Market Trends of China Food Sweetener Industry
Growing Diabetic Population
According to the International Diabetes Federation, China is witnessing a significant increase in the proportion of the diabetic population. According to International Diabetes Federation data from 2021, 140.87 million adults in China are diabetic. Due to rising disposable income and changing lifestyles, consumers are shifting to the consumption of fast food and convenience food. Additionally, the increasing influence of western culture is also influencing the consumption habits of people in the country and their demand for sugar-sweetened beverages and soft drinks is increasing. Owing to this, the demand for food sweeteners, especially natural sweeteners is increasing in the country. Food sweeteners do not add any calories to the food but they impart a sweet taste therefore they can be consumed by diabetic people as well. The market players are innovating the products with the use of sweeteners in food products to increase sweetness without changing the calorie count.
High Intensity Sweeteners Holds the Largest Market
The demand for HIS (High-Intensity Sweeteners) is likely to increase significantly over the medium term. The demand for high-intensity sweeteners like stevia is growing in the country owing to nutritional benefits and its sustainability. Stevia-based sweeteners are being used in food and beverages owing to the consumer demand for clean labels and natural ingredients in their products. The market players are launching new Campaigns for sustainable stevia production to have good-quality sweeteners. For instance, in June 2021, Tate & Lyle Plc launched a sustainable stevia program to gain economic benefits from the production of calorie-free sweeteners. Additionally, other sweeteners like xylitol are being used in different applications like oral hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and toiletries. Over the medium term, the demand for these high-intensity sweeteners is expected to increase owing to their applications in different industries.
