Sorbitol Market

Market Overview

The sorbitol market size was valued at USD 1.51 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 2.70 billion in 2030 expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.67% from 2022 to 2030.

 Sugar alcohol is known as sorbitol, and it has been recognised as a possible critical chemical intermediary that can be derived from biomass resources. It is utilised in several sectors as a sweetener, humectant, sequestrant, texturizer, stabiliser, and bulking agent, including the food and beverage industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the cosmetics and personal care industry, and others. As a key preservative, additive, and sweetener in the food business; as a carrier in the pharmaceutical industry; and as an emulsion stabiliser in the cosmetics sector, its usage varies depending on the application areas. Because of this, the market would experience significant expansion in the years to come.

Market Dynamics

Global Sorbitol Market Drivers

Increased Diabetes Prevalence Provides Growth

The expansion of the sorbitol market share is being fueled by a rise in the number of consumers concerned about their health, an increase in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes, and an increase in consumer demand for sweets and processed goods. The WHO tell that the number of individuals living with diabetes has increased from 108 million in the year 1980 to 422 million in the year 2014. It was also discovered that the prevalence of diabetes has been increasing at a more rapid rate in middle-income and low-income nations, and it is anticipated that this would increase demand for sorbitol because it is used as a reduced-calorie alternative to sugar.

Consumption of chocolate confections will rise, driving market expansion

Sorbitol serves as a humectant, moisture-stabilizer, and texturizer, and is widely used in the manufacture of chocolate, baked products, and confectionery. The consumption of chocolate confectionery increased by 2% globally between 2013 and 2018, however it increased by 7.85% cumulatively in nations like China and India over the same time frame. Industry statistics show that between 2013 and 2018, the worldwide sales of baked products increased by 4.6 percent CAGR. In addition, sorbitol serves as a substitute feedstock for the production of propylene glycol, which finds use in a variety of products such unsaturated polyester resins, functional fluids, food and feed, cosmetics, and more. As a result, a variety of its applications in the chemical, cosmetic, food, beverage, plastics, and other sectors are assisting the market's quick expansion.

Sorbitol, which primarily uses sugar alcohol, has 60% greater sweetness intensity than sucrose while having one-third less calories than sugar. The World Health Organization, the European Union, the authorised authorities of Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States Food and Drug Administration all accept its safety profile (FDA). The FDA warns that sorbitol usage in food should not go above the standards of acceptable manufacturing practises.

Since too much sorbitol is known to cause gastrointestinal discomfort, it may have a diuretic effect, which might hurt sales growth. However, its benefits for blood sugar control and oral health exceed its drawbacks. One of the main issues in the study on the worldwide sorbitol industry is the fluctuation in the cost of fundamental raw materials. The sorbitol manufacturing firms are significantly impacted by adherence to international quality standards, pricing competitiveness, and the substantial repercussions of losing a single significant contract.

Global Sorbitol Market Restraints

Seasonal changes might influence the amount of sorbitol that is available. Because the environment has such a significant impact on it, both its quality and price are subject to regular shifts. There are now studies being carried out to investigate the potentially hazardous consequences of sorbitol. The expansion of the sorbitol market is being hampered by several significant factors, some of which are listed here.

Global Sorbitol Market Opportunities

As a nutritional supplement, many individuals are using sorbitol in their diets. It provides several nutritional advantages, which are contributing to the expansion of the sorbitol market share. The increased level of awareness has resulted in a surge in demand for cosmetics and hygiene products that are made with organic or natural ingredients. It is also frequently utilised in the production of oral and dental care products, particularly in the United States.

Regional Analysis

In 2020, the Asia Pacific region led the market and generated more than 55.0 percent of global revenue. The region's sorbitol market is being driven by rising numbers of consumer markets that are expanding quickly and consumers who are becoming more health concerned. Sorbitol is utilised extensively in a variety of products, including chocolates, baked goods, and confectionery.

The general public's shifting lifestyles and the urbanisation of emerging nations have further boosted the need for the product, which is being progressively adopted by end-users to meet customer demand. In the Asia Pacific region, sorbitol is widely utilised for non-food purposes; Japan, for instance, has been a significant importer of the substance for the oral care sector.

Because the region's food and beverage sector is well-established and constantly expanding and adapting to new ingredients, sorbitol is rapidly entering the market in Europe. Consumers in Europe use a significant amount of meat products in their diets. In Europe, processed meat products are the most popular food items.

The European area is not just one of the biggest and most regulated marketplaces for food and drink. Due to the product's use as a sugar replacement in sugar-based meals and drinks as well as meat products, where sorbitol avoids the charring of meat, the market in Europe is anticipated to have strong development potential.

Segmental Analysis

The global sorbitol market is segmented by product, application, end-user, and region.

