SORBITOL MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

Market Size and Trends

The sorbitol market is estimated to be valued at USD 1.89 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.0 Bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% from 2024 to 2031.

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The global sorbitol market is anticipated to grow moderately over the forecast period. One of the major drivers responsible for the growth of sorbitol globally includes their increasing applications in various industries such as food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and others. Sorbitol is extensively used in food products such as candy, baked goods, chewing gum, jam, and jelly. In the pharmaceuticals industry, sorbitol acts as a stabilizing and bulking agent in liquid dosage forms and directly compressed tablets. Moreover, rising consumer preference for low-calorie, sugar-free food & beverages has further augmented the demand for sorbitol in recent years.

Expanding applications in dairy foods and bakery products

Sorbitol is increasingly being used as a functional ingredient in various dairy and bakery applications owing to its appealing properties such as stability, texture modification, and moisture retention abilities. Sorbitol helps improve the texture, appearance, and shelf life of numerous dairy food products such as yogurt, frozen desserts, cheese, and others. Its hygroscopic nature allows it to retain moisture in baked goods and processed foods. This helps enhance softness and freshness in products. Moreover, being non-cariogenic and having low calorific value, sorbitol represents a healthier sugar alternative in various baked foods. The global dairy industry has been expanding steadily, driven by factors such as rising health consciousness, growth of food processing industry and increasing disposable incomes in developing regions. Yogurt, cheese and frozen novelty products segment in particular has emerged as major application areas for sorbitol. Additionally, the demand for reduced sugar and sugar-free bakery goods has been surging with growing vegan and health-conscious population. Many manufacturers have been utilizing sorbitol blends to replace sugar in cakes, pastries, cookies, and snack bars while maintaining texture and taste. This is expected to augment the uptake of sorbitol in the years to come.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

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The personal care market has witnessed sturdy expansion worldwide attributed to improving living standards and changing lifestyle patterns. For instance, according to the International Trade Administration, Thailand's beauty and personal care goods market was valued at around US$ 6.21 billion in 2018 and expanded to US$ 8.0 billion by 2022. The oral care segment, consisting of toothpaste, mouthwashes, and dental floss among others, represents a major application area for sorbitol. It is commonly used in toothpaste for functions such as moisturization, viscosity modification, and taste masking of active ingredients. In fact, sorbitol has established itself as the primary humectant in the majority of toothpaste brands available in global markets today owing to its excellent hydrating properties, stability, and ability to provide cleaning action. With increasing expenditure on oral healthcare, rising emphasis on dental hygiene and growing popularity of herbal and natural oral care products, the demand for specialized toothpaste formulas is on the rise. This has created lucrative opportunities for sorbitol suppliers.

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The sorbitol market faces technological challenges arising from its nature as a sugar substitute. As consumer preferences shift toward reduced sugar options, manufacturers must develop formulation methods to mask sorbitol's bitter taste in various product applications. Regulatory bodies continuously monitor sorbitol's health impacts, requiring suppliers to navigate a complex compliance landscape.

Market Opportunities: Growing Global Diabetes Population

The rapidly growing global diabetes population and rising health consciousness present sizable opportunities. Many view sorbitol as a preferable sugar alcohol to sucrose. Expanding into new product segments can help increase uptake, such as beyond its core usage in gum and candy. Partnerships with scientific advisors may aid innovating novel delivery systems to broaden sorbitol's functionalities.

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Insights, By Product Type: Convenience Fuels the Liquid Sorbitol demand

In terms of product type, liquid sorbitol contributes 75% share of the market owing to its easy handling properties and wide applications in food and beverage industries. Liquid sorbitol dissolves readily in water without leaving any crystalline residue, making it very convenient to use in beverage formulations. It does not require complex blending equipment and can be directly added to formulations during production. This simplifies production processes for beverage manufacturers and lowers costs associated with equipment and labor. Liquid sorbitol also better masks unwanted tastes and provides superior mouthfeel in beverages compared to the crystalline form. Its uniform consistency allows for precise dosing and quality control. Thanks to such handling advantages, liquid Sorbitol has found wide use in drink concentrates and syrups where uniform solubility and absence of grittiness are important quality factors. Food processors also prefer liquid Sorbitol for candy coatings and fillings due to its complete solubility. The ease of dosing and use has made liquid sorbitol a top choice for industrial food production where automation and minimal processing steps are priorities. This widespread demand from major end-use industries has contributed to liquid Sorbitol capturing the largest share in the overall product type segment. 

Insights, By Application: Health Applications Drive the Diabetic & Dietetic Food & Beverage segment

In terms of application, the diabetic & dietetic food & beverage segment contributes 39.1% share to the overall sorbitol market. This is primarily due to the growing health consciousness among consumers and the expanding diabetic population worldwide. Sorbitol is widely used as a low-calorie sugar substitute in various food products targeted for diabetics and health-conscious individuals. It has only about 60 percent as many calories as sugar but provides similar bulk, texture, and flavor to foods. Additionally, sorbitol does not spike blood glucose levels unlike normal sugars. This makes it an ideal sweetener for dietetic foods and beverages. Moreover, with the increase in lifestyle-related diseases, consumers are actively seeking healthier food options. This surge in demand for low-sugar, low-glycemic foods and beverages has boosted the sorbitol intake. Its use in yogurts, nutrition bars, baked goods, sugar-free chewing gums and hard candies has grown significantly. Furthermore, sorbitol acts as a moisturizer and humectant, improving shelf-life and freshness of baked goods and snacks. Driven by health trends and evolving consumer preferences, the diabetic & dietetic food & beverage segment is projected to continue dominating Sorbitol consumption patterns in the future.

