Industrial Starch Market Size, Share & Emerging Innovations

Industrial Starch Market Size and Growth Analysis

The global industrial starch market size was estimated at USD 124.65 billion in 2024 and is predicted to increase from USD 134.87 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 274.14 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 8.20% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. Expanding food and beverage sector and use of starch as gelling, thickening and stabilizing agent significantly fostering the market.

Key Highlights

• By region, North America dominated the market with the highest share of 49% in 2024. The market is fostered by the increased purchase of processed meals.
• By region, Asia Pacific is observed to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. With the growing need for food and industrial goods, the demand for starch has risen. 
• By application, the food and beverage segment contributed the largest market share of 58% in 2024. Starch is used in a different purposes including gelling, thickening, replacing, and adding stability or extending more costly ingredients.
• By application, the pharmaceuticals segment is expected to expand at the highest CAGR of 9.2% during the predicted timeframe. Starch is non-toxic, biocompatible and affordable because of these properties are starch is significantly used by pharmaceutical companies as the excipients for the formulation.
• By source, the corn segment held the dominating share of the industrial starch market in 2024. Rising industrialization in food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, biofuel, cosmetics and increasing demand for the plant based natural product propelling the market’s growth.
• By source, the wheat segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period. The increasing awareness of the health related with gluten-free products has risen the demand for the wheat starch
• By product, the native starch and starch derivatives & sweeteners segment held the largest share of the market in 2024. In retort to growing demand, food manufacturers are utilizing natural starch and thus increasing the demand for native starch.
• By product, the cationic starch segment is anticipated to grow at the noteworthy CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period. Cationic starch helps to improve tear strength, binding and holding capacity along with increasing filler and fiber retentions.

Surging Industrial Expansion Expanding the Industrial Starch Market

Starch is a complicated carbohydrate polymer created by plants, particularly by crops, in large quantities. Starch is crucial for both humans and animals as a source of nourishment and energy. Today, starch is frequently utilized in non-food industrial sectors for numerous applications. A key factor driving the industrial starch market is the growing consumer demand for processed and convenient foods. As the contemporary way of life accelerates, there is an increasing need for convenience meals and processed food items. Starch is essential in the food processing sector because it serves as a thickening agent, stabilizer, and texturizer. The market is experiencing considerable expansion fueled by rising demand in multiple sectors, such as food and drinks, paper products, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. 

• For instance, the EU uses 7.2 million tonnes of starch, with 53% for food, 2% for feed, and 45% for non-food purposes, mainly in paper production.

Industrial Starch Market Trends 

• In recent years, the move towards health-focused consumer preferences has increased the demand for sustainable and all-natural foods, leading to the growth of clean-label products. To tackle this issue, food industries are progressively utilizing native starches from unconventional origins, applying environmentally friendly physical, enzymatic, and alternative modifications to improve functionality. 
• The development and use of biodegradable starch-based materials have garnered more attention due to the recognized challenges of oil depletion and the rising desire to alleviate the environmental impact caused by the widespread usage of petroleum-based polymers. The increasing utilization of starch as a filler in polymers to enhance the biodegradability of polymer-based products and growing demand for biodegradable packaging products boosting the industrial starch market. 
• The market is experiencing extensive investments and partnerships with objective of research and development for the market expansion. 
• For instance, in February 2025, in Ingredion Incorporated, a major company providing ingredients to food and beverages industries, invested $50 million in its Cedar Rapids, for modernization and expansion of the production of industrial starches for the papermaking and packaging industries. 
• The market is expanding because of the broader application spectrum of enhanced modified starches and the advancement of new starch processing methods. To address the pressing demand for the creation of wholesome, nutritious, and appetizing food, numerous innovative processing technologies associated with starch-based foods have appeared in recent years, including additive manufacturing techniques and starch molecular modification methods. 

Market Opportunity 

Innovation in Resistant and Modified Starches: Catalyst for Market Expansion

As interest in reducing environmental pollution and promoting sustainable healthcare increases, techniques for resistant starch preparation utilizing eco-friendly technologies have undergone significant research. Utilizing starch in 3D food printing provides numerous advantages, such as enhanced food presentation, the possibility of integrating flavors and ingredients into the printed dishes, biodegradability, and fostering increased creativity. With ongoing technological advancements, market of modified starch is boosting. The outlook for modified starch technology is expected to concentrate on precise alterations, allowing for the tailoring of starches to fulfill industrial needs. In addition, the merging of biotechnology and materials science presents significant possibilities for creating starch-based nanomaterials, leading to innovative opportunities in fields like medicine, electronics, and more.

