Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide used as a food additive which is produced from starch by partial hydrolysis. It is usually found as a white hygroscopic spray-dried powder and is easily digestible, being absorbed as rapidly as glucose. It might be either moderately sweet or almost flavorless since it contains less than 20% sugar.
Apart from being used in the food industry, maltodextrin is also used in cosmetics and skincare products as moisturizers, a texture enhancer, and may also help alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs), which are often used in anti-aging products, to work better. As a moisturizer, maltodextrin helps to keep the skin’s surface intact, supple, and hydrated. While as an anti aging stimulant, it enhanced the anti-aging activity of the acids and reduced skin irritation.
The maltodextrin market was valued at USD 3045.5 in 2020, and will reach USD 3490.7 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 2.3% during the forecast period 2021-2027 globally.
In the Asia Pacific region, specifically in Indonesia, the food sweetener market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period (2020 – 2025). In Indonesia, sucrose – which maltodextrin is one of them – is the mostly sugar type that is being imported. The vast amount of sugar imported into Indonesia highlights the extent of demand for the commodity, making Indonesia among the world’s largest purchasers by volume, particularly for the country’s food and beverage production sector. White plantation sugar is made in Indonesia from sugarcane and is mostly used for human consumption. Indonesia also refined raw sugar supplied from other countries for use in the food and beverage industries. Indonesian legislation makes it illegal to sell refined sugar made from imported raw sugar in retail marketplaces for human use.
The product’s sweet taste and capacity to provide a quick source of calories are predicted to stimulate demand for products such as sports drinks and snacks for athletes. Meanwhile, its high absorption and skin-softening characteristics make it an important component in cosmetics production. As a result, demand for the product is expected to rise in the forecast period due to the rising health and personal care industry.