The global Thickener market size is predicted to grow from US$ 6961 million in 2025 to US$ 8468 million in 2031; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2025 to 2031.
The impact of the latest U.S. tariff measures and the corresponding policy responses from countries worldwide on market competitiveness, regional economic performance, and supply chain configurations will be comprehensively evaluated in this report.
Thickeners are substances used to increase the viscosity of a liquid without substantially altering its taste, color, or other fundamental properties. Their primary function is to modify the texture and flow behavior of liquids across various applications. Depending on the end-use, the type and concentration of thickener can vary significantly. Thickeners are typically categorized into food-grade and non-food grade types. Food-grade thickeners are commonly used in sauces, dairy products, and beverages to enhance mouthfeel and consistency. Non-food grade thickeners are employed in industrial applications such as paints, coatings, detergents, and paper manufacturing. From a materials perspective, thickeners are broadly classified into mineral-based and hydrocolloid-based. Hydrocolloid thickeners—often derived from polysaccharides or proteins—are more prevalent in food and pharmaceutical uses, while mineral thickeners like clay and silica are more common in industrial formulations.
Market Overview and Key Players
The global thickener market is dominated by a few leading multinational corporations. Key players in the industry include Ingredion, CP Kelco, Ashland, Akzo Nobel, and DuPont. Collectively, the top five companies hold over 20% of the market share, indicating a moderately concentrated competitive landscape. Cellulose ether-based thickeners are the most prominent product segment, accounting for more than 40% of the market due to their versatility, stability, and compatibility with a range of formulations. The Asia-Pacific region is currently the largest market for thickeners, holding a share of over 35%, driven by rapid growth in food processing, construction, and consumer goods sectors in countries like China and India. Europe and North America follow closely behind, each contributing about 40% of the global consumption when combined. The presence of well-established industries and rising demand for functional ingredients are supporting the market in these regions.
Trends and Future Outlook
The thickener market is expected to witness steady growth in the coming years, driven by rising demand in both food and industrial applications. In the food and beverage segment—currently the largest application area—consumers are increasingly seeking clean-label and plant-based ingredients, fueling innovation in natural and hydrocolloid-based thickeners such as pectin, guar gum, and xanthan gum. In the industrial segment, particularly in paints, coatings, and detergents, there is a growing preference for multifunctional thickeners that not only modify viscosity but also offer improved stability, environmental compliance, and cost-efficiency. Furthermore, regulatory shifts and sustainability goals are encouraging companies to invest in bio-based and biodegradable thickening agents. Technological advancements, particularly in polymer chemistry and nanotechnology, are also expected to open new possibilities for customized rheological solutions. Overall, the thickener market is poised for resilient, innovation-driven expansion with a strong emphasis on performance, safety, and sustainability.
The “Thickener Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world Thickener sales in 2024, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected Thickener sales for 2025 through 2031. With Thickener sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world Thickener industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Thickener landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on Thickener portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms’ unique position in an accelerating global Thickener market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for Thickener and breaks down the forecast by Type, by Application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global Thickener.
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Thickener market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
Segmentation by Type:
Inorganic Thickener
Cellulose Ether
Synthetic Polymer
Natural Polymer and Its Derivatives
Others
Segmentation by Application:
Food and Beverages
Paints and Coatings
Papermaking
Textile
Medicine
Detergent
Other
This report also splits the market by region:
Americas
United States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
APAC
China
Japan
Korea
Southeast Asia
India
Australia
Europe
Germany
France
UK
Italy
Russia
Middle East & Africa
Egypt
South Africa
Israel
Turkey
GCC Countries
The below companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analysing the company's coverage, product portfolio, its market penetration.
Ashland
ADM
Tate & Lyle
IFF
Cargill
BASF
Kao
Dow
Ingredion
Nouryon
Celanese
Eastman
Lion Chemical
Lubrizol
Evonik
Shin-Etsu
Grace
PQ Corp
SNF
dsm-firmenich
BYK
Elementis
Fufeng
Meihua
Weiyi
Lihong
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
What is the 10-year outlook for the global Thickener market?
What factors are driving Thickener market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do Thickener market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does Thickener break out by Type, by Application?
Please Note - This is an on demand report and will be delivered in 2 business days (48 hours) post payment.
1 Scope of the Report
1.1 Market Introduction
1.2 Years Considered
1.3 Research Objectives
1.4 Market Research Methodology
1.5 Research Process and Data Source
1.6 Economic Indicators
1.7 Currency Considered
1.8 Market Estimation Caveats
2 Executive Summary
2.1 World Market Overview
2.1.1 Global Thickener Annual Sales 2020-2031
2.1.2 World Current & Future Analysis for Thickener by Geographic Region, 2020, 2024 & 2031
2.1.3 World Current & Future Analysis for Thickener by Country/Region, 2020, 2024 & 2031
2.2 Thickener Segment by Type
2.2.1 Inorganic Thickener
2.2.2 Cellulose Ether
2.2.3 Synthetic Polymer
2.2.4 Natural Polymer and Its Derivatives
2.2.5 Others
2.3 Thickener Sales by Type
2.3.1 Global Thickener Sales Market Share by Type (2020-2025)
2.3.2 Global Thickener Revenue and Market Share by Type (2020-2025)
2.3.3 Global Thickener Sale Price by Type (2020-2025)
2.4 Thickener Segment by Application
2.4.1 Food and Beverages
2.4.2 Paints and Coatings
2.4.3 Papermaking
2.4.4 Textile
2.4.5 Medicine
2.4.6 Detergent
2.4.7 Other
2.5 Thickener Sales by Application
2.5.1 Global Thickener Sale Market Share by Application (2020-2025)
2.5.2 Global Thickener Revenue and Market Share by Application (2020-2025)
2.5.3 Global Thickener Sale Price by Application (2020-2025)
3 Global by Company
3.1 Global Thickener Breakdown Data by Company
3.1.1 Global Thickener Annual Sales by Company (2020-2025)
3.1.2 Global Thickener Sales Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
3.2 Global Thickener Annual Revenue by Company (2020-2025)
3.2.1 Global Thickener Revenue by Company (2020-2025)
3.2.2 Global Thickener Revenue Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
3.3 Global Thickener Sale Price by Company
3.4 Key Manufacturers Thickener Producing Area Distribution, Sales Area, Product Type
3.4.1 Key Manufacturers Thickener Product Location Distribution
3.4.2 Players Thickener Products Offered
3.5 Market Concentration Rate Analysis
3.5.1 Competition Landscape Analysis
3.5.2 Concentration Ratio (CR3, CR5 and CR10) & (2023-2025)
3.6 New Products and Potential Entrants
3.7 Market M&A Activity & Strategy
4 World Historic Review for Thickener by Geographic Region
4.1 World Historic Thickener Market Size by Geographic Region (2020-2025)
4.1.1 Global Thickener Annual Sales by Geographic Region (2020-2025)
4.1.2 Global Thickener Annual Revenue by Geographic Region (2020-2025)
4.2 World Historic Thickener Market Size by Country/Region (2020-2025)
4.2.1 Global Thickener Annual Sales by Country/Region (2020-2025)
4.2.2 Global Thickener Annual Revenue by Country/Region (2020-2025)
4.3 Americas Thickener Sales Growth
4.4 APAC Thickener Sales Growth
4.5 Europe Thickener Sales Growth
4.6 Middle East & Africa Thickener Sales Growth
5 Americas
5.1 Americas Thickener Sales by Country
5.1.1 Americas Thickener Sales by Country (2020-2025)
5.1.2 Americas Thickener Revenue by Country (2020-2025)
5.2 Americas Thickener Sales by Type (2020-2025)
5.3 Americas Thickener Sales by Application (2020-2025)
5.4 United States
5.5 Canada
5.6 Mexico
5.7 Brazil
6 APAC
6.1 APAC Thickener Sales by Region
6.1.1 APAC Thickener Sales by Region (2020-2025)
6.1.2 APAC Thickener Revenue by Region (2020-2025)
6.2 APAC Thickener Sales by Type (2020-2025)
6.3 APAC Thickener Sales by Application (2020-2025)
6.4 China
6.5 Japan
6.6 South Korea
6.7 Southeast Asia
6.8 India
6.9 Australia
6.10 China Taiwan
7 Europe
7.1 Europe Thickener by Country
7.1.1 Europe Thickener Sales by Country (2020-2025)
7.1.2 Europe Thickener Revenue by Country (2020-2025)
7.2 Europe Thickener Sales by Type (2020-2025)
7.3 Europe Thickener Sales by Application (2020-2025)
7.4 Germany
7.5 France
7.6 UK
7.7 Italy
7.8 Russia
8 Middle East & Africa