Market Challenge 

Overpriced Raw Materials Hampering the Market Growth 

Natural sources like rice, wheat, tapioca, and corn are utilized as raw materials in the production of modified starch and its derivatives. These raw materials are commonly employed in the manufacturing of modified starch utilized in bio-ethanol products. The growing use of modified starch in areas like food and beverages, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and paper drive up the demand for this starch, which ultimately causes an increase in raw material prices. The elevated expense of raw materials primarily results from the significant transport costs associated with moving raw materials to various industrial sites across the globe that collectively hampers the industrial starch market growth. 

Regional Insights 

North America Held the Dominating Share of the Industrial Starch Market in 2024. 

The growth of the market is increased by the purchase of processed meals. For improving the texture, moisture management, and as stabilizer for various products, such as yoghurt, bakery products, and convenient foods industrial starch is critical factor. Increased demand for clean label products consumers is opting for organic and sustainable products rising the demand for the organic industrial starch, benefiting the market.

The United States industrial starch market is mainly propelled by the transformative digital platforms within the food and beverages company, development of e-commerce, and food traceability by blockchain. Furthermore, the robust agricultural infrastructure and government initiatives for organic agricultural practices, innovative product development by leading companies expanding the market of United States.

• Almost 28 industrial starch firms are situated in the United States and other 49 situated worldwide outside of the U.S. These firms utilize up to 90 MMT i.e. 3.5 billion bushels of corn per year.

Asia Pacific Observed to Grow at the Fastest Rate in the Industrial Starch Market During the Forecast Period. 

With the growing need for food and industrial goods, the demand for starch has risen, as it is an essential component in numerous food products and industrial uses. In numerous Asia Pacific nations, urbanization has resulted in alterations to dietary habits and ways of life. City dwellers frequently favor convenience and processed foods with starch-based components, increasing demand. Starches obtained from gluten-free origins like corn, tapioca, and rice were highly sought after for formulating gluten-free products. Health-aware consumers sought starches with particular nutritional qualities. This resulted in heightened interest in resistant starches, which may offer health advantages like better digestion and blood sugar control. 

Emerging Industrial Starch Market of India 

The continuous industrialization and modernization are expected to drive the need for industrial starch market of India. The food and beverage sector continues to be the biggest user of industrial starch in India. Investment prospects are increasing in the creation of starch-derived adhesives and bioplastics, addressing the need for environmentally friendly options in multiple sectors. India's solid agricultural base allows the nation to generate top-quality raw materials such as corn, wheat, and tapioca. Improvements in farming techniques, enhanced crop outputs, and supportive government measures for farmers are anticipated to continue guaranteeing a consistent supply of starch-producing crops.

Segmental Insights

Application Insights

The Food and Beverage Segment Led the Industrial Starch Market in 2024. 

Starch is used in a different type of foods and purposes such as adding stability, thickening, and replacing costly ingredients. Starches gaining popularity due to their comparatively low cost, availability, and specialized properties.

• For example, in August 2024, Al Ghurair Foods, a leading food processing company in the UAE, celebrated its advanced new Corn Starch Manufacturing Plant at Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. 

The pharmaceuticals segment is seen to grow at a notable rate during the predicted timeframe. Starch is nontoxic, biocompatible and affordable because of these properties are starch is significantly used by pharmaceutical companies as the excipients for the formulation of tablets, capsules and syrups. It is also used as drug carrier in pharmaceuticals. The escalating pharmaceutical industry and investment in the research and development fostering the market of industrial starch. As per the survey conducted by the Indian Economy in 2021, the domestic market is projected to expand 3x in the further ten years. Domestic pharmaceutical market of India held at US$ 42 billion in 2021 and is expected to hit US$ 65 billion by 2024 and increase to attain US$ 120-130 billion by 2030, thus increasing the industrial starch market.

Source Insights

The Corn Segment held the Dominating Share of the Industrial Starch Market in 2024. 