Insights, By End-Use Industry: Quality and Safety Concerns Propel the Food industry demand

Among end-use industry, food captures the 41% share of the overall sorbitol market owing to the clean-label status and functional benefits it provides. Being a naturally sourced sugar alcohol synthesized from corn or other fruits by catalytic hydrogenation, Sorbitol is accepted as a 'natural' and 'clean' sugar substitute. This provides a marketing advantage for food producers targeting health-conscious consumers. Moreover, as a bulking agent and humectant, sorbitol maintains moisture in baked goods, improving texture and prolonging shelf-life without allowing microbial growth. It is also widely used as a sweetener, thickener, stabilizer and texturizer across various food applications such as chewing gum bases, candies, jams, jellies, marmalades, frozen desserts, dairy products, and others. Significantly, with growing food safety issues, industrial producers prefer Sorbitol for standardization and quality assurance purposes. Being a crystalline powder, it can be easily incorporated into formulas without variation. Furthermore, strict norms against sugar additions has uplifted sorbitol's prominence. Driven by regulatory tailwinds, clean label trends and multifunctional profile, sorbitol intake from the food industry will continue to expand robustly over the coming years.

Regional Insights

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North America has established itself as the dominant region in the global sorbitol market over the past decade with 41.4% of the market share. The U.S., in particular, accounts for the largest share due to strong demand from the pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries in the region. Major pharmaceutical firms have expanded their manufacturing bases in the U.S. and have been steadfastly utilizing sorbitol as an excipient in the production of various drugs. Additionally, the growing health-conscious consumer base has boosted the demand for sugar-free and low-calorie food products incorporating sorbitol as a substitute. This is evident from the marked uptake of sorbitol in various confectionery and bakery goods. Furthermore, several domestic manufacturers have set up production sites across the U.S. to match this burgeoning local demand.

The Asia Pacific region, on the other hand, has emerged as the fastest growing market for sorbitol globally. China represents the major share in the APAC sorbitol landscape due to its large population size and increasing per capita disposable income levels. The nutraceuticals sector in particular has witnessed an expansion over the review period as consumers pay increased attention to dietary supplements and functional foods using sorbitol. Moreover, an ongoing shift towards healthier lifestyle habits has augmented the need for low-glycemic sugar substitutes like sorbitol across various food applications. This has prompted Chinese producers to enhance indigenous sorbitol manufacturing infrastructure in order to cater to rising domestic needs while also pursuing new export opportunities. Overall, rapid industrialization coupled with health-focused demographic trends has propelled Asia Pacific to the forefront of the global sorbitol market expansion.

Market Report Scope

Key Developments

• Psaltry International launched the first and second largest cassava-based sorbitol factory in Africa on August 4, 2022, in Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria. The factory has a capacity to produce 25 tons of sorbitol per day and is a significant step in enhancing the cassava value chain in Africa.
• In March 2022, Sunar Misir expanded its polyol portfolio by introducing Sunsorb Sorbitol Powder through an investment in a high-tech production facility in Turkey. This new product is designed for various applications, including sugar-free chewing gum, pharmaceuticals, and confectionery, offering excellent tableting properties.
• In November 2020, Roquette introduced Lycagel, a plant-based softgel capsule containing pea starch, carrageenan (from marine microalgae), Neosorb sorbitol, and other components
• In 2021, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) completed the acquisition of Sojaprotein, a prominent Europe-based provider of non-GMO soy ingredients. This acquisition significantly expanded ADM's global alternative protein capabilities, enabling the company to meet the increasing demand for plant-based foods and beverages.

*Definition: he sorbitol market involves the production, distribution, and sale of sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is widely used as a moisturizer and sweetener in various food products such as chewing gum, candies, frozen desserts, and baked goods. It is also used as a thickening agent and humectant in oral care and pharmaceutical products.

Market Segmentation

• Product Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn & KT, 2019 - 2031)
  • Liquid
  • Crystal
•  Application Insights (Revenue, USD Bn & KT, 2019 - 2031)
  • Oral Care
  • Vitamin C
  • Diabetic & Dietetic Food & Beverage
  • Others (Surfactant, etc.)
•  End-use Industry Insights (Revenue, USD Bn & KT, 2019 - 2031)
  • Personal Care
  • Chemical
  • Food
  • Others (Pharmaceuticals, etc.)
• Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn & KT, 2019 - 2031)
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • Spain
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
    • GCC Countries
    • Israel
    • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
  • American International Foods, Inc.
  • ADM
  • Cargill Incorporated
  • DuPont
  • Gulshan Polyols Ltd.
  • Merck KGaA
  • Ecogreen Oleochemicals GmbH
  • Qinhuangdao Lihua Starch Co., Ltd.
  • Roquette Frères
  • SPI Pharma
  • Tereos
  • Ingredion Incorporated
  • Kasyap Sweeteners, Ltd.
  • Vizag Chemicals
  • CDH Fine Chemical
  • Gayatri bioorganics
  • Silverline Chemicals