Guangzhou China Feb. 9, 2011– Generally speaking, Asia Pacific (AP) is an important production area of high intensity sweeteners (HIS) in the world. It is estimated that over 50% of global HIS production is concentrated in AP. Moreover, as the important sugar alternatives in the world, HIS production in AP is believed to affect sucrose supply, price and demand in AP. Meanwhile, since HIS is not absorbed by human body, and its unit sweetness price is less than sucrose, its application fields are believed to be wider in the future.
The production of HIS in AP has suffered from the global financial crisis in the past two years. At present, HIS production in AP has gradually recovered since H2 2009. In 2010, the output achieves a growth rate of 10.11%, rising to about 109,114 tonnes in 2010 from about 99,088 tonnes in 2009.
There are nine kinds of HIS widely used in AP, seven of which are widely produced, namely saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame-K, stevia sweetener, aspartame, sucralose and glycyrrhizin. The production patents of alitame and neotame are owned by two American companies.
In terms of HIS international trade in AP, the products of major production countries are mainly exported. The major export destinations are the US, the EU and other developed countries. China is the biggest HIS export country in AP with the total export reaching 47,981 tonnes in 2009, and Indonesia and Malaysia are estimated to be two of the biggest HIS import countries, with the total HIS import of over 3,000 tonnes in 2009.
China and Indonesia are two important consumption countries in AP in 2010, whose market sizes reach about 24,641 tonnes and 7,545 tonnes respectively, with market value of USD135 million and USD29 million respectively. The major consumption fields of HIS are food and beverage industries. HIS can also be consumed in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, feed, wine, and so on.
Source: CCM International