8.1 Middle East & Africa Thickener by Country
8.1.1 Middle East & Africa Thickener Sales by Country (2020-2025)
8.1.2 Middle East & Africa Thickener Revenue by Country (2020-2025)
8.2 Middle East & Africa Thickener Sales by Type (2020-2025)
8.3 Middle East & Africa Thickener Sales by Application (2020-2025)
8.4 Egypt
8.5 South Africa
8.6 Israel
8.7 Turkey
8.8 GCC Countries
9 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends
9.1 Market Drivers & Growth Opportunities
9.2 Market Challenges & Risks
9.3 Industry Trends
10 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis
10.1 Raw Material and Suppliers
10.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Thickener
10.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Thickener
10.4 Industry Chain Structure of Thickener
11 Marketing, Distributors and Customer
11.1 Sales Channel
11.1.1 Direct Channels
11.1.2 Indirect Channels
11.2 Thickener Distributors
11.3 Thickener Customer
12 World Forecast Review for Thickener by Geographic Region
12.1 Global Thickener Market Size Forecast by Region
12.1.1 Global Thickener Forecast by Region (2026-2031)
12.1.2 Global Thickener Annual Revenue Forecast by Region (2026-2031)
12.2 Americas Forecast by Country (2026-2031)
12.3 APAC Forecast by Region (2026-2031)
12.4 Europe Forecast by Country (2026-2031)
12.5 Middle East & Africa Forecast by Country (2026-2031)
12.6 Global Thickener Forecast by Type (2026-2031)
12.7 Global Thickener Forecast by Application (2026-2031)
13 Key Players Analysis
13.1 Ashland
13.1.1 Ashland Company Information
13.1.2 Ashland Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.1.3 Ashland Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.1.4 Ashland Main Business Overview
13.1.5 Ashland Latest Developments
13.2 ADM
13.2.1 ADM Company Information
13.2.2 ADM Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.2.3 ADM Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.2.4 ADM Main Business Overview
13.2.5 ADM Latest Developments
13.3 Tate & Lyle
13.3.1 Tate & Lyle Company Information
13.3.2 Tate & Lyle Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.3.3 Tate & Lyle Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.3.4 Tate & Lyle Main Business Overview
13.3.5 Tate & Lyle Latest Developments
13.4 IFF
13.4.1 IFF Company Information
13.4.2 IFF Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.4.3 IFF Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.4.4 IFF Main Business Overview
13.4.5 IFF Latest Developments
13.5 Cargill
13.5.1 Cargill Company Information
13.5.2 Cargill Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.5.3 Cargill Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.5.4 Cargill Main Business Overview
13.5.5 Cargill Latest Developments
13.6 BASF
13.6.1 BASF Company Information
13.6.2 BASF Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.6.3 BASF Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.6.4 BASF Main Business Overview
13.6.5 BASF Latest Developments
13.7 Kao
13.7.1 Kao Company Information
13.7.2 Kao Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.7.3 Kao Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.7.4 Kao Main Business Overview
13.7.5 Kao Latest Developments
13.8 Dow
13.8.1 Dow Company Information
13.8.2 Dow Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.8.3 Dow Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.8.4 Dow Main Business Overview
13.8.5 Dow Latest Developments
13.9 Ingredion
13.9.1 Ingredion Company Information
13.9.2 Ingredion Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.9.3 Ingredion Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.9.4 Ingredion Main Business Overview
13.9.5 Ingredion Latest Developments
13.10 Nouryon
13.10.1 Nouryon Company Information
13.10.2 Nouryon Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.10.3 Nouryon Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.10.4 Nouryon Main Business Overview
13.10.5 Nouryon Latest Developments
13.11 Celanese
13.11.1 Celanese Company Information
13.11.2 Celanese Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.11.3 Celanese Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.11.4 Celanese Main Business Overview
13.11.5 Celanese Latest Developments
13.12 Eastman
13.12.1 Eastman Company Information
13.12.2 Eastman Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.12.3 Eastman Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.12.4 Eastman Main Business Overview
13.12.5 Eastman Latest Developments
13.13 Lion Chemical
13.13.1 Lion Chemical Company Information
13.13.2 Lion Chemical Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.13.3 Lion Chemical Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.13.4 Lion Chemical Main Business Overview
13.13.5 Lion Chemical Latest Developments
13.14 Lubrizol
13.14.1 Lubrizol Company Information
13.14.2 Lubrizol Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.14.3 Lubrizol Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.14.4 Lubrizol Main Business Overview
13.14.5 Lubrizol Latest Developments
13.15 Evonik
13.15.1 Evonik Company Information
13.15.2 Evonik Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.15.3 Evonik Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.15.4 Evonik Main Business Overview
13.15.5 Evonik Latest Developments
13.16 Shin-Etsu
13.16.1 Shin-Etsu Company Information
13.16.2 Shin-Etsu Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.16.3 Shin-Etsu Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.16.4 Shin-Etsu Main Business Overview
13.16.5 Shin-Etsu Latest Developments
13.17 Grace
13.17.1 Grace Company Information
13.17.2 Grace Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.17.3 Grace Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.17.4 Grace Main Business Overview
13.17.5 Grace Latest Developments
13.18 PQ Corp
13.18.1 PQ Corp Company Information
13.18.2 PQ Corp Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.18.3 PQ Corp Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.18.4 PQ Corp Main Business Overview
13.18.5 PQ Corp Latest Developments
13.19 SNF
13.19.1 SNF Company Information
13.19.2 SNF Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.19.3 SNF Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.19.4 SNF Main Business Overview
13.19.5 SNF Latest Developments
13.20 dsm-firmenich
13.20.1 dsm-firmenich Company Information
13.20.2 dsm-firmenich Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.20.3 dsm-firmenich Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.20.4 dsm-firmenich Main Business Overview
13.20.5 dsm-firmenich Latest Developments
13.21 BYK
13.21.1 BYK Company Information
13.21.2 BYK Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.21.3 BYK Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.21.4 BYK Main Business Overview
13.21.5 BYK Latest Developments
13.22 Elementis
13.22.1 Elementis Company Information
13.22.2 Elementis Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.22.3 Elementis Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.22.4 Elementis Main Business Overview
13.22.5 Elementis Latest Developments
13.23 Fufeng
13.23.1 Fufeng Company Information
13.23.2 Fufeng Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.23.3 Fufeng Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.23.4 Fufeng Main Business Overview
13.23.5 Fufeng Latest Developments
13.24 Meihua
13.24.1 Meihua Company Information
13.24.2 Meihua Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.24.3 Meihua Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.24.4 Meihua Main Business Overview
13.24.5 Meihua Latest Developments
13.25 Weiyi
13.25.1 Weiyi Company Information
13.25.2 Weiyi Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.25.3 Weiyi Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.25.4 Weiyi Main Business Overview
13.25.5 Weiyi Latest Developments
13.26 Lihong
13.26.1 Lihong Company Information
13.26.2 Lihong Thickener Product Portfolios and Specifications
13.26.3 Lihong Thickener Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
13.26.4 Lihong Main Business Overview
13.26.5 Lihong Latest Developments
14 Research Findings and Conclusion
Ěý
Ěý
*If Applicable.
