Guangzhou China Feb. 20, 2011 - Modified starch is produced from native starch by chemical methods, such as hydrogen replaced, cross-linking, acetic acid treated. It is generally used as a thickening agent, stabilizer, or an emulsifier in food, pharmaceuticals, paper and many other applications, such as desserts, preventing frozen products from dripping when defrosting, thickening and geling the food without heat, etc. The U.S. is the largest producers of modified starch, followed by EU and Asia-Pacific regions.
About 95% of AP's total modified starch output is provided by six major countries in the region in 2009, including China, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Australia. Consumption level of modified starch varies in different countries. Japan is the largest of per capita consumption of modified starch in AP, followed by South Korea and Australia, while China, Thailand and Indonesia consume about 1kg/person of modified starch.
It is estimated that consumption volume of modified starch will witness a steady uptrend in Japan, South Korea and Australia, and which in China, Thailand and Indonesia will rise with improvement of living standards. Based on mass flow between raw materials and modified starch, market shares of modified starch and native starch vary greatly among six major AP countries, so does the consumption rates of modified starch and native starch in each country.
Source: CCM International