The global glucose (dextrose) market size was valued at USD 47.12 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 71.85 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period (2023–2031).
Glucose is the most prevalent carbohydrate and is classified as a monosaccharide, an aldose, and a reducing sugar. The chemical formula for glucose is C6H12O6. The majority of plants and algae use solar energy to produce glucose during photosynthesis from water and carbon dioxide, which is then used to build cellulose, the most common carbohydrate in nature, in the cell walls.
Glucose is the most important energy source in the energy metabolism of all organisms. Glucose is stored as a polymer for metabolism, primarily as starch and amylopectin in plants and glycogen in mammals. Due to its dextrorotatory properties, which lead it to rotate plane-polarized light to the right as an optical isomer and serve as the basis for the letter D, it is also known as dextrose. As glucose circulates in the blood at a concentration of 65–110 mg/dL, it is also known as blood sugar.
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Confectionaries are on major global growth, particularly among the adult population. This is because of the major players' increasing number of product innovations. The manufacturers are experimenting with new types of sweets and chocolates to expand their profits in the region and the global market. The key ingredients for sugar-based confectionery are glucose syrups, sucrose, and inverted sugars.
Consumers' sentimental and historical ties to these products also contribute to their success in the marketplace. As per the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), chocolate consumption provides instant pleasure and comfort and relieves negative moods or bad feelings. In the case of traditional attachments, chocolate and other sugar products are also experiencing huge demands during the new year, Christmas, and Valentine's Week. This is because of the emerging practice of gifting sweet items to dear ones. Therefore, the rise in sugar and chocolate confectionery consumption is expected to boost market growth.
Glucose is an ingredient due to its natural properties in formulating cosmetics and personal care products. It is used as a flavoring agent, humectant, and skin-conditioning agent (humectant and miscellaneous), among others. Sugar ingredients benefit skin care products due to their natural and non-toxic properties. In addition, the fact behind its usage in cosmetics is its high solubility in water, prebiotic and humectant nature. Some of the basic sugar cosmetics products available in the market are day creams, night creams, eye creams, body lotions, and for hair, including masks and styling hair products.
According to the National Library of Medicine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, sugar is a well-known cosmetic ingredient for whitening and moisturizing skin with minimal side effects. Similarly, companies are investing in green surfactants and green materials across the cosmetics market. For instance, Clariant AG, a Swiss multinational specialty chemicals company, has green surfactants made from plant sugars under the GlucoTain line of its portfolio. Such factors drive market expansion.
The excess consumption of sugar and associated products harms health and may result in issues like diabetes, obesity, higher blood pressure, inflammation, and fatty liver disease. The issues above are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Other major risks associated with excess sugar intake include tooth decay, acne, aging, and skin.
Additionally, the symptoms associated with excess sugar consumption include low energy levels, low mood, and bloating. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans consume high amounts of added sugar. Americans consume 17 teaspoons (tsp) of added sugar daily, up to 270 calories. Such health risks associated with excess sugar consumption are estimated to restrict market growth.
Manufacturers in the market should benefit from increased R&D in several sectors, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and others, as well as a strategy to track the unexplored market. A prominent trend gaining traction in the glucose market is the introduction of low-sugar glucose syrup. Major companies in the glucose market are concentrating on releasing low-sugar glucose syrups to satisfy customer demand and strengthen their market position.
For instance, in November 2020, Ingredion, an American manufacturer of glucose-related products, introduced a stable delicious, low-sugar glucose syrup. The low-sugar glucose syrup is produced with the aid of maize. In addition, the company would offer these stable, sweet, low-sugar glucose syrups in various products, including chewy candies, lollipops, hard-boiled candy, jellies, and gummies. This improves the finished product's color and shelf-life stability, lowering stickiness and sugar recrystallization. Such innovations by the key players are expected to offer tremendous opportunities for the market players.
| Study Period | 2019-2031 | CAGR | 4.8% |
| Historical Period | 2019-2021 | Forecast Period | 2023-2031 |
| Base Year | 2022 | Base Year Market Size | USD 47.12 Billion |
| Forecast Year | 2031 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 71.85 Billion |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific | Fastest Growing Market | Europe |
Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market
Based on region, the global glucose (dextrose) market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.
Asia-Pacific is the highest global glucose (dextrose) market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. The demand for glucose in Asia-Pacific is increasing due to a large consumer base and end-use industries. The market development in this region is attributed to raw material availability and the countries' substantial production capacity of glucose. Asia-Pacific's glucose market will likely grow rapidly due to the region's expanding food and beverage sector. Rising consumer demand for clean-label foods and beverages has compelled manufacturers to increasingly focus on sustainable sourcing of ingredients.
In addition, glucose is sourced from natural products such as corn and rice starch. This is expected to drive the demand for glucose. Natural and organic glucose syrups and glucose powder are gaining traction owing to increased demand for natural end-products in the region. Therefore, market players are keen on sourcing organic raw materials to produce organic glucose. For instance, Southeast Asia Organic Co., Ltd., a Thailand-based organic products company, has offered organic glucose powder as non-dairy creamer. It finds applications in beverages, ice creams, yogurts, puddings, and infant rehydration formulas.
Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 3.9% over the forecast period. Europe is a fragmented market for glucose, with many small and medium-sized glucose manufacturers. The majority of dextrose is produced from corn, as Europe is one of the leading producers of corn. Regulatory and societal trends, such as the growing number of policy recommendations and industry commitments to minimize the sugar content of various foods and beverages, indicate that despite the end of the sugar production quota, total sugar consumption in the EU will remain consistent or even decline. In many food applications, glucose can be used without altering the final product's taste. It is easier to use as a liquid syrup in certain food applications. Moreover, it can improve the product's texture, color and enhance flavor better than artificial sweeteners. On the back of these factors, demand for glucose is anticipated to increase by European food manufacturers over the forecast period.
The North American glucose market is primarily driven by the expanding product applications in the food and beverage industry. The growth of end-user industries for glucose in the region is expected to drive the market. The rising prevalence of diabetes is expected to limit the consumption of glucose-containing products in the region. Therefore, market players are developing glucose products with reduced levels of sugar. For instance, Ingredion, a U.S.-based food ingredients company, offered VERSASWEET, a range of low-sugar corn- or tapioca-based glucose syrups. It is 1/3 times sweet as sucrose and has a 50-70% lower content of mono- and disaccharides (DP1 + DP2) compared to traditional glucose syrups. In addition, the cosmetics and personal care industry is likely to grow in the region owing to the increasing demand for premium skincare and hygiene products from the high-income population of North America. These factors are likely to spur the market growth.
The Middle East and Africa has become a dynamic region for processed food and food ingredients. The recession in the global oil market has impacted the whole of the Middle East due to the economic slowdown in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In contrast, the economic growth of Iran, Egypt, and Turkey balances it. In addition, the Middle East is differentiated from other regions because it imports over 80% of its processed food demand. Africa is facing a malnutrition epidemic. As per the report published by World Vision, Inc. (a U.S.-based NGO), hunger is increasing at an alarming rate in Africa. As of 2019, 234 million sub-Saharan Africans were chronically malnourished. In Africa, 250 million people—nearly 20% of the population—experienced hunger as of 2019. The demand for glucose in the region is anticipated to rise during the forecast period because glucose is crucial in treating malnutrition.
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The global glucose (dextrose) market is segmented by form and application.
Based on form, the global glucose (dextrose) market is bifurcated into syrup and solid forms.
The syrup segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.01% over the forecast period. Glucose syrup is commonly offered in a colorless, dense form with a sweet taste. It is derived from corn, tapioca, wheat, or rice by hydrolysis of starch. In pharmaceutical applications, liquid glucose is used in cough syrups, tonics, and injections. It is further used in cosmetics and personal care products as a humectant and moisturizing agent. A major application of glucose syrups is in food and beverages, which boosts the taste and texture of foods and beverages. Its properties, such as preventing crystallization and a lowering freezing point, keep the product soft. Its usage in sauces, ice creams, jams, and jellies has increased due to its advantageous properties. Key players such as ADM and Cargill, Incorporated have been focusing on developing reduced sugar glucose syrups due to increased consumer demand for low-calorie and low-sugar food products from consumers.
Dried forms of glucose, such as glucose powders, are widely used in food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Glucose products also treat hypoglycemia, instantly increasing blood-glucose levels and boosting energy. Roquette Frères offers dried corn glucose, where this glucose is subjected to spray drying to form a powder. It can be used as a filler/binder and finds application in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals such as swallowable tablets, granules, pellets premix, and medicated confectioneries. Glucose is mainly used in food and beverages.
Additionally, the surging trend of natural and organic food and beverages is further expected to boost the demand for natural sweeteners. Elementa, a French ingredients supplier of health products, offers Crystal Dextrogrape, a natural dextrose powder derived from grapefruit. It is 99.5% pure and can be used as a sweetener, containing between 50% and 70% of saccharose. Demand for organic products is increasing from consumers leading to increasing usage of organic glucose powders in food and beverages. Market players are therefore sourcing organic raw materials to produce organic glucose.
Based on application, the global glucose (dextrose) market is segmented into food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care, pulp and paper, and others.
The food and beverage segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. Glucose adds volume, smooth finish, and taste to food and beverages. Glucose further improves stability and extends the shelf-life of food and beverage products. Sugar syrup alters the viscosity and texture of food, which helps modify its sensory properties and provides a better mouthfeel. Glucose (dextrose) finds application in various food formulations such as soft drinks, toppings, sauces, salad dressings, and soups. It also provides coating effects in confectionery applications and improves the browning effect in baked goods. In addition, sweetened food and beverages are gaining popularity globally owing to their better mouthfeel. As per Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, sugar consumption is expected to reach 173.5 million metric tons worldwide in 2021, whereas sugar consumption is projected to reach 195.9 million metric tons by 2030 globally. Growing demand for sweetened products is anticipated to support the growth of the glucose market.
Dextrose has a variety of applications, and dairy is one of the emerging segments where dextrose has been increasing over the past few years. It is ideal for balancing the sweetness of dairy and fermented products. It also increases the shelf life when formulating dairy products such as frozen and dairy beverages. Frozen desserts such as ice creams, lollies, and water ice require mild sweetness. Therefore, dextrose is useful in such applications as it improves palatability and melt-down characteristics. In addition, manufacturers of dextrose are increasingly focusing on dairy applications, as it controls the sweetness and provides instant energy when used in dairy beverages. For instance, Tate & Lyle, a UK-based dextrose manufacturer, produces DEXSTAR, a dextrose-based sweetener for dairy applications. Owing to these factors, the demand for dextrose in dairy applications is anticipated to grow substantially over the forecast period.
