Market Trends of Pectin Industry
Demand for Natural and Clean Label Ingredients
Pectin is a hydrocolloid type sourced from natural fruits and vegetables. Many consumers lean toward plant-based ingredients such as fruit-based pectin instead of animal-based gelatin and prefer clean flavors. Pectin manufacturers are taking initiatives to offer clean-label ingredients for processed food manufacturers. Clean-label ingredients are gaining popularity among consumers globally as they are perceived to be beneficial for health and better for the planet. Consumers prioritize products containing natural, recognizable, simple, and less processed ingredients.
Moreover, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the harmful effects of artificial ingredients and processed and unnatural food products, thus enabling food and beverage manufacturers to opt for cleaner, organic, and more natural ingredients and provide transparency about the food ingredients. Furthermore, consumers associate clean-label food products with simple, easy-to-recognize, healthy, and free from preservatives and artificial additives. Thus, there is an increasing demand for natural preservatives like pectin as thickeners, gelling agents, texturizers, and stabilizers to improve the shelf-life of food products and preserve them during heating.
Thus, surging demand for clean labeled ingredients and natural food additives like pectin among food and beverage manufacturers and regulations from various governmental bodies favoring the use of natural additives in food products propels the market growth in the studied period.
Europe Holds the Major Share in Pectin Market
Europe holds the largest market share in the pectin market, followed by North America. The demand in the region is high owing to the presence and growth of end-use applications for the product. Pectin has been used for various purposes, including thickeners, stabilizers, film and gel formers, and, generally, to maintain or improve food quality. The increasing application area of hydrocolloids, such as managing watery foods' thickening and gelling qualities, is driving the market growth. The growing vegan population is also shaping the market. Customers are reducing meat consumption and looking for naturally derived or vegan options, which may help pectin market growth. For instance, according to The Smart Project (a European Commission-funded collaboration between ProVeg, the Good Food Institute, and 31 partner organizations from 21 different countries), the sales value of plant-based food in Spain was EUR 447.4 million in 2022. This indicates that consumer inclination toward plant-based ingredients might shape the market growth of pectin in the region since it is derived from plant cell walls.
