Starch Derivatives Market Size - By Type, Raw Material, Function, Application, Growth Forecast, 2025 - 2034

Starch Derivatives Market Size

The global starch derivatives market size was valued at USD 59.6 billion in 2024, with expectations to reach USD 91.3 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.5%.
 

There is remarkable growth in starch derivatives which is attributed to the increase in the consumers’ preference towards natural, clean-label, and plant-based ingredients. Due to the rise in health-conscious consumers, who stay away from synthetic and genetically engineered ingredients, is forcing manufacturers to procure starch from natural sources like corn, cassava, potato, and arrowroot. It drives the manufacturing of clean label products like glucose syrup, maltodextrin and modified starches. Within the food and drink industry, clean-label products are garnering growing popularity for their multifunctional roles in thickening, stabilization, emulsification, and sweetening, facile preparations, baked confections, dairy items, and confectionery.
 

For instance, the global revenue in the food market was forecast to continuously increase between 2025 and 2030 by in total USD 3.4 trillion. This growth shows the coming demand for the starch derivatives market as the increase in food industry directly impact the starch derivative market.
 

Aside from food, the pharmaceutical industry utilizes starch derivatives in formulating medicines, where their use improves solubility, stability, and controlled release of active ingredients. The global pharmaceutical industry has experienced significant growth during the past two decades, with revenues totalling around USD 1.6 trillion in 2023. The growth of pharmaceutical industry directly boosts the growth of starch derivatives as it is consistently support drug formulation and enhance market expansion.
 

The use of starch derivatives in non-food industries like cosmetics, textiles, paper, and even biodegradable packaging is an emerging trend. These sectors are adopting such starch-based materials due to the global move toward sustainability since they are more environmentally friendly than synthetic alternatives.  Although the market’s growth is somewhat inhibited by changing prices of raw materials and competition from other natural constituents, increasing industrial uses of starch, along with willingness from consumers to pay more for sustainable label-friendly ingredients, is anticipated to propel the market growth.
 

Starch Derivatives Market Trends

The market for starch derivatives face trends such as technological advancements, shifting consumer tastes and regulatory changes. The processing of starches have been made easier with hydrolysis through enzymes, precise fermentation, and other techniques, which increases versatility in the derived products. These advancements allow manufacturers to refine their offerings which increases the accuracy in formulation, solubility, and stability.
 

Market competition is maintained balanced by continuous product innovations where resistant dextrins and prebiotic fibers are created providing multifunctional derivatives. These changes adapt to the new market demand for fortified functional foods which is growing. There is high demand for such products in infant and sports nutrition, gluten-free foods and vegan options.
 

For example, the global sports nutrition market and supplements was valued at about USD 28.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to increase in value to over USD 37.8 billion by 2028. This increase will help the starch derivatives market in the present times as well as in coming years in more product innovation and market expansion in sports nutrition industry.
 

Growth of the market is driven by changes in food safety regulations, environmental policies, and new labeling regulations on the starch derivative market. Stricter rules on clean label foods and non-GMO ingredients are being set by food authorities across all regions.
 

With their attention increasingly directed towards health, sustainability, and openness, the market for starch derivatives is bound to evolve and remain agile, embracing new technologies and market demands. 
 

Starch Derivatives Market Analysis

Based on type the starch derivatives market is segmented into maltodextrin, cyclodextrin, glucose syrup, hydrolysates, modified starch, liquid starch, others. The maltodextrin accounted for 26.8% of the market share in 2024 and is expected to grow with the CAGR of 4.2% in 2034.
 

• The dominate market share of maltodextrin is attributed to its usage in food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and industrials among starch derivatives. As a result it is used in processed foods, infant formulas and sports nutrition as it is easy to digest, have a completely neutral taste and exhibit excellent binding capabilities. Equal importance is also held by glucose syrup mainly as a sweetener and texture improver in confectionary and bakery items. Hydrolysates are also on the rise due to their nutritional and functional value in dietary supplements and clinical nutrition.
   
