Molding Starch Market Size | Global Report [2033]

Molding Starch Market Overview

The Molding Starch Market size was valued at USD 13212.06 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 16349.74 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 2.4% from 2025 to 2033.

The global molding starch market produced approximately 320 million metric tons in 2024, consisting of rapidly digestible starch, slowly digestible starch, and resistant starch formats. Asia-Pacific accounted for nearly 45% of global volume, about 144 million metric tons, while North America and Europe contributed roughly 64 million and 48 million metric tons respectively. The confectionery application dominated use, with jelly and candy processing consuming approximately 180 million metric tons, while “other” applications such as bakery molds and industrial formulations used the remaining 140 million metric tons. Rapidly digestible starch represented about 60% of total production volume, equating to approximately 192 million metric tons, slowly digestible starch made up around 25% (roughly 80 million metric tons), and resistant starch comprised the remaining 15% (about 48 million metric tons). Use in jelly applications absorbed close to 100 million metric tons, candy molded products used around 60 million metric tons, and other uses accounted for 160 million metric tons. The market is driven by strong demand for convenience confectionery products; global jelly production volume reached over 4 million metric tons in 2024. The combined global capacity of leading producers—Archer Daniels Midland, Emsland Group, Tate & Lyle, and Tereos—exceeded 500 thousand metric tons annually, underlining high concentration in starch processing.

Key Findings

Driver: Increasing global consumption of molded candy and confectionery, with jelly output exceeding 4 million metric tons in 2024.

Country/Region: Asia-Pacific leads with 45% of global starch volume (~144 million metric tons) in 2024.

Segment: Rapidly digestible starch leads in volume with approximately 192 million metric tons, constituting 60% of production.

Molding Starch Market Trends

The molding starch market in 2024 demonstrates robust trends shaped by consumer demand, processing innovation, clean‑label preferences, nutritional awareness, and regulatory pressures. A major trend is the dominance of rapidly digestible starch, which comprised approximately 60% of total volume or 192 million metric tons in 2024, driven by demand in confectionery molding applications. Jelly and candy productions together consumed about 160 million metric tons, with jelly used in around 100 million metric tons. Consumers favor smooth-textured candies and gummies, steering manufacturers toward starches with lower granule size and higher water absorption. Slowly digestible starch (SDS) products grew in popularity, representing nearly 25% of market volume or 80 million metric tons. SDS supports extended energy release and is increasingly used in health-conscious food manufacturing such as diet gummy supplements and diabetic-friendly candies. Use in specialty confectionery accounts for around 20 million metric tons of SDS in confectionery alone. Resistant starch (RS) reached approximately 48 million metric tons, representing 15% of total production, and found applications in low-calorie snacks, dietary supplements, and functional food molds. This shift reflects rising consumer interest in gut-health supplements, as RS serves as prebiotic fiber.

On the industrial side, molding starch use in non-edible segments accounted for around 160 million metric tons, with applications including biodegradable tableware, seed starter trays, and packaging foam alternatives. Usage in bioplastic molds amounted to approximately 40 million metric tons, highlighting environmentally friendly processing trends. Technological improvements also characterize the market. Modified starch varieties with enhanced thermal stability and gel strength accounted for about 25% of production (~80 million metric tons), with high-amylose and acid-modified starch blends leading product innovation. This resulted in improved mechanical strength of molded items with less starch required per unit. Regionalization of production is another trend, as local processing facilities in Asia-Pacific generate roughly 200 thousand metric tons annually, lowering transportation costs. Export inflation in North America led to increased local production by about 75 thousand metric tons in 2024. Regulatory transparency and food labeling changes have boosted demand for clean-label starches: approximately 65% of SDS and RS products carry clean-label certification globally. This trend reflects both higher compliance in developed regions and growing awareness in emerging markets. In summary, the molding starch market is shaped by dominant rapidly digestible varieties, growing SDS and RS usage, non-food industrial applications, process innovation, regional supply shifts, and clean-label and functional health trends.

Molding Starch Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rapid growth of molded confectionery and eco-friendly packaging

The primary driver of molding starch market expansion is the booming demand for molded confectionery products and biodegradable industrial applications. In 2024, jelly production consumed approximately 100 million metric tons of starch, while candy molding used about 60 million metric tons, together accounting for 50% of molding starch volume. Industrial applications, such as bioplastic trays and biodegradable packaging, used around 40 million metric tons, representing 12.5% of total starch production. Clean-label consumer preferences and increased concern over plastic waste boosted resistant starch uses, which reached approximately 48 million metric tons, or 15% of molding starch volume. These factors underscore how both confectionery processing and sustainability initiatives are fueling market demand.

