Market Trends of Europe Beta-Glucan Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Europe Beta-Glucan Market according to our research experts:
Increased Demand for Healthcare and Dietary Supplements
In the healthcare industry, beta-glucans are used for improving immune response and are used as oral medicines or injections for treating a range of medical diseases and disorders including high cholesterol, Crohn's disease, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. Moreover, increasing number of research studies have been carried out using beta-glucans to treat a range of chronic inflammatory skin diseases and other health conditions. Consumers following a healthy and active lifestyle are opting for dietary supplements to increase vitality, physical endurance, and boost their metabolism rate. This demand has led to food companies use beta-glucan to create solutions that improve overall health of consumers. Ingredient manufacturers are focusing on offering compounds that can improve health of consumers due to widespread awareness and higher demand for dietary supplements, including sports nutrition products.
Germany Holds a Major Share in the Market
The rising birth rate (~4% in 2018) over the last few years has created a demand for fortified infant nutrition products. According to Statistisches Bundesamt, there was around 4.58 million population under five years of age in 2017, which was about 6% of the overall population in Germany. Though Germany is largest barley producer after Russia, key players operating in Germany are focusing on other sources, specifically on yeast, algae for beta-glucan extraction, as the major part of barley produced in Germany is used for malting or animal feeding. In Germany, cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death, accounting for 40% of all deaths followed by cancer, which accounts for 25% of all death cases. This factor is driving the application of beta-glucan in dietary supplement segment.