• Modified starch is also highly utilized in dressings, sauces, and instant foods owing to its unparalleled thickening and stabilizing properties. Also, liquid starch is gaining popularity in industrial processes like paper & textiles manufacturing industries due to its adhesion. Overall, these starch derivatives serve multiple end-use industries, thus emphasizing their value in the ever-changing global ingredient market.

Based on raw material the starch derivatives market is segmented into corn, potato, wheat, cassava, rice, others. Corn holds the market share of 55.2% in 2024 and expected to grow at a faster rate of 4.6% CAGR in 2034.
 

• Due to its high level of starch, ease of access, and affordability, corn holds the largest share in starch market. It is the cornerstone to produce numerous starch derivatives such as maltodextrin, glucose syrup, and modified starch used in food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors. With strong gelling and thickening abilities, potato starch is popular in specialty food products and even in industries like adhesive manufacturing.
   
• In baking and confectionery, wheat starch is favored for its unique texture and moisture retention. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the global production of wheat starch reached approximately 3.5 million metric tons in 2023, reflecting a 4% annual growth rate over the past five years. This shows the booming market scenario for the wheat starch.
   
• With non-GMO and gluten-free stamps, cassava starch gains growing attention in health-oriented products - clean label goods. Revered for being gentle on skin and having a fine texture, rice starch is utilized for infant nutrition and cosmetics. All these ingredients fulfill different functional as well as market needs, aiding in the diversification of the industry.
   

Based on function the starch derivatives market is segmented into thickening, stabilizing, binding, emulsifying, gelling, moisture retention, others. The thickening holds a significant market size of USD 21 billion of the market in 2024.
 

• Across all industries, the usage of starch derivates is majorly controlled by their thickening functional property. In food products such as sauces, soups, and dressings, it is used in thickening foods into a more viscous form without changing the flavor or color. Thick and richly textured processed and convenience foods are accepted by consumers more, especially due to the improvement of mouthfeel and texture. In addition to food, thickening is very important in controlling drug release in pharmaceuticals and in cosmetics for improving the uniformity of a product's consistency.
   
• Other functions like skin cleaning, thickening, stabilizing, and binding aid in supporting the stability and structure of the product while emulsifying and gelling help retention of moisture in controlling (or preserving) the shelf life. This helps in retaining the freshness of the baked products and snacks. Regardless of everything, across multiple fields of application, thickening is predominant to all and thus serves as the major reason for the adoption of starch derivates.
   

Based on application the starch derivatives market is segmented into food and beverage, feed, paper, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care, textiles, industrial applications, others. The food and beverage segment holds a significant market size of USD 21.5 billion of the market in 2024.
 

• Due to the heavy use of maltodextrin, glucose syrup, and modified starch in the processed foods industry ranging from confectionery to bakery items and even dairy, food and beverages comprise a large chunk of the starch derivatives market. With increased demand for convenience foods, these derivatives help enhance texture, dosage form, shelf life and sweetness of foods. Starch derivatives are also utilized in the feed industry to boost the digestibility and energy content of animal nutrition. Starch liquid and modified starches serve the paper industry as coating, binding, and strength improvement materials of papers to enhance their print quality.
   
• As for the pharmaceutical industry, starch derivatives are used as excipients for tablet formulation, helping with disintegration and drug transport. In personal care and cosmetics, they alleviate sharpness and add smoothness to lotions and creams. Starch sized agents benefit the textile industry while the rest of the industries focus on using starch for making adhesives and biodegradable packaging.

In the starch derivatives market, U.S. accounts the major share in North America by accounting USD 14.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% in 2034.
 

• The U.S. dominates the North American market of starch derivatives due to the food processing industry and high agricultural output and demand for convenience foods. Since the U.S. is the largest corn producer, a primary material for starch derivatives, they are ensured both supply and cost efficiency.
   
• For instances, the United States alone is responsible for almost one third of global corn production, with approximately 86 million acres of land devoted for corn harvesting in 2023.
   
