Agar Agar Gum Market

Agar Agar Gum Market

In the last few years, the global agar agar gum market is likely to benefit from increased demand for dairy food items as a result of the western influence on diets. Smoothies, milk, drinks, confectionaries, infant formula, mousses, spreads, puddings, curd, custard, creams, yoghurts, and cheese all come with the ingredient.

Dairy products that need a more or less rigid gel structure make use of agar agar gum to maintain their consistency and shape during shelf life and hence maintain their visual freshness. Food makers benefit from them since the gels are unaffected by the production processes and have a high thermal stability. It stabilizes, jellifies, and thickens food at a low concentration of 0.04 % without any need for expert assistance.

Agar-agar refers to a unique natural hydrocolloid derived from Gracilaria and Gelidium red seaweeds. In comparison to other carrageenan or gelatin gels, these gels are thought to be more durable and compact. The gel strength of the product is also significantly higher than that of gelatin. The solution also eliminates the need to add any foreign substances to improve food texture or flavor, such as cations, proteins, sugar, and acids. These factors are likely to foster development of the global agar agar gum market in the years to come.

Agar-agar belongs to the family of galactan polysaccharides. Galactan polysaccharides are complex linear sugar polymers containing 22 galactose molecules. It is present in the cell walls of Rhodophyceae class of red algae. Agar is produced in several species of marine algae found across the globe. Most commercial agar-agar is extracted from Gelidium and Gracilaria species. Other commonly used species include Pterocladia and Gelidiella.

Agar Agar Gum Market: Drivers and Restraints

Gelling and thickening properties of agar agar are anticipated to drive the agar agar gum market during the forecast period. The F&B industry is likely to witness an increase in demand for agar agar gum, in the next few years, as a stabilizer and solidifying agent. Agar agar gum is preferred over other polysaccharides due to the large hystersis between the melting and setting temperatures of agar agar gum, an unusual property of a polysaccharide. Agar-agar is primarily utilized in the F&B industry, due to high compatibility of agar agar gum in sugary environment, in order to provide stable structure to concentrated sugary system. Thus, the demand for agar agar gum is expected to rise significantly from sugary food products even after the forecast period. However, rising health concerns (diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, etc.) due to these processed sugary products are likely to hamper the agar agar gum market in the near future.

Agar Agar Gum Market: Segmentation

Based on form, the agar agar gum market can be segmented into:

• Powder
• Flakes
• Strips

The powder segment held a prominent share of the agar agar gum market in 2016, due to its increased usage in applications such as bakery & confectionery, jellies, gums, etc. The powdered form of agar agar gum is easy to use and relatively inexpensive, as compared to other forms of agar agar gum.

Agar Agar Gum Market: Segmentation

Based on application, the agar agar gum market can be segregated into:

• Food & Beverage
  • Bakery & Confectioneries
  • Gums
  • Dairy Products
  • Meat & Fish
  • Others (jam, jellies, water gel desserts, wine etc.)
• Pharmaceutical
• Microbiological

The bakery & confectioneries application segment is likely to witness a significant demand for agar agar gum owing to its very high melting point. The bakery products include pie fillings, icing & glazing of pastries and cakes, etc. Agar gar gum is utilized in confections such as candies, fruit jellies, and candy fillings. Dairy products such as yogurt, ice cream, sherbets, cream cheese, and dairy desserts are witnessing an increasing demand for agar-agar gum. Increasing consumption of meat & fish products such as canned products, and pet food is expected to boost the agar agar gum market in the next few years. Agar agar gum is also employed in the beverage industry for clarification of wine. Pharmaceutical, and microbiological application segments are also estimated to witness an increase in demand for agar-agar gum, as a laxative agent, and culturing media for microorganisms, respectively, during the forecast period.

Agar Agar Gum Market: Region-wise outlook

In terms of geography, the global agar agar gum market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe are projected to dominate the agar agar gum market owing to the high consumption of bakery & confectionery products in these regions. The agar agar gum market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace in the next few years. Agar agar gum is primarily utilized in dairy products in the region.

Agar Agar Gum Market: Key Players

Key players operating in the agar agar gum market include Meron Group, Marine Science Co. Ltd., TIC Gums, and New Zealand Manuka Group. Key manufactures are investing in R&D for development of innovative products.