
Hydrocolloids are those polymers that are readily soluble, dispersive and prone to swell in water and thus change the physical properties of the solution to form gels, or enable thickening, emulsification and/or stabilization. Xanthan, carrageenan, starches and other such naturally occurring substances are some common hydrocolloids used in the market today. Based on their application, hydrocolloids are used in food, oilfields, pharmaceutical, paper and board, textiles and other industries. The major application markets for hydrocolloids are food and oilfields, both by revenue and volume and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years. Asia Pacific is the largest consumer in the hydrocolloids market and China is the single largest country in the world dominating hydrocolloid consumption at present. Japan is another country where hydrocolloids are used in plentiful, followed by Europe and North America and the Rest of the World. Based on product type, Starch and derivatives of starch are the dominant market and these substances at present account for most of the volume and revenue share of all hydrocolloids in any region.