• Starch derivatives are extensively used in processed food products by the major U.S. based food and beverage companies that include maltodextrin, glucose syrup, and modified starch. The pharmaceutical and personal care sectors also use starch derivatives which increase market demand due to their use as excipients and thickeners. The U.S. further strengthens its starch derivatives market with supportive regulations and continual technological advancements.
   

Starch Derivatives Market Share

Top 5 companies include AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Avebe U.A., BENEO GmbH, Cargill, Inc. These are prominent companies within the global starch derivatives industry operating in their respective regions. These companies hold strong positions globally due to their extensive experience in starch derivatives market. Their diverse product portfolios, backed by robust production capabilities and distribution networks, enable them to meet the rising demand for starch derivatives across various regions.
 

Starch Derivatives Market Companies

 AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG: As a market player in the European starch derivatives industry, AGRANA is active in both food and industrial segments. It deals with potato, corn and wheat starches while making strategic gains in clean-label and organic starch derivatives. With an extensive supply chain, AGRANA is active in potato, corn, and wheat-based starches. They focus on R&D investment in tailor-made starch solutions for food, beverages, and paper industries.
 

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM): ADM is at the top of the ladder as a global leader in the starch derivatives industry. ADM’s portfolio encompasses malodextrin, glucose syrup and modified starches. North America, Europe and Asia branches give ADM enormous competitive power against rivals due to company scale. Its priority focus on sustained competitive advantage through sustainable innovation and vertical integration diversify the company’s applied industry from food and beverages to pharmaceuticals and industrial usage.
 

Avebe: Avebe, a Dutch cooperative, is specialized in potato starch-based derivatives. It stands out from the vultures by fending off promoting certain plant-protein value add for the vegan and gluten-free niche. Addition of gluten-free as well as vegan makes the product offer more functionality than ever.
 

BENEO GmbH: BENEO specializes in functional ingredients and focuses on rice and wheat starches. The company healthfully addresses the demand for digestive prebiotic fibers and resistant dextrins, among other products, serving the growing market for digestive health and sugar reduction. BENEO excels in product development through research and regulatory compliance in different markets globally.
 

Cargill, Inc.: Cargill stands as one of the largest global players in the manufacturing of starch derivatives – offering modified starches, glucose syrups and cyclodextrins, among others. With a customer-focused innovation strategy, Cargill serves multiple end-use sectors, like food, feed, paper, textile, and pharmaceutical. Its established R&D capacity, business partnerships, and strong commitment to sustainability further enhance its competitive advantage in this space.
 

Starch Derivatives Industry News:

• In November 2021, Ingredion introduced FILMKOTE 2030, a sustainable barrier starch designed for high-performing oil and grease resistance in food service packaging across the U.S. and Canada. This innovation enables manufacturers to replace fluorochemicals with an eco-friendly alternative, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
   
• In April 2021, Cargill Inc. announced its plans to expand its specialty tapioca starch offerings for the Asia Pacific region. Cargill partnered with Starpro, the food-grade tapioca starch producer in Thailand.
   

The starch derivatives market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates and forecast in terms of revenue in USD Billion from 2021 – 2034 for the following segments:

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Market, By Type

• Maltodextrin
• Cyclodextrin
• Glucose syrup
• Hydrolysates
• Modified starch
  • Cationic starch
  • Hydroxyethyl starch
  • Acetylated starch
  • Pre gelatinized starch
  • Others
• Liquid starch
• Others

Market, By Raw Material

• Corn
• Potato
• Wheat
• Cassava
• Rice
• Others

Market, By Function

• Thickening
• Stabilizing
• Binding
• Emulsifying
• Gelling
• Moisture retention
• Others

Market, By Application

• Food and beverage
  • Bakery and confectionery
  • Dairy products
  • Processed foods
  • Beverages
  • Soups sauces and dressings
  • Others
• Feed
  • Swine feed
  • Ruminant feed
  • Poultry feed
  • Others
• Paper
  • Corrugating
  • Paper making
  • Others
• Pharmaceuticals
  • Tablet binding
  • Coating
  • Others
• Cosmetics and personal care
• Textiles
• Industrial applications
  • Adhesives
  • Bioplastics
  • Others
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe 
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa