Global Sugar Polyols Market - 2023-2030

Market Overview

Polyols are a specific group of sugar alcohols formed through the catalytic hydrogenation of carbohydrates. They are found naturally in certain fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms; however, they are also commonly used as sugar-free sweeteners in products such as chewing gum, candies, and beverages. Polyols are bulking ingredients with many technological properties like sugars, with varying degrees of sweetness (less or the same as sucrose). They have proven benefits in terms of dental health, improved glycemic control, and calorie reduction. These properties make them a unique asset in healthy food formulation.

The increase in disposable income and enhanced lifestyles is further anticipated to propel the growth of the sugar polyols market. Furthermore, the increasing alertness regarding the functionalities of sugar polyols in pharmaceutical applications is further estimated to cushion the growth of the sugar polyols market. Moreover, the rising awareness regarding the adverse health effects of consuming high-calorie sugars fuels the demand for low-calorie and zero-calorie sugar substitutes. The increasing demand for low-calorie beverages, mainly soft drinks, energy drinks, and sugar-free foods, primarily propels the growth of the sugar polyols market.

The global sugar polyols market was valued at USD YY million in 2022. It is forecasted to reach USD YY million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.86% during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Market Dynamics: Rising preference towards low-calorie sweeteners drives the market

The replacement of sugar with low-calorie sweeteners, such as xylitol and sorbitol, is expected to reduce calorie intake and thus help manage weight and blood sugar levels. There is a rising inclination toward low-calorie sweeteners, beverages, and foods, such as snack bars, yogurt, ice cream, and grain-based desserts. Global market trends indicate that consumers are moving toward healthy, natural, zero-calorie sweeteners, as many artificial sweeteners are proven to have deteriorating health effects in the long term. Urbanization, the growing working population, and rising household income drive the demand for sugar polyols in emerging economies. The high demand for natural ingredients provides new growth avenues for food sweeteners. In the United States, Canada, Western Europe, and Japan, the consumption of sugar polyols is expected to increase as the diet beverage demand matures. In addition, the research and development to develop innovative and safer sugar alternatives will further provide potential opportunities for the growth of the sugar polyols market in the coming years. For instance, on January 20, 2022, WHO/Europe launched the new, voluntary, member state-led Sugar and Calorie Reduction Network to promote healthier diets and reduce overweight and obesity levels across the WHO European Region.

However, the uncertainty among consumers regarding the side effects of sugar polyols might further challenge the growth of the sugar polyols market. The rising popularity of natural sweeteners such as stevia as an alternative to sugar is expected to be a key restraint for the global sugar polyols market.

Market Segmentation: The sorbitol segment accounted for the highest global sugar polyols market share

The sorbitol segment accounted for the largest revenue market share in 2022, owing to its variety of applications as a bulking agent, sequestrant, thickener, sweetener, and humectants. These applications are majorly attributed to its increasing use as a stabilizer and excipient in medication formulation and in synthesizing synthetic vitamin C. It has led to an increased demand for sorbitol in the pharmaceutical industry. Also, sorbitol demand in bakery and confectionery applications is predicted to grow gradually due to its ability to maintain freshness, prevent degradation, and keep the water content in products like cakes, bread, creams, and jellies at a steady level. Sorbitol is a cryoprotectant element in surimi, an uncooked and highly refined fish paste. It is also used to combine flavors in drinks like fruit juices and carbonated beverages.

In addition, extending the industry's application breadth in the paints and coatings, textile, surfactant, and tobacco industries is likely to open new potential prospects. For instance, on March 10, 2022, Sunar Misir announced that it was expanding its polyols portfolio with a new product, Sunsorb Sorbitol Powder, through a high-technology production facility investment in Turkey. Sunsorb, a sorbitol powder, has been designed for wide application areas. It adds powerful freshness to sugar-free chewing gum and helps produce optimal texture in tableting, giving good hard tablets for confectionary and pharmaceutical applications. Sunsorb Powder presents excellent tableting properties in Pharma-grade effervescent, chewable, and swallows able tablets. It is also used as a filler/binder in lozenges and pellets.

Geographical Penetration: North America is the dominant region during the forecast period

North America is expected to witness substantial growth due to the growing popularity of clean-label products. The popularity of clean-label products is expanding, as is buying power parity. Also, as consumers become more aware of the harmful health implications of excessive sugar intake, the market is likely to grow rapidly. Furthermore, governments in many countries are imposing sugar levies on sugar-containing items to combat lifestyle diseases, including obesity and diabetes, which is projected to drive market expansion. According to the American Heart Association, sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugars consumed by people. The rising demand for sugar-free beverages among consumers drives the growth of the sugar polyols market. Consumers nowadays look for indulgent products that are also healthy. Furthermore, new product launches such as sugar-free energy drinks, soda, and soft drinks containing these sweeteners by beverage giants are expected to contribute to the market's growth in the region. For instance, on May 8, 2020, Ingredion launched its first polyols sweetener, ERYSTA® Erythritol. The sweetener enables manufacturers to reduce or replace sugar to achieve nutrition-related claims, such as "no added sugar" or "calorie-reduced," in multiple applications.

Competitive Landscape:

Some prominent players in the sugar polyols market include Cargill, Inc., Sweeteners Plus, LLC, B Food Science Co., Ltd., Gulshan Polyols Ltd., Ingredion, Inc., Roquette Freres, PT. Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Mitsubishi Corporation Life Sciences Ltd., Tereos, and SPI Pharma. Key market participants are largely investing in research and innovation practices to develop sustainable and advanced processes to manufacture sugar polyols using industrial waste. For instance, on March 23, 2022, Roquette invested €25 million (US$27.5 million) in its Lestrem, France, site to boost the production of liquid and powder polyols by 2024. The investment is intended to facilitate a reliable supply of polyols. On March 23, 2021, the RSSL launched a new sugar reduction guide. There is increasing pressure from consumers and the government to reduce the amount of sugar in food products. Many ingredients are available, but selecting the most appropriate solution for your product can take time and effort. This product from RSSL is designed to help you with the process of reducing sugar.

COVID-19 Impact: Positive impact on the global sugar polyols market

Robust changes brought in by the COVID-19 pandemic in the sugar polyols supply chain, and consumer behavior shifted the business players to be vigilant and forward-looking to stay ahead in the competition. The economic and social impact of COVID is noted to vary highly between different countries and markets, and players in the sugar polyols market have designed country-specific strategies. For instance, on July 7, 2020, Cargill launched the newest sweetener, CTruSweet® 01795, which allows 30% sugar, and calorie reduction in beverages and other culinary applications through lower consumption levels. Furthermore, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have been concerned about the food they have consumed, which has increased their inclination towards living and eating healthily, which has propelled the demand for sugar polyols further.

The global sugar polyols market report would provide an access to approximately 53 market data tables, 50 figures and 200 pages