Konjac Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Konjac Market is projected to expand from USD 1.38 Billion in 2025 to USD 2.06 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 6.91%. This market revolves around the culinary and industrial applications of Amorphophallus konjac, a perennial plant prized for its corm, which is processed into glucomannan-rich jelly and flour. As a water-soluble dietary fiber, glucomannan serves as the market's key functional component, widely used as a stabilizer, thickening agent, and gelling agent across the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries. Growth is primarily propelled by the escalating global demand for functional and plant-based food ingredients, as consumers increasingly seek clean-label substitutes for animal-based gelatin and synthetic additives. Additionally, the product's high fiber content and low-calorie profile make it highly desirable within the prebiotic nutrition and weight management sectors, supporting its integration into health-focused beverages and dietary supplements.

Despite this positive growth trajectory, the market contends with a major hurdle regarding raw material stability due to the crop's susceptibility to disease and climatic variations. Cultivating konjac demands specific environmental parameters, rendering the supply chain fragile in the face of weather disruptions, which can lead to price volatility and procurement difficulties for downstream manufacturers. Data from the Konjac Association of Chinese Society for Horticultural Science indicates that in 2023, the total cultivation area in China, the world's leading producer, surpassed 1.5 million mu (roughly 100,000 hectares), highlighting the massive scale needed to satisfy industrial needs. However, this heavy concentration of production within specific regions amplifies the risk of supply shortages should localized agricultural setbacks occur.

Market Drivers

Rapid innovation in functional food alternatives, such as Shirataki noodles and rice, is transforming the industry by elevating konjac from a basic raw commodity to a high-value consumer product. Manufacturers are increasingly utilizing hydrocolloid technology to develop convenient, ready-to-eat snacks and noodle substitutes that align with contemporary dietary preferences.

This strategic pivot toward value-added processing is generating significant financial returns for leading market players who have successfully commercialized these formats. For instance, Weilong Delicious Global Holdings Ltd reported in its March 2025 '2024 Annual Results Announcement' that revenue from its vegetable products segment, which is dominated by konjac-based snacks, grew by 59.1% year-over-year to RMB 3.37 billion. Such figures confirm that creating novel edible formats and product diversification are primary engines for current market expansion.

Concurrent with product innovation, the surging consumer demand for low-calorie and satiety-inducing foods is driving global adoption, particularly within the weight management sector. The exceptional water-absorbing capabilities of glucomannan make it a vital ingredient for health-conscious consumers seeking natural appetite suppressants, thereby fueling international trade. An industry update from The Japan Konjac Association in December 2024 revealed that the export value of Japanese konjac products expanded 2.5 times compared to the 2019 fiscal year, illustrating strong international appetite for these functional foods. This upward trend is further supported by broader sector growth; Yanjin Shop Food Co., Ltd. noted in its August 2025 '2025 Semi-Annual Report' that revenue from leisure konjac products skyrocketed by 155.1% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, signaling sustained industrial momentum powered by health-related consumption.

Market Challenges

The primary obstacle to the sustained expansion of the Global Konjac Market is the inherent instability of the raw material supply chain, which is heavily susceptible to agricultural risks and climatic fluctuations. Since Amorphophallus konjac requires precise environmental conditions, the concentration of cultivation in limited geographic regions exposes the industry to severe bottlenecks when weather patterns disrupt harvests. This vulnerability results in erratic availability and significant price volatility, complicating procurement strategies for downstream manufacturers. When adverse weather affects crop yields, the immediate contraction in supply drives raw material costs upward, squeezing profit margins for producers of food additives and supplements. Such financial unpredictability discourages long-term investment in product lines and may force manufacturers to seek more stable synthetic alternatives, thereby stifling organic growth.

This volatility is highlighted by recent trade data reflecting intensifying cost pressures within the sector. According to the Japan Konjac Association, in December 2024, the export value of konjac products increased 2.5 times compared to the 2019 fiscal year. This sharp escalation in value, driven by constrained supplies struggling to meet industrial requirements, underscores the severe inflationary challenges facing importers and processors. Consequently, these elevated input costs impair the ability of companies to maintain competitive pricing for end-consumers, effectively slowing the mass-market adoption of konjac as a mainstream functional ingredient.

Market Trends

The diversification into plant-based meat and seafood analogs is fundamentally altering the market landscape as manufacturers increasingly utilize konjac’s unique hydrocolloid properties to replicate the texture of aquatic proteins. Unlike traditional starch-based binders, konjac glucomannan offers the requisite elasticity and chewiness to mimic premium seafood products such as calamari and shrimp, enabling brands to cater to the growing flexitarian demographic without compromising on mouthfeel. This innovation is significantly contributing to the financial performance of major food processors who are integrating these high-margin, plant-based options into their portfolios. According to Thai Union Group Public Company Limited, March 2025, in the '2024 Annual Review', the company achieved a record gross profit margin of 18.5%, a milestone explicitly attributed to the strategic expansion and robust demand within its value-added category, which includes its plant-based seafood innovations.

Simultaneously, the development of konjac-infused functional beverages is expanding the ingredient's application beyond solid foods into the drinkable wellness sector. Companies are aggressively formulating squeezable konjac jelly pouches and vitamin-enriched drinks that offer satiety benefits and digestive support, effectively positioning them as convenient, low-calorie meal replacements for health-conscious urban consumers. This product evolution allows beverage manufacturers to capitalize on the rising demand for functional snacks that fit into busy lifestyles while offering clean-label dietary fiber. According to Sappe Public Company Limited, February 2025, in the '2024 Annual Results Announcement', the company reported total sales revenue of THB 6.78 billion, an 11.9% increase from the previous year, driven largely by the sustained international growth of its functional product lines, including its konjac-based jelly drinks.

Key Players Profiled in the Konjac Market

• Hubei Yizhi Konjac Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
• Zhejiang Shangfang Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
• Ishibashi-ya Co. Ltd.
• Baoji Konjac Chemical Co., Ltd.
• NOW Health Group, Inc.
• Slendier
• Andi-Johnson Group
• The Konjac Sponge Company Ltd.
• NAH Foods Ltd.
• Low Carb Canada Corp.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Konjac Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Konjac Market, by Product Type:

• Gum
• Flour
• Dietary Fiber
• Sponge

Konjac Market, by End-Use:

• Food & Beverages
• Pharmaceutical
• Cosmetics

Konjac Market, by Distribution Channel:

• Supermarkets/hypermarkets
• Specialty stores
• Online
• Others

Konjac Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Konjac Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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