Pullulan is produced by fermentation from aureobasidium pullulans. Similarly, dextran, xanthan gum, it is an extracellular water-soluble viscous polysaccharide. The pullulan industry is a high monopoly industry. Pullulan is commercialized by Hayashibara in 1979. Due to patent protection and technical monopoly, there are no other industrialized manufacturers in the world until 2000.
Pullulan is a film former and binder popular in the production of breath strips, but it also appears as an ingredient in cosmetics and beauty products because of its solubility in water, and adhesive properties. Pullulan include food grade pullulan and medical grade pullulan, among them, food grade pullulan occupies the largest market share.
Global pullulan market was valued at 139.37 Million US$ in 2018 and is projected to reach 181.91 Million US$ by 2024, at a CAGR of 4.54% during the forecast period
Increasing efforts are being witnessed toward the development of advanced products. Increasing of natural extracts in food industry and growing demand for natural ingredient is projected to boost growth of the pullulan market. We tend to believe this industry becomes more and more mature, and the consumption increasing rate will show a smooth curve.
By product types, pullulan can be divided into three types: pharmaceutical grade, food grade and industries grade. Key players in global pullulan market include: Hayashibara, Kopl, Meihua Group, Freda, Kangnaxin, Hongxiang Chemical, Jinmei Biotechnology, Joint Friends Chemical etc.