Thickeners and Vegetable Gums Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034

The global thickeners and vegetable gums market size attained a value of USD 14.22 Billion in 2024. The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.90% between 2025 and 2034, to reach a value of USD 25.23 Billion by 2034.

Key Trends in the Market

Thickeners, also known as thickening agents, are food additives which increase the viscosity of a food item without changing its taste, colour, or other properties. Vegetable gums are a type of thickening agent which are sourced from natural origins. Both thickeners and vegetable gums help in boosting the food product stability, increasing shelf life.

• The thriving food and beverage sector across the emerging economies, supported by rapid urbanisation, growing population, and increasing disposable income, is driving the global thickeners and vegetable gums market.
• The rising demand for clean labelled dairy, bakery, confectionery, and convenience foods, is further generating the product’s demand. Meanwhile, condiments such as sauces and dressing are integral to restaurants, hotels, and pubs, which are further escalating the applications of thickeners and vegetable gums.
• Growing expansion of the e-commerce sector is another crucial driving factor of the thickeners and vegetable gums market. Premium packaged food ready-to-cook food products are witnessing a great sale on online platforms which in turn are generating the demand for thickeners and vegetable gums.

Market Segmentation

The report titled “Thickeners and Vegetable Gums Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Type

• Polysaccharides
• Proteins

Market Breakup by Nature

• Organic
• Conventional

Market Breakup by Application

• Dairy Products
• Sauces and Dressings
• Bakery and Confectionary
• Convenience Food
• Beverages
• Others

Market Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

Market Share by Type

The proteins segment, based on type, accounts for a healthy share of the thickeners and vegetable gums market. The increasing demand for protein-based food thickening agents, owing to their ability to enhance the food texture, is driving the segment’s growth. In addition, protein in thickeners and vegetable gums bolsters the amino-acid content in the food, while adding nutritional value. The increasing application of protein-based thickening agents in creams, soups, and sauces, among other foods and condiments, is boosting the growth of this segment. With the growing consumer preference for additional protein in diets, protein types of thickeners and vegetable gums are likely to increase in demand in the coming years.

Market Share by Application

Based on application, the bakery and confectionary segment accounts for a significant share in the thickeners and vegetable gums market. Bakery and confectionery products use thickening agents and gums to attain stability and enhanced texture for easier packaging. Hence, the increasing demand for premium packaged bakery and confectionery products such as biscuits, cakes, doughnuts, and cookies, among others, is propelling the segment’s growth.

Meanwhile, the dairy products segment is expected to witness a healthy growth in the forecast period. This can be attributed to the increasing application of polysaccharides, such as xanthan, locust bean gum, and tragacanth, in a variety of dairy products.

Competitive Landscape

The comprehensive report provides an in-depth assessment of the market based on the Porter's five forces model along with giving a SWOT analysis. The report gives a detailed analysis of the following key players in the global thickeners and vegetable gums market, covering their competitive landscape and latest developments like mergers, acquisitions, investments and expansion plans.

Medline Industries, LP

Medline Industries, LP is a leading healthcare company which manufactures and distributes exam and surgical gloves, infection prevention solutions, table kits, dry pads, fall prevention equipment, fluid management solutions, and nutritional products, among others. The company was founded in the year 1966 and is currently headquartered in Illinois in the United States.

Ashland Inc.

Ashland Inc. is a specialty chemical producing company which operates in more than 100 countries with headquarters in Delaware, United States. Founded in 1924, the company focuses on producing food additives and specialty ingredients which cater to the growing demands of the food and beverage sector. It produces high-end chemicals which are used in pharmaceutical, personal care, architecture, energy, and nutraceutical sectors, among others.

Ingredion Incorporated

Ingredion Incorporated is a leading supplier of food and beverage products, which provides expertise in nutrition, health and wellness, specialty sweeteners, plant-based proteins, flavourings with modifying properties, food systems, and clean and simple ingredients, etc. This company offers ingredients which are used in the production of bakery, dairy, beverage, and meat alternative products, among others. Established in 1906, the company headquarters are in Illinois in the United States.

Other market players include Tate and Lyle plc, Cargill, Incorporated, CP Kelco U.S., Inc., Sinofi Ingredients, and Hosokawa Alpine AG, among others.