Cellulose Gel Market

A Summary of the Cellulose Gel Market Development

Global demand for cellulose gel is expected to reach a market valuation of US$ 30 million by the year 2023, accelerating at a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period ranging from 2023 to 2033. By the end of the said period of assessment, a valuation of US$ 56.6 million has been projected for the cellulose gel market. The food ingredient which is made of small, pure cellulose particles, with plentiful organic compounds is known as cellulose gel, also called microcrystalline cellulose or MCC. Cellulose is present in all plants' cell walls and is usually the main origin of insoluble fruit and vegetable fiber. The market is supported by:

• Increased Awareness of Nutritious Beverages
• Increasing Technological Advancements
• Ongoing Diversification in Product Portfolios
• Increasing Adoption and Consumption of Convenient Food Products
• Favorable Government Initiatives for Product Development
• Growing Consumer Inclination Towards Organic and Clean-Label Foods
• Outstanding Customer and Employee Experience
• Revenue, Profit Growth, and Business Model Innovation

Cellulose gum, like many other food ingredients, has been found to be generally recognized as safe by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has been used for decades and has been consumed by millions of people around the world in thousands of products we know and recognize. Cellulose gel is used in nutritious beverages, where it simultaneously stops nutrients as well as other components from sticking to one another and settling down, and avoids protein and water separation. Cellulose gel decreases the loss of moisture in cooking and preserves the integrity of the food during cooking. Baked goods are also kept moist and fresh for longer periods. 

Demand for cellulose gel is expected to positively drive the market over the forecast period owing to the focus of extensive R&D by manufacturers to support the food and beverage and other industries such as personal care with the prominent offerings. The utilization of organic and clean-label products has risen in the developed economies due to the perceived health benefits associated with organic products, aiding the growth of the market.

Cellulose gel delivers stability and texture advantages in pharmaceuticals and personal care products such as shampoo, masks, etc. While plant-based is a pleasant and creamy experience, cellulose gel can be used in a wide range of food & beverage applications such as plant-based recipes, to add fiber and decrease calorie count. Medical studies on the use of cellulose gel suggested positive benefits for gastrointestinal and cardiovascular safety.  

Key producers are working on manufacturing Cellulose Gel to gain a greater market share. Manufacturers are working hard for research and development of innovative offerings to serve a large customer base and that will allow the cellulose gel market to grow. Hence, manufacturers are deploying strategies such as mergers & acquisitions to expand their global footprint and their product portfolio. Furthermore, several international market participants are entering into acquisitions and mergers and implementing new technology to increase commercial capacity to gain a major revenue share. 

With the growing energy crisis and limited reserves of traditional energy sources such as oil, the attention of researchers was drawn to natural polymers. Like almost all abundant natural polymer compounds in the world, cellulose has the advantages of non-toxicity, degradability, and biocompatibility. It is used as a class of reproducible crude material for the preparation of hydrogel photocatalytic composites. The network structure and high hydroxyl active sites of cellulose-based hydrogels improve the adsorption performance of catalysts and avoid nanoparticle collisions, indirectly enhancing their photocatalytic performance.

Cellulose Gel Market Overview

The food ingredient which is made of small, pure cellulose particle, with plentiful organic compounds is known as Cellulose gel, also called microcrystalline cellulose or MCC. Cellulose is present in all plants cell walls and is usually the main origin of insoluble fruit and vegetable fibre.

Cellulose gel is used in nutritious beverages, where it simultaneously stops nutrients as well as other components from sticking to one another and settling down, and avoids protein and water separation. Cellulose gel decreases the loss of moisture in cooking and preserves the integrity of the food during cooking. Baked goods are also kept moist and fresh for longer periods.

Cellulose gel delivers stability and texture advantages in pharmaceuticals and personal care products such as shampoo, masks etc. While maintaining a pleasant and creamy experience, cellulose gel can be used in wide range of food & beverage applications such as plant based recipes, to add fibre and decrease calorie count. Medical studies on the use of cellulose gel suggested positive benefits for gastrointestinal and cardiovascular safety.  

