Market Flash

Value-led snacking, sustainability storytelling, and the importance of having a ‘star ingredient’: we asked consumer analysts and market experts at Fi Europe about the trends and innovations that are shaping the food industry.

• FI Europe 2023 Conference

In a bid to curb rates of obesity and other non-communicable disease, the Colombian government has introduced a tax on various ultra-processed food (UPF) and drink products.

• food health
• food&beverage

Codex Labs' kits include the Decode.MySkin DNA Test, which uses qPCR sequencing to assess skin oxidative stress, sensitivity, irritation, oiliness, pimples, pigmentation, sun exposure and general aging, as well as the Decode.MyHealth Vitamin DNA Test.

• qPCR sequencing

Hair products often contain ingredients that easily evaporate, so users may inhale some of these chemicals, potentially posing health repercussions.Now, researchers have studied emissions of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including siloxanes.

• Hair care
• VOC

The ingredient counteracts hypoxi-aging by stimulating and protecting cell respiration and energy production, according to Sederma.

• Cosmetics New Ingredients
• Cosmetics New Formulas

After the China's MMA (Methyl methacrylate) market entered the fourth quarter, the market opened weakly due to abundant post-holiday spot supply.

• MMA
• Methyl
• methacrylate

Himadri, a Mumbai-based Indian specialty chemical company, announced on December 6 that it will set up a lithium-ion battery module production plant with an estimated project cost of $576.2 million.

• Himadri
• Lithium iron phosphate

In the first half of 2023, China's pharmaceutical industry entered a difficult stage. The overall performance of the pharmