Expanding Application Areas Spur Demand for Lactose, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
San Jose, California (PRWEB) July 01, 2013 -- Follow us on LinkedIn – A key by-product of the dairy industry, lactose is defined as disaccharide sugar derived from milk. Applications of lactose range from its use in the food industry to the pharmaceutical industry. Developments in lactose manufacturing processes have enabled the production of lactose in various mesh/particle sizes, which in turn has helped expand applications in the food industry. Availability of finer particle sizes, for instance, has encouraged the use of lactose in dry mix beverages and icings. The low glycemic index of lactose is triggering its increased use in nutritional products and the growing consumer emphasis on health and wellbeing is expected to benefit demand for lactose in health products in the coming years. As a critical ingredient required to emulate the natural composition of human milk, demand for lactose is benefiting from the healthy growth in sales of infant formula. Conducive demographics in developing countries, older parents with higher discretionary spends, dual income households, and increasing number of women in the workforce, are key factors driving sales of infant formula.
Growing focus on conversion of whey to fuel ethanol is expected to benefit lactose production. Traditionally manufactured through fermenting and distilling starch crops, and cellulosic biomass such as trees and grasses, interest is presently being shed on whey as a potential source for production of fuel ethanol. Liquid whey typically contains over 6% lactose and represents a rich energy source that can be exploited. Fermentation of lactose present in whey to produce fuel ethanol is gaining in popularity. This, thereby, is creating increased demand for lactose and is expected to increase the efforts to recover lactose from whey. Opportunities in this space will be governed by the growing popularity of alternative fuel sources, increasing focus on environmental pollution and ensuing legislation of strict emission/environmental norms, and growing R&D investments in developing new fuel ethanol sources.
A key growing application area for lactose is in the animal feed sector with research studies throwing light on the nutritional benefits of lactose in animal feed. Lactose has been found to favorably influence the absorption, retention, and utilization of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in animals. New research studies also indicate lactose to carry nutritive values unavailable in carbohydrates. Rise in meat consumption as a result of growing population and focus on protein rich diets, increase in meat production and animal husbandry are therefore indirectly helping spur demand for lactose in the animal feed industry. Swine farms are the largest consumers of lactose with lactose shown to play a vital role in weaning of piglets. Given that reduction of weaning age of piglets is critical for improving farm productivity, lactose is growing in importance as an essential feed additive, especially against increased focus on farm profitability, competitiveness and productivity.
As a filling agent in capsule drug formulations and as a carrier for drugs, lactose is expected to benefit from the growing global sales of pharmaceuticals drugs. Growing population, expanding base of aging individuals in the population mix, increasing prevalence of lifestyle and age-related disorders, increased spending on healthcare are all factors indirectly benefiting demand for lactose in the pharmaceutical industry. The growing popularity of Inhalation-Grade Lactose and increased R&D investments in this space are forecast to drive demand further in the pharmaceutical end-use industry. Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs) especially will spur consumption patterns, since lactose is used as a bulking agent to enable easy powder suction during inhalation. Growing environmental concerns over the use of aerosol based inhalers is throwing the spotlight on consumer preferences for dry powder inhalers. Growth in demand for Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI) as a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma will therefore benefit lactose consumption. Expanding use of DPIs to administer vaccines will also benefit the market.
Growth will also be led by demand for lactose-derivatives such as lactulose, lactitol and lactobionic acid, among others. Innovation in lactose processing is creating demand for lactose as a raw material in the production of platform chemicals. Lactulose is expected to find immediate use in drugs developed for the treatment of intestinal disorders. With attractive opportunities in the offing for the development of lactulose based new class of antibiotics called “ecobiotics”, demand for lactose is forecast grow in the production of Lactulose. As stated by the new market research report on Lactose, the United States represents the largest market worldwide. Asia-Pacific is forecast to emerge as the fastest growing market with a projected CAGR of 2.5% over the analysis period.
Major players in the market include Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S,
Bayerische Milchindustrie eG, Davisco Foods International Inc., DMV International, DFE Pharma, FrieslandCampina, Glanbia Foods Inc., Hilmar Ingredients, Lactalis Ingredients, Leprino Foods Company, Molkerei MEGGLE Wasserburg GmbH & Co. KG, PGP International, Inc., and Saputo Inc., among others.
The research report titled “Lactose: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, company profiles, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities. The report provides market estimates and projections for Lactose in US$ Thousand for all major geographic markets including the US, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Middle East, and Latin America (Brazil and Rest of Latin America). End-use markets analyzed include Pharmaceuticals, Food, Confectionery, and Others.
For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit –
http://www.strategyr.com/Lactose_Market_Report.asp
About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone: 408-528-9966
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Public Relations, Global Industry Analysts, Inc., http://www.StrategyR.com/, 408-528-9966, [email protected]
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