Guar gum also known as gellan gum is a natural polymer extracted from the guar seed. It is a powdered product used to stabilize, emulsify, and thicken the texture of certain foods and industrial products. Guar gum has property to attain high viscosity in low concentrations due to non-toxic in nature, low calories, and high fibers. Due to these properties this is used as an additive in foods and beverages such as bottled coconut and almond milk, yogurts, soups, and fiber supplements. There are numerous other application of guar gum, which include body lotions and DIY beauty recipes. The food industry accounts for 70% revenue share in guar gum market. Also, its colloidal nature and emulsifying property make it ideal thickening agent. However, fluctuating oil price, oversupply and gradual emergence of superior alternatives are some of the factors restraining growth of market in this region.

Guar Gum Market Taxonomy

On basis of grade

Food Grade

Industrial Grade

Paper



Mining



Explosive



Oil and Gas

Pharmacy Grade

Drugs



Cosmetics

Others

On basis of application

Thickening Agent

Emulsifier

Stabilizer

Gelling Agent

Bonding Agent

Fracturing Agent

Flocculent

Preservation Agent

Water Retention

Others

On basis of end-use

Food & Beverages

Bakery & Confectionery Products



Dairy & Frozen Products



Beverages



Sauces & Dressings



Others

Textile

Pharmaceutical

Mining & Explosives

Oil and Gas

Cosmetic

Defense

Paper

Others

Food industry is major end user of guar gum, owing to its properties such as stabilizer, thickener, and emulsifier. It is used as a stabilizer in the food industry for stabilizing ice-creams, instant puddings, cheeses, and whipped cream substitutes, and as a meat binder. It is also suitable for use in painting, printing, fire control, dyeing, and textiles. Thus making the food & beverages and oil & gas industries largest end-user industries of guar gum. These factors are expected to drive growth of market. However, health risk associated with addition of guar gum in processed foods such as digestion issues and gut reactions are restraining growth of the market.

Guar Gum Market Outlook

Asia Pacific accounts for smaller market share for guar gum consumption. However, it is a major raw material source for guar seeds. 80% of the world’s guar is produced by India in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana. Currently, guar gum is used in the food, textile, and pharmaceutical industries in the Asia Pacific region.

North America and Europe are the largest markets for guar gum powder due to application in the food industry as an additive and oil industry as a fracturing agent. Hence, increasing drilling activities in the U.S. shale industry has increased the demand for guar gum, thus driving market growth.

Africa is a small player in this market and is not expected to experience much growth over the forecast period.

Latin America also demonstrates significant growth in the guar gum market. The productivity of processed foods such as cheese, sausages, soups and animal feed preparations increases on addition of guar gum.

Key Developments:

In March 2019, VIKAS WSP Ltd, a leading manufacturer guar gum powder, had received approval for export of their DP guar gum products for utilization in fertilizer stabilizing applications.

In December 2016, Ingredion Incorporated, a global leader in providing ingredient solutions, had acquired all the outstanding shares of TIC Gums Incorporated. TIC Gums is a U.S.-based company providing advanced texture systems for the F&B industry. TIC Gums had the right to use variety of agriculturally derived ingredients, such as guar gum, and acacia. These natural ingredients forms the foundation for innovative solutions while allowing clean-label reformulation.

In September 2014, a member of the World Bank Group - IFC (International Finance Corporation), had invested $27.5 million in Lucid Colloids, India-based guar gum producer. This investment had supported the company’s expansion plans for setting up two guar splitting plants in Rajasthan, a R&D facility, and a guar gum plant in Gujarat.

Propel SSP, manufactured by Fairmount Santrol Company, based in the U.S., is an alternative to guar gum proppant, which is a cheaper and technically superior alternative. Though, currently in research and trial stage, Propel SSP market is expected to grow due to the successful trials in Marcellus and Utica shale, which is expected to hinder growth of market. Major players in the Guar Gum Market include Penford Corp., TIC Gums, Inc., Lucid Group, Vikas WSP Limited, and Ashland Inc.