paper industry continues to rely on starch for enhancing paper strength and quality, while the textile sector uses starch in fabric finishing and sizing applications. Innovations in bio-based products and the rising adoption of starch as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers in bioplastics are creating new opportunities. Furthermore, advancements in starch modification techniques and the growing utilization of cassava, maize, and potato-based starches in emerging economies are fueling market expansion.
Industrial Starch Market Analysis
The industrial starch industry is characterized by robust growth driven by its versatility and extensive applications across multiple industries. The food and beverage sector is the largest consumer, leveraging starch for functionalities such as thickening, stabilizing, and binding. Non-food applications, including paper manufacturing, textiles, and adhesives, are also key drivers, with starch playing a critical role in improving product quality and production efficiency. The rise of biodegradable packaging and eco-friendly products is accelerating the demand for starch-based bioplastics, while modified starches are gaining traction for their enhanced properties in industrial processes.
Regionally, Asia-Pacific dominates the market due to the abundant availability of raw materials like cassava and maize, coupled with expanding industrial activities. Technological advancements in starch extraction and processing are further optimizing production, making it more sustainable and cost-effective, while innovations in specialty starches are unlocking new applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Based on source, the industrial starch market is segmented corn starch, potato starch, wheat starch, cassava starch, rice starch, others. The corn starch segment dominates the market by generating USD 31.8 billion revenue in the year 2024, owing to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, and widespread availability. It is extensively used in the food and beverage industry as a thickening, stabilizing, and binding agent in products such as soups, sauces, confectioneries, and bakery items.
Beyond food, corn starch plays a vital role in the paper and textile industries, enhancing paper strength and fabric finishing. The increasing demand for bio-based products has further boosted the adoption of corn starch in producing bioplastics and biodegradable packaging materials. Technological advancements in corn processing and the growing preference for clean-label and natural ingredients are accelerating its market growth, particularly in emerging economies where corn is a staple crop.
Based on function the industrial starch market is segmented into the thickening agent, stabilizing agent, binding agent, gelling agent, emulsifying agent, others. The thickening agent segment hold a dominant market share of 40.4% in 2024, driven by its critical applications across multiple industries. In the food and beverage sector, thickening agents derived from starch are widely used to enhance the texture and viscosity of products such as soups, sauces, gravies, and desserts.
The rising demand for convenience foods and clean-label products has further boosted the adoption of starch-based thickeners as natural alternatives to synthetic additives. Beyond food, industries like cosmetics and pharmaceuticals utilize starch as a thickening agent in creams, lotions, and syrups, enhancing product stability and performance. Advances in starch modification technology are also enabling the development of specialized thickening agents that cater to specific industrial needs, fueling their growth across global markets.
Based on application, the food and beverage industry is the fastest-growing application segment with share 43.6% in the industrial starch market, fueled by the rising demand for processed and convenience foods. Starch serves as a versatile ingredient in this sector, acting as a thickening, stabilizing, binding, and texturizing agent in a wide range of products, including sauces, soups, baked goods, confectioneries, and dairy products.
The shift towards clean-label and natural ingredients has further accelerated the use of native and modified starches as functional additives. Additionally, the growing popularity of plant-based and gluten-free foods has increased the demand for starch alternatives in formulation. Innovations in starch processing and modification technologies are also enabling manufacturers to tailor starch functionalities to meet evolving consumer preferences, driving growth in this key application segment.
The U.S. industrial starch market size recorded around USD 15.1 billion in 2024, led by advancements in agriculture, robust demand from the food and beverage sector, and expanding applications in non-food industries. The increasing preference for clean-label and natural ingredients is propelling the adoption of starch in processed foods as a thickening and stabilizing agent.
Additionally, the U.S. paper and packaging industry relies heavily on starch for improving product strength and recyclability, further boosting its demand. The development of bioplastics and bio-based materials is also creating new opportunities, supported by government initiatives promoting sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics.
The industrial starch market in North America is benefiting from a combination of technological advancements, abundant raw material availability, and a strong industrial base. With maize and potatoes as key raw materials, the region has a stable supply chain that supports large-scale starch production. The rising demand for starch-based adhesives, particularly in the packaging and construction industries, is a significant growth driver.
Additionally, the increasing focus on sustainable practices and the development of starch for biodegradable applications are gaining traction. Collaborations between manufacturers and research institutions to innovate specialty starches are further fueling the market's expansion across the region.
Industrial Starch Market Share
The industrial starch industry is highly competitive, with key players such as Avebe, Banpong Tapioca Flour, Cargill, Emsland Group, and Grain Processing Corporation leading the industry. These companies are recognized for their extensive portfolios of native and modified starches derived from sources like potato, maize, wheat, and tapioca, catering to diverse applications across food, paper, textiles, and adhesives industries.
Cargill and Grain Processing Corporation are particularly prominent in North America, leveraging advanced technologies to produce high-performance starches, while Avebe and Emsland are strong players in Europe, focusing on innovation in potato-based starch products. Banpong Tapioca Flour has a significant presence in Asia, benefiting from the abundant availability of cassava. These companies are driving the market through investments in research and development, sustainable sourcing practices, and strategic collaborations to expand their global footprint and meet the evolving demands of consumers and industrial sectors.
Industrial Starch Market Companies
Major players operating in the industrial starch industry are:
Industrial Starch Industry News
This industrial starch market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) & volume (Kilo Tons) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:
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Market, By Source
Market, By Function
Market, By Application
The above information is provided for the following regions and countries: