Wheat Starch Market Volume, Share and Trends 2026 to 2035

Leading wheat starch manufacturers are expanding geographically to seize emerging market opportunities and enhance supply chain resilience. Companies are investing in manufacturing plants and distribution channels in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, where the industrial and food processing sectors are rapidly growing. Roquette and Meelunie have increased their production capacity in China and Southeast Asia to meet rising regional demand and to create new market opportunities.

Major investors in the market include global food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and agro-processing companies that fund large-scale production facilities and innovation in clean-label, high-performance starch solutions. Their investments support advanced processing technologies, capacity expansion, and the development of specialized wheat-based ingredients that enhance the market's growth and industrial applicability.

The food processing industry segment dominated the wheat starch market in 2025. Wheat starch has widespread use in the food processing industry due to its physicochemical properties like heat stability, solubility, transmittance, color, and texture. It is used for adhesion and binder in bread, as dustings in chewing gums and bakery products, as a fat replacer and juiciness enhancer in ice cream and salad dressings, as a stabilizer in beverages, as a gelling agent in jellies, and as a foam stabilizer in marshmallows. The increasing consumer preferences for safe and hygienic foods increase the demand for the food processing industry.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agriculture, food, and related industries contributed 5.6%, i.e., 1.5 trillion USD, to the U.S. GDP in 2024.
In March 2024, MGP Ingredients, a leading plant-based food producer, announced its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Atchison, U.S. The new plant facilitated more control over the production of the ProTerra line of textured wheat and pea proteins for making plant-based meats. Apart from the manufacturing facility, it also provided an R&D facility and enhanced the ability to commercialize products.
The pharmaceuticals segment is estimated to grow fastest in the wheat starch market over the studied period. Wheat starch is widely used in the pharmaceutical sector due to its nontoxic, intrinsic, and nonirritant properties, low cost, ease of modification, and versatility. Starch is majorly used as the diluent, disintegrant, binder, and lubricant in conventional dosage forms like tablets and capsules. It is also used in drug delivery systems to the targeted site.

In September 2022, researchers at the UPV/EHU University of the Basque Country successfully produced starch-based personalized medicine using 3D printing. The tablet was developed using different types of starch to tailor the drug release by optimizing the right starch type and tablet shape.

Europe is expected to grow rapidly in the wheat starch market during the forecast period. The presence of key players, rising food demands, increased collaborations and investments, research and innovation, and rising demand for paper packaging potentiate market growth. European countries like Russia, France, Germany, and Argentina reported the highest production of wheat in 2022. The European Government's policy "Starch Europe 2019-2024" was formed to strengthen the EU starch market and to create a more sustainable future for Europe and a stronger EU economy. Germany is the biggest food and beverage market in the European Union. Crespel & Deiters is the leading producer of wheat starch globally. In 2024, it processed 368,000 tonnes of wheat and produced 140,000 tonnes of wheat starch.

• In April 2024, Tereos, a French company active in the processed agricultural raw materials like sugar, alcohol, and starch markets, announced a collaboration with Futerro, a Belgian leader in the production of lactic acid, lactide, and polylactic acid. The collaboration was made to develop a circular and sustainable bio-manufacturing platform by extracting dextrose from French wheat and convert into industrially compostable and recyclable bioplastics.

New Advancement in the Wheat Starch Market

• In June 2024, Hero Bread, a Californian startup, raises 21 million USD to drive their product innovation and retail expansion. Hero Bread produces an artisanal line of low-carb and high-nutrition baked goods. Hero Bread uses resistant wheat starch to achieve minimal to zero net carbs instead of regular wheat starch.

Germany Wheat Starch Market Trends

Germany is a major player in the market in Europe, supported by the well-established food, paper, and pharmaceutical industries, which rely on high-purity starches for diverse applications. Consumer preference for organic and sustainable ingredients is expected to accelerate the use of wheat starch in clean-label foods. Moreover, rising consumption of processed and convenience foods is driving the market.

North America is expected to grow at a notable rate in the wheat starch market, supported by its mature food processing industry. There is high consumption of bakery products, convenience foods, sauces, and soups, where wheat starch serves as a key thickener, stabilizer, and binder. The region's focus on sustainable materials, coupled with investments in biotechnology and specialty starch applications for packaging, personal care, and industrial use, positions it at the forefront of next-generation wheat starch development.

U.S. Wheat Starch Market Trends

In the U.S., the market is driven by a well-developed food processing industry and strong demand for functional ingredients. Bakery products, sauces, soups, and convenience foods commonly use wheat starch as a stabilizer, thickener, and binder. Additionally, growing applications in adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable packaging are further supporting market expansion in the country.

Latin America is expected to see robust growth in the market, driven by the expanding food processing sector. Increased use of wheat starch in bakery, confectionery, sauces, and processed foods is expected to drive market expansion. Additionally, the rising awareness of natural and clean-label ingredients is likely to create more opportunities in the region. Brazil leads the market, supported by its high wheat production capacity and the expansion of the food processing business.

Raw wheat is processed to separate starch from gluten, proteins, and fibers. This involves milling, washing, and refining to obtain high-purity wheat starch suitable for food, pharmaceutical, or industrial applications.

Key Players: Roquette, Tereos, Crespel & Deiters Group, AGRANA.

Processed starches are packaged in bulk bags, drums, or powder form under controlled humidity and temperature to maintain quality. Proper storage and transport are crucial to prevent degradation.

Key Players / Service Providers: Packaging solution providers, logistics and warehousing companies specialized in food-grade powders.

Wheat starch is supplied to multiple industries, including food & beverage (bakery, confectionery, sauces), paper & packaging, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. Distribution channels include direct sales, wholesalers, and industrial distributors.

Key Players / End Users: Food manufacturers, paper mills, adhesive producers, cosmetic companies.

A major cooperative active in starch, sugar, and bio ethanol, Tereos supplies wheat starch and related starch products as part of its broad agricultural raw material processing business.

Long-established specialist in wheat-based raw materials, producing wheat starch, wheat proteins, and wheat-based ingredients for food, feed, industrial, and adhesive applications, with dedicated brands for different use cases.

A global ingredients supplier offering a broad portfolio including wheat starch, proteins, fibres, sweeteners and more, for food, feed and industrial markets across many geographies.

Provides high-quality native wheat starch, used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener, or viscosity modifier in food and animal feed applications.

Offers a range of specialty wheat starches (native and modified) and wheat-derived proteins; its starch products serve bakery, sauces, snacks, and other food segments.

Established supplier of starches (wheat, potato, corn, pea, tapioca) as well as sweeteners and proteins, with global distribution and supply chain services.