Pectin, the natural polymeric carbohydrate substance is chemically a polygalacturonic acid and is partially esterified with methanol and depending on the degree of esterification is broadly termed as HMP (high methoxyl pectin) and LMP (low methoxyl pectin).

Basically they are used as gelling agents for fruit based preserves such as jam, jelly and marmalade. HMP for high sugar products and LMP for low sugar dietetic applications and without sugar (with high intensity/low calorie or zero calorie sweeteners in the presence of calcium ions) for diabetic population.

They are also used as stabilizing and thickening agents for variety of fruit/vegetables and dairy products.

The Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics industries also find significant application for pectin other than Food industry.

Worldwide citrus peels, apple pomace, sugar beet pomace and sunflower heads are used as raw materials (based on their availability) though citrus peels gives best quality pectin both in terms of yield and gel strength.

Further as far as peels of mango, papaya and banana are concerned they are not probably used as pectic raw materials (due to uncertain and insufficient supply for industrial application) on production scale though experimental data from laboratory scale experiments are already available from various laboratories of different countries.

I would like to know;

(1) if any other pectic raw material is used anywhere else for pectin production on commercial scale(may be in a smaller production units).

Let us see the main players as far as major pectin producers, worldwide is concerned.

Ref.: Business Wire (A Birkshire Hathway Company) July 08 2019 report.

a) CP Kelco : ‘GENU Pectin’ (This manufacturer is the world’s largest pectin manufacturer accounting for nearly a third of the total global pectin production. The company was formed in 2000 by the combination of Copenhagen Pectin (CPFactory)/Food Gums Division of Hercules Inc. and Kelco Biopolymers of Monsanto Company).

b) DuPont

(DuPont Danisco: ‘Grindsted’ pectin).

c) Cargill (‘Cargill Pectin’ Brazil)

d) Herbstrieth & Fox (75 year old, (Pectin- Fabrik GmbH of 1934) German Family Business now running in it’s 4th generation.

e) Naturex Givaudan (‘Naturex’) Naturex entered pectin business after the acquisition of PECTOWIN established in 1963, a Polish company (Agencja Rozwoju Przemysiu S. A.–ARP) in December 2011).

As per the latest report Givaudan has completed the acquisition and delisting of Naturex. (19th September 2018).

f) Yantai Andre Pectin : ‘A1pectner’ (Pectin manufacturer of Andre Group from China).

(Royal DSM Heerlen Netherlands completes increase shareholding in Andre Pectin to 75%).

Ref.: http://www.dsm.com news-archive.

(2)The second sub-question is related in order to get further information on various pectin manufacturers world over other than which are mentioned as above.

I suppose some of the RG members would be able to throw light on this in the context of their own country.

For example in India there are couple of small pectin manufacturing units (Krishna Pectins Pvt. Ltd Dapore, Maharashtra, Healthy Biosciences Pvt. Ltd. Mohai, Punjab, Southern Citrus Products, Gudur, Andhra Pradesh etc.to name a few) but there is major import still taking place over the last several decades to meet the constantly increasing demand.

The current price of standardized commercial pectin (150 degree USA SAG grade) in the International market is approximately Rs.1000/- per kg (about 10 € per kg).

I have a data since 1982, when I started my doctoral research to understand more about pectin (in terms of its chemistry, technology, production processes, applications and economics and related aspects).

My impression about the price of this important hydrocolloid gum is this, that prices are quite stable over last four decades. Because in 1980 the wholesale price in international market was about 4 € per kg and the current price of 10 € is very much expected considering the inflation, increase in production cost etc. and one can very well say that there is hardly any price hike influenced by demand/supply ratio though, the demand is constantly increasing.

So the third sub-question is:

(3) What is the impression of RG members with respect to above query especially giving due consideration to local market scenario of their own country?

Regards,