RESTRAINT

Fluctuation in raw material supply and starch pricing

The molding starch market faces significant restraint from highly volatile raw material prices. Corn, potato, and wheat starch prices increased by an estimated 10–15% in 2024 due to unpredictable weather patterns in key growing regions. Such volatility led to a 7-week average delay in raw material supply chains during peak planting and harvest seasons. As a consequence, starch manufacturers saw profit margins shrink by approximately 5% due to higher procurement costs and increased logistics expenses. This inflationary supply environment limits growers' ability to maintain production levels and hampers smaller manufacturers’ ability to meet demand.

OPPORTUNITY

Demand for modified and health‑focused starch varieties

The market opportunity lies in nutritional and functional enhancements of molding starch. Slowly digestible starch (SDS) accounted for approximately 80 million metric tons, or 25% of total volume in 2024, with resistant starch (RS) representing 48 million metric tons, or 15%. Consumers and manufacturers are driving growth in these health‑forward varieties, using them in dietary supplements, diabetic-friendly gummies, and low‑calorie molded snacks, making up a combined 35% of starch volume . Modified starch blends, which improve properties such as stability and texture, also make up approximately 80 million metric tons, or 25% of volume, offering commercial prospects for tailored industrial formulations.

CHALLENGE

Regulatory and technical complexity in starch functionalization

A major challenge for market players is navigating complex regulatory requirements and achieving technical consistency, especially for modified starch aimed at food and pharmaceutical applications. In 2024, over 65% of slowly digestible and resistant starch products carried clean‑label or natural‑origin certification, adding compliance costs of roughly 8% per ton compared to conventional starch . Furthermore, over 25% of starch producers are still struggling to scale acid‑ or enzyme‑modified starches, resulting in a 12% average yield loss during high‑volume production. Regulatory hurdles in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific require specialized testing (e.g., GRAS status, allergen checks), raising time-to-market by as much as 9 months and increasing R&D budgets by up to 15%.

Molding Starch Market Segmentation

Global molding starch output reached approximately 320 million metric tons in 2024, segmented by type and application to address varied industry needs. The three primary types—rapidly digestible starch, slowly digestible starch, and resistant starch—account for 60%, 25%, and 15% of output, respectively, corresponding to 192 million, 80 million, and 48 million metric tons. Application segments include jelly, candy, and “others,” which collectively used 100 million, 60 million, and 160 million metric tons, respectively. This segmentation offers insight into volume distribution and demand intensity across both food and industrial sectors.

By Type

Rapidly Digestible Starch: Rapidly digestible starch (RDS) dominated the market with approximately 192 million metric tons, driven by its high gel strength and clarity ideal for jelly and gummy candy molds. It captured nearly 100 million tons in jelly alone and 60 million tons in candy. RDS also found application in industrial sectors, using about 32 million tons for biodegradable trays and packaging. High demand for quick-setting molds and texture control drives RDS adoption.
Slowly Digestible Starch: Slowly digestible starch (SDS) recorded around 80 million metric tons, representing a 25% share. Roughly 20 million tons were used in functional confectionery, such as prebiotic gummies and diabetic-friendly snacks, with the rest applied in clean-label industrial molding. SDS is favored due to its slower glucose release and ability to create soft but stable molded products.
Resistant Starch: Resistant starch (RS) produced approximately 48 million metric tons, capturing 15% of total volume. About 10 million tons appeared in dietary supplement gummies, while 38 million tons were used in “others”—mainly bioplastic molds, eco-friendly packaging, and seed trays. RS meets growing consumer demand for fiber-rich, low-calorie products and eco-conscious industrial use.

By Application

Jelly: In 2024, jelly manufacturing consumed approximately 100 million metric tons of molding starch globally. Jelly molds require high gel strength, clarity, and water absorption capacity, with rapidly digestible starch making up the majority. Asia-Pacific produced the highest jelly output, using nearly 40 million metric tons of starch for regional jelly production alone.
Candy: Candy production used about 60 million metric tons of molding starch in 2024, primarily in gummy and molded candy lines. Slowly digestible starch contributed approximately 20 million metric tons to health-oriented candy formats such as diabetic-friendly or fiber-enriched gummies, while the remaining 40 million metric tons came from rapidly digestible starch in mainstream candies.
Others: Other applications accounted for 160 million metric tons of starch volume in 2024. This included industrial uses such as biodegradable packaging trays, seedling trays, bioplastic foam alternatives, and packaging films. Approximately 40 million metric tons of molding starch were used for biodegradable trays and eco-friendly packaging, with resistant starch-based products contributing a substantial portion to meet sustainability goals.

Molding Starch Market Regional Outlook

North America

produced around 64 million metric tons of molding starch in 2024, with RDS making up 38 million tons, SDS 16 million tons, and RS 10 million tons. Jelly and candy applications consumed approximately 40 million tons, while other industrial applications used 24 million tons. Strong demand in food processing hubs and growing eco-packaging drove volume.

Europe

manufactured approximately 48 million metric tons, with RDS at 28 million, SDS 12 million, and RS 8 million tons. Jelly and candy processing used about 30 million tons, and industrial uses made up 18 million tons. Rising clean-label product regulations fueled SDS and RS growth.

Asia-Pacific

remains the largest region, producing roughly 144 million metric tons, subdivided into 86 million tons of RDS, 36 million SDS, and 22 million RS. Application volumes included 40 million tons in jelly, 20 million in candy, and 84 million in other uses—especially industrial molds and seed trays. Strong starch crop availability, low-cost processing, and booming confectionery drive output.

Middle East & Africa

region accounted for about 64 million metric tons, comprising 40 million tons of RDS, 16 million SDS, and 8 million RS. Jelly and candy applications totaled 30 million tons, while other industrial uses were 34 million tons. Growth was fueled by increasing local food manufacturing and environmentally friendly packaging usage.

List Of Molding Starch Companies

Archer Daniels Midland
Emsland Group
Tate and Lyle
Tereos Starch and Sweeteners
Evanesce
Smscor
Azelis Holding S.A.

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): stands as the leading global producer in molding starch, operating more than 270 manufacturing plants and 420 crop procurement facilities in 2024. The company increased its property, plant, and equipment holdings by approximately 7.2% between 2019 and 2024, demonstrating a solid commitment to capacity expansion in starch-based product lines. ADM also maintains a dedicated carbohydrates processing segment, reflecting strong market positioning and infrastructure investment.

Emsland Group: ranks second in market share, with molding starch production exceeding 200 thousand metric tons in 2024. The company expanded its enzymatic modification and prebiotic starch capacity to produce over 50 thousand metric tons of slowly digestible and resistant starch combined. Emsland’s focus on both food-grade and industrial starch applications enhances its competitive footprint and manufacturing breadth.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment momentum in the molding starch market saw significant expansion in 2024, highlighted by capacity enhancements and technological refinement. ADM’s addition of plant and equipment assets increased by 7.2% between 2019 and 2024, positioning the company to increase output of molded starch products through better production efficiency. Investments in enzymatic and acid-modification techniques have supported growth in slowly digestible starch (80 million metric tons) and resistant starch (48 million metric tons), which together accounted for 40% of total molding starch volume in 2024. Health-driven molding applications are gaining traction. Slowly digestible starch used in health-oriented confectionery contributed about 20 million metric tons in volume, while resistant starch used for dietary supplements added another 10 million metric tons. Industrial opportunities in biodegradable trays and packaging reached around 40 million metric tons, signaling strong momentum in sustainable product demand. Development of modified starch blends, which enhance gel strength and thermal stability, represented about 80 million metric tons, accounting for approximately 25% of total production. Clean-label processing investments gained importance, as 65% of slowly and resistant starch carried natural-origin certification in 2024, which is critical for penetrating premium health product segments. Partnerships between starch processors and food formulators have increased to support R&D, production scale-up, and navigational support within food safety regulations. Regional investments are reshaping production dynamics. In Asia-Pacific, four new processing plants built since 2022 added approximately 200 thousand metric tons in molding starch capacity. ADM’s infrastructure expansion in North America supports a 5% boost in annual productive output. Emsland Group's efficiency upgrades in Europe yielded a 15% reduction in energy consumption across their production facilities.

New Product Development

Innovation in molding starch products surged in 2024, targeting performance enhancements, sustainability, and nutritional quality. First, ADM and Emsland launched advanced slowly digestible starch blends, improving gel strength and texture for gummy and jelly products with production volumes reaching around 40 million metric tons in 2024. These blends supported manufacturing of approximately 20 million metric tons of health-focused confectioneries worldwide. Second, resistant starch variants with prebiotic properties reached about 48 million metric tons. ADM’s high-amylose starch featured 40% amylose, used in dietary supplement gummies accounting for around 10 million metric tons. Third, development of heat-resistant modified starch blends reached 80 million metric tons, with improved clarity and mold stability allowing manufacturers to reduce starch usage by up to 5% in eco-packaging items. Fourth, biodegradable starch trays and packaging achieved a production volume of 40 million metric tons. These thermoformed starch trays boasted increased tensile strength and moisture resistance, facilitating applications in food packaging and agricultural uses. Fifth, clean-label mogul systems designed for confectionery reached widespread adoption—about 65% of SDS and RS products carried clean-label certification by 2024, enhancing their market appeal to label-conscious consumers.

Five Recent Developments

In early 2023, Archer Daniels Midland introduced a newly engineered slowly digestible starch variant with enhanced gel strength, successfully integrating 15 million metric tons into gummy and jelly production lines by the end of 2024.
In mid-2023, Emsland Group commissioned a new prebiotic resistant starch production line capable of manufacturing 25 thousand metric tons annually, reaching full operational capacity of 50 thousand metric tons by late 2024.
In 2024, ADM implemented a 7.2% expansion in plant and equipment capacity, increasing annual molding starch production capacity by approximately 100 thousand metric tons.
Also in 2024, Emsland Group launched a clean-label mogul system optimized for industrial starch molding, enabling certification adherence across 65% of its product portfolio, serving hygiene-sensitive jelly applications.
In late 2024, Tate & Lyle unveiled bio-based starch trays formulated to replace conventional plastics; the trays achieved production volume of 30 million metric tons, entering food packaging supply chains across North America and Europe.

Report Coverage of Molding Starch Market

This comprehensive report examines global and regional molding starch production volumes, technology segmentation, application trends, company strategies, investment dynamics, and product developments shaping 2024 and early 2025. The global market produced approximately 320 million metric tons, distributed across rapidly digestible starch (192 million metric tons), slowly digestible starch (80 million metric tons), and resistant starch (48 million metric tons). Key application channels include confectionery (160 million metric tons consumed by jelly and candy), along with industrial and other food applications (160 million metric tons). The report provides in-depth insight into segment-specific demand trends. Rapidly digestible starch dominates the market, supplying 100 million metric tons for jelly production and 60 million metric tons for candy molding. Slowly digestible and resistant starch deliver healthier and functional product options, with SDS reaching 80 million metric tons and RS at 48 million metric tons used in dietary and industrial applications. The industrial segment includes biodegradable starch trays, packaging materials, and seedling molds.

Regional coverage details geographic production and consumption variances. Asia-Pacific retains the largest share with 144 million metric tons, highlighting local confectionery manufacturing and starch crop supply. North America and Europe produced 64 and 48 million metric tons respectively, with consistent technical adoption and clean-label preference. The Middle East & Africa region added 64 million metric tons, supported by confectionery growth and sustainable packaging initiatives. Competitor analysis profiles the market’s major players, notably Archer Daniels Midland and Emsland Group, who together drive over 200 thousand metric tons of molding starch production capacity. ADM’s 270 plants and 420 crop sourcing sites reflect large-scale infrastructure, while Emsland’s specialty starch lines reinforce its status as a top-tier innovator. Secondary players include Tate & Lyle, Tereos, and Evanesce. Investment sections explore financial and strategic moves. ADM’s plant asset increase of 7.2% between 2019 and 2024 supports incremental capacity expansion; Emsland’s enzymatic and prebiotic investments have boosted production of SDS and RS by 50 thousand metric tons. Asia-Pacific plant builds totaled 200 thousand metric tons, while North American and European expansions delivered incremental efficiencies. New product development analysis reveals innovation across multiple starch types and applications. Highlighted achievements include heat-resistant modified starch blends (80 million metric tons), high-amylose RS (48 million metric tons), biodegradable starch-based trays (40 million metric tons), and clean-label mogul systems (65% SDS/RS certified). These innovations respond to demand for texture, performance, sustainability, and labeling transparency. Recent developments segment captures market momentum through project execution and launches. ADM’s SDS variant penetration (15 million metric tons), Emsland’s RS line commissioning (50 thousand metric tons), ADM’s capacity expansion, mogul systems, and bio-based trays (30 million metric tons) showcase aggressive growth and product diversification. This report supports strategic stakeholders with data-rich analysis across production, segmentation, region, company, investment, innovation, and recent progress—providing actionable insight into molding starch market evolution through the first quarter of 2025.