Corns are profusely available because of increased crop yield and increasing international trade globally. Availability of the corn and its products in the market at the cheaper rates propelling the demand for corn starch. Rising industrialization in food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, biofuel, cosmetics and increasing demand for the plant based natural product propelling the market’s growth. Corn starch is vital component in Mexico for paper and brewing industries and the rising investments on the brewing industries further expanding the market.

• According to International Federation of Starch Association, out of 23 plants of Russia, ten are the primary manufacturers of 90% of all starch products. The yearly output of starch and its derivatives in Russia is 1.1 million tons, with 70% of that being sweeteners.

The Wheat Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest Rate in the Industrial Starch Market During the Forecast Period. 

The increasing awareness of the health related with gluten-free products has risen the demand for the wheat starch as the gluten free alternative. Naturally gluten-free wheat starch provides similar functional aspects to wheat flour, prioritizing it as and best option for consumers with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Increasing food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, paper and textiles industries, technological development and innovations boosting the market.

Product Insights

The Native Starch and Starch Derivatives & Sweeteners Segment Held the Largest Share of the Industrial Starch Market in 2024. 

In retort to growing demand, food manufacturers are utilizing natural starch sources like cassava, rice, corn, potatoes, wheat and tapioca, referred to as native starches. Natural starches improve the texture, volume, and overall quality of baked goods like breads, cakes, and pastries. Carbohydrate includes more than just starch. They may have various characteristics and distinct properties. Food and drinks require either carbohydrate types or sweetener types. The alternative sweetener derived from starch offers a variety of products. The various types of products demonstrate the broader market segments they can target and expand the market. 

The Cationic Starch Segment is Observed to Grow at the Fastest Rate During the Forecast Period. 

Cationic starch helps to improve tear strength, binding and holding capacity along with increasing filler and fiber retentions. As the demand for paper products with high quality rises and companies promote towards revolutionary manufacturing technologies, the demand for structured service-driven products like cationic starch will expand consistently. Technological advancements emerge as a significant trend in the cationic starch market. Businesses are concentrating on delivering innovative solutions to satisfy end-user needs and improve their competitive standings. Innovations encompass cross-linked starch products, high-charge cationic starches, among others.

Recent Developments in the Industrial Starch Market

CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology 

• Innovation: in December 2024, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology developed process technology for Nanocellulose Engineered Starch-based granules aimed at compostable plastics, serving as a replacement for single-use synthetic plastics, to Hyderabad's Greenworksbio Products. These compostable bioplastics are formulated using green chemistry principles and are certified by CIPET, guaranteeing that no harmful chemicals are emitted during composting.

Roquette 

• Launch: in August 2024, Roquette, a worldwide leader in plant-derived ingredients and a top supplier of pharmaceutical excipients, expanded its texturizing solutions line with the introduction of four new tapioca-based cook-up starches. The new grades are CLEARAM® TR 4010, CLEARAM® TR 2010, CLEARAM® TR 2510, and CLEARAM® TR 3010, have been uniquely created.

Agrana Stärke and Ingredion

• Collaboration: in December 2024, Agrana Stärke, a branch of Austria's Agrana Beteiligungs-AG, has formed a joint venture with Ingredion, representing a significant advancement in the development of starch manufacturing in Romania. In this partnership Ingredion purchased a 49% share in AGFD Tandarei SRL from Agrana.

Industrial Starch Market Leading Companies

• Cargill 
• Archer Daniels Midland Company 
• Ingredion Incorporated 
• Tate & Lyle PLC 
• Universal Starch Chem Allied Ltd. 
• Agrana Beteiligungs-AG 
• Grain Processing Corporation 
• Roquette Frères 
• Tereos Group 
• Hansen A/S 
• Royal Cosun 
• Altia Industrial Services

Segments Covered in the Report

By Application

• Food & Beverage
• Feed
• Bakery & Confectionery
• Dairy & Frozen Desserts
• Beverages
• Convenience Foods
• Others
• Pharmaceuticals
• Others

By Source

• Corn
• Wheat
• Cassava
• Potato
• Others

By Product

• Native Starch and Starch Derivatives & Sweeteners
• Cationic Starch
• Ethylated Starch
• Oxidized Starch
• Acid Modified Starch
• Unmodified Starch

By Region 

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East and Africa
• Latin America