Increasing Demand for Cellulose Gel is Gaining Traction in Dairy Applications

Cellulose gel finds use in food products as an ingredient in dairy products like cheese and butter. Cellulose gel gives ice creams and frozen desserts a good mouth feel. The use of cellulose gels also stops crystal formation and functions as a stabilizing agent in ice creams. It has excellent stability to freeze-thaw and therefore finds numerous applications in variety of frozen products. It finds application in cheese & butter to obtain better spreadability.

Cellulose gel imparts good texture and creaminess to the dairy product due to its high water binding potential and emulsion stabilisation property, preventing fat separation. It tends to reduce fat content, and provides dietary fibre enrichment by reducing calories. It promotes creaminess and a great mouth feel in yogurts.

The biggest benefit of cellulose gel in dairy products is a longer shelf-life due to surface moisture reduction. Increasing use of cellulose gel in food industry is contributing to the growth of the global market for cellulose gel in the coming years.

Nandini Roy Choudhury

Principal Consultant

Talk to Analyst

Find your sweet spots for generating winning opportunities in this market.

Talk to Analyst

Global Cellulose Gel: Key Players

Some the key players operating their business in the global cellulose gel market

• DowDuPont
• DFE Pharma GmbH & Co.KG
• JRS Pharma GmbH & Co.KG
• Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
• Roquette
• Avantor Performance Materials Inc
• Rayonier Advanced Materials
• Accent Microcell Pvt. Ltd.
• Sigachi Industrial Pvt. Ltd.

In 2017, DowDuPont (USA) acquired FMC Corporation's (USA) Health & Nutrition business segment. The acquisition has helped the firm extend its pharmaceutical excipient space capabilities. The acquisition also helped the firm in terms of acquiring new cellulose gel ingredients.

Opportunities for Cellulose Gel Market

Aiding to health benefits, cellulose gel demand is expected to rise over the forecast period at significant rate. Compared to so many other food products, the USA FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has recognized cellulose gel to be accepted as safe. In fact, most industry experts have shown, written, and accepted that they are harmless & safe to use in foods.

Cellulose gel is used in medical solutions, sprays of nasal, creams and emulsions. Cellulose gel is very effective in cosmetic products such as pastes, lotion and creams because of the versatility in thixotropic properties and gel strengths. The cellulose gel is also used in formulations for oral treatment, such as toothpaste and dentifrice.

This has created great opportunities to the domestic as well as international players to launch new products in the market to strengthen their consumer base. Asia-Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing market as China and Japan are manufacturing hubs for cellulose gel.

Brief Approach to Research Cellulose Gel Market

A modelling-based approach and triangulation methodology will be followed to estimate data covered in this report. A detailed market understanding and assessment of the source and applications of the product segments covered in the study is followed by carrying out a demand-side approach to estimate the sales of target product segments, which is then cross-referenced with a supply-side assessment of value generated over a pre-defined period.

The statistics and data is collected at a regional level, consolidated and synthesized at a global level to estimate the overall market sizes.

Global Cellulose Gel: Market Segmentation

On the basis of source, global cellulose gel market can be segmented as:

• Wood Cellulose
• Cottonseeds Cellulose

On the basis of application, global cellulose gel market can be segmented as:

• Food & Beverages
• Pharmaceutical
• Cosmetics & Personal Care
• Others

On the basis of region, the global cellulose gel market has been segmented as:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• East Asia
• South Asia
• Oceania
• Middle East & Africa

Key Data Points Covered in the Report

• An overview of the cellulose gel market, including background and evolution
• Macroeconomic factors affecting the cellulose gel market and its potential
• Market dynamics, such as drivers, challenges and trends
• Detailed value chain analysis of the cellulose gel market
• Cost structure of the products and segments covered in the study
• In-depth pricing analysis, by key product segments, regions and by major participants in cellulose gel market
• Analysis of supply and demand, such as top producing and consuming geographies, imports/exports and overall trade scenario
• Analysis of the cellulose gel market structure, including a tier-wise categorization of key market participants
• Competitive landscape of the market, including detailed profiles of the top players in this market