By Product Analysis

Liquid dominated the market in terms of revenue in 2020, holding more than 77.0 percent of the market. In the pharmaceutical and food and beverage sectors, liquid sorbitol is mostly utilised as a sugar replacement. The usage of the product in these industries is anticipated to be fueled by the rising demand for low-calorie food brought on by the increasing number of health-conscious customers and patients with obesity throughout the world.

The production of frozen raw fish, shrimp balls, roasted fish fillets, dried squid thread, polydextrose (soluble dietary fibre), chewing gum, and mint tablets all use crystal sorbitol as a food ingredient. Additionally, it is utilised in a number of different frozen aquatic goods and sugar-free snacks. Over the course of the projection period, market expansion is anticipated to be aided by the rising demand for application items, particularly in frozen foods and meat products.

Due to their ability to withstand bacterial deterioration and hold onto moisture, crystal-based products are also utilised as humectants in a variety of cosmetic goods, including face creams and moisturisers. Crystal sorbitol is also used as a filler and excipient in the manufacture of pharmaceutical tablets, as well as a plasticizer in the creation of capsule outer shells. So, in the upcoming years, it is projected that the rising need for beauty items would be favourable for sorbitol demand.

By Application Analysis

In 2020, diabetic and dietetic food and drink dominated the market and generated more than 35.0 percent of worldwide revenue. In addition to lowering manufacturing costs for the big producers, the growing worldwide demand for functional foods and economies of scale have opened up new prospects for sorbitol's future growth. However, because sorbitol may be used in their place, a steady rise in demand for sweeteners like maltitol and xylitol is anticipated to constitute a threat to the business.

Sorbitol is used in surfactants as wetting and foaming agents, dispersants, detergents, and emulsifiers. In the food processing sector, the use of biobased surfactants is rising. A range of culinary items, including bread, ice cream, and cakes, benefit from the surfactant's stabilising properties. The surfactants also contribute to increasing shelf life and preserving the viscosity and texture of food items. As a result, during the course of the projected period, the rise of the food processing industry is anticipated to fuel demand for goods made from biobased surfactants.

Over the projection period, the Vitamin C application category is anticipated to increase at the fastest rate. The Reichstein Grussner technique and the two-step fermentation process are the two major production methods used to create vitamin C. Sorbitol is the main raw material used in both manufacturing methods to create ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Due to its reduced cost, Chinese producers generally adopt the two-step fermentation technique.

By End User Analysis

In 2020, the food category dominated the market and brought in more than 35.0 percent of total sales. Typically, sorbitol is added to foods to increase sweetness and eliminate the need for refined sugar. When making ice cream and baked goods, sorbitol not only adds sweetness but also works wonders as a texturizing and anti-crystallization agent. It is frequently used to extend shelf life and preserve the colour, freshness, and variety of bread and confectionery items. Additionally, it is used in the manufacture of canned fruit. Given the growing number of applications for the product in the sector, the food segment is anticipated to dominate the market over the course of the projected period.

Growing consumer interest in dietary supplements because of its nutritional advantages is anticipated to positively affect market expansion in the near future. Additionally, increased worry about low-calorie and sugar-free goods as a result of diabetes' rising prevalence globally is anticipated to be a positive factor for the market's growth in the near future.

One of the essential components for creating bio-based ethylene glycol and propylene glycol is sorbitol. For instance, at its manufacturing site in Illinois, the Archer Daniels Midlands Company and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) started the commercial synthesis of biobased propylene glycol (PG) from sorbitol and glycerol.

The production of this biobased PG was significantly more environmentally friendly, although it had the same chemical composition as the petroleum-based PG. Sorbitol is widely used in chemical applications, which is anticipated to spur the segment's expansion at a pace of 6.6 percent over the projection period.

Recent Developments

• The capacity increase of starches and sweeteners at Archer Daniels Midland's (US) maize mill plants in Razgrad (Bulgaria) and Adana was announced in December 2016. (Turkey). By extending the variety of products to suit rising demand, this growth is a reaction to the company looking for a market potential in the Middle East and Europe.
• By opening an innovation hub for the production of animal protein, sugars, cocoa, edible oils, and starches in China called Cargill ONE in December 2016, Cargill Inc. (US) increased its footprint in Shanghai (China). The goal of this growth is to provide China with cutting-edge culinary items and novel tastes.
• Ingredion Incorporated (US) purchased Shandong Huanong Specialty Corn Development Co., Ltd. in November 2016. (China). With this acquisition, manufacturing of specialist ingredients, such as goods containing starch and sweeteners, will be increased. The firm now operates a second production site in China as a result of this purchase.
• Casablanca (Morocco), a maize wet mill that generates native starch and glucose for use in numerous industries, was purchased by Archer Daniels Midland (US) in June 2016. By making this transaction, the business hopes to improve its position in the worldwide starch and sweetener industry and, in the near future, satisfy rising sorbitol demand.