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Hydrocolloids are members of a class of materials known as water-soluble polymers—organic substances that dissolve, disperse or swell in water and, thus, modify the physical properties of aqueous systems.
Starches dominate the hydrocolloids market with over 90% of the category on a weight basis. Excluding starches, the global market for hydrocolloids was worth about $7.0 billion in 2006. Compared with other hydrocolloids, starches and their derivatives have a lower average value by weight and are worth roughly $12 billion, giving a total global hydrocolloids market size of over $19 billion. Within the developed countries of the world, the demand for hydrocolloids has matured. Between 2006 and 2011, the world aggregate growth rate for hydrocolloids consumption is expected to be in the range of 3.0–4.0% per year. Some hydrocolloids will exceed this growth rate, such as xanthan and carrageenan, while starches will be at the low end of the growth range. Overall, food is the dominant application for hydrocolloids, followed by oil field and pharmaceutical applications.
North American consumption of hydrocolloids is concentrated in the United States. Starch and starch derivatives make up the largest segment, followed distantly by higher-value hydrocolloids such as guar gum and derivatives, casein, gelatin and others. In most of the hydrocolloid applications, only modest growth is anticipated. An exception is oil field applications where guar gum and derivatives have experienced exceptional growth following recent greater intensity of oil production. Hydrocolloids have historically experienced some intermaterial competition with other hydrocolloids, or synthetic and semisynthetic polymers. Many formulations that include hydrocolloids are subject to substitution as prices increase.
Slow population growth, coupled with moderate economic growth, is expected to keep growth of hydrocolloids in Western Europe at an average annual rate of about 1.5% during 2006–2011, while in the smaller market of Central and Eastern Europe, growth will be faster at an average annual rate of about 5.0%.
Japan accounts for about 54% of Asian consumption of hydrocolloids. Most hydrocolloids in Japan are imported from overseas sources; exceptions are agar, alginates, carrageenan and gelatin. A slowly recovering economy is not expected to increase Japanese hydrocolloid consumption through 2011. China accounts for about 44% of Asian consumption of hydrocolloids.
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