Challenges and Strategies for Development of Guar Gum Market

From the year 2005, there was a rapid shift in the usage patterns of the guar gum. Before then the major demand sectors for the guar was the food grade which consumed over 50% of the domestic production. There was also some demand for the fast hydration guar gum powder used in the paper and the cosmetic manufacturing.

This however changed when guar gum usage was directed to the oil and gas drilling operations. This industry now forms the bulk of the demand for the guar gum. Demand for the product has reached up to 70% of the total production. The rest is taken up by other industries such as textiles and food processing.

Prices

The prices of this product have a very high positive correlation with the shale gas exploration. Negative price movements have had major impacts on the overall well being of the industry.

guar gum powder in India

Current Challenges

  • Price uncertainties; these have caused mixed reactions among users which compel them to develop alternative products and processes to achieve the same goals.
  • Supply challenges; the production of guar plant is much dependent on the monsoon rainfall. When these get delayed, forecasting the production levels becomes very difficult, thus creating instability in the market.
  • Quality product; this is a very important element especially in the food grade guar gum powder. Slight contamination leads to serious consequences including product withdrawal, and export bans especially from Europe and the UK.
  • Usage of proplant; the guar gum is used in industry for increasing the viscosity of the proplant. Market uncertainties have caused the users to consider using slick water that requires less guar usage. This will have serious effect on the future of this product.
  • Earlier calls for reduction in oil and gas exploration have also been a major factor affecting the market of the guar gum.
  • The emergence of other gelling and emulsifying agents such as the synthetic LFC – C4, developed in the UK, will cause a definite shift in the demand curve of the guar.

Strategies for Market Development

To counter the effects of these forces, strategies must continue to be developed that will help maintain the demand of the product.

  • There is an urgent need to diversify the market to other major oil producers and other places where oil and gas exploration is emerging.
  • Greater resources must be put into research and development to discover other uses for the product.
  • There is also need for continued research on better processing technologies that will eliminate challenges associated with poor quality. These include production using high quality seeds as well, proper production practices, good extraction technology as well as packaging , branding and market promotion.
Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter

Hindrances to the Expansion of Cassia Gum Market versus Other Hydrocolloids

Hydrocolloids are substances that form a gel in water. They are comprised of heterogeneous groups of biopolymers, which rapidly form viscous dispersions when introduced in water. These substances play very important roles in various industries.  They are mostly used as thickening and gelling agents.  Natural hydrocolloids used as thickening agents include; starch, Xanthan gum, guar gum, gum Arabic and the locust bean gum. Those used as gelling agents include the carrageenan, cassia gum, alginate, gelatin and agar. They are also used as food stabilizers.

The Cassia Gum

The cassia gum exhibits properties similar to other hydrocolloids and is used as a stabilizer in foods, emulsification, enhancing moisture retention, improvement of texture and in the beverage industry.

Despite of this, it has not been widely to the same extent as the other hydrocolloids. Some of factors affecting its usage include;

  • Growth in dairy foods industry
  • Slower growth in the pet foods market
  • Limited research on the product
  • Limited awareness on the product

Market Forecast

The average growth rate of the Cassis gum is expected to be moderate between the year2016/2017. There is currently increasing awareness on the presence of cassia gum which functions equally well as the other hydrocolloids, and also equally affordable.

Cassia Gum Powder

Regulations

The regulatory bodies in various countries have also approved the usage of cassia gum powder and related formulations for use in industries such as in dairy, pet foods and confectionaries. This is expected to cause a gradual upward trend in the sales and demand of the product.

Quality Standards

The cassia gum is largely produced in China and India where there are favorable weather conditions for production.  A closer look at these areas and it is worthy to note there are no quality standards that guide the production and processing of cassia. Lack of these standards has meant consistently poor quality being produced and exported, thus creating a barrier in market expansion.

Production Barriers

Rain Fed production of the cassia gum in the Indian subcontinent has also been a factor affecting the overall production. Decline in the levels of the monsoon rains have a direct effect on the production volumes and may create a supply shortage.

Industrial Uses

According to reliable market research, cassia gum main markets are the animal food industry being the major consumers, Dairy and confectioneries and meat processing. It is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, paper and chemical processing and to an extent in mining. When compared to the guar, the major demand driver is the oil and shale gas exploration sectors which consumes vast amounts compared to the animal food industry. This has widened the gap in market levels of the cassia gum.

Conclusion

Despite the imbalance in usage of cassia in different industries, there is growing awareness of the availability of cassia gum as a viable alternative to other hydrocolloids.  Demand in the cosmetic industry is expected to rise by over 48% by the year 2025, driven by the hair care subsector. The main consumer region is expected to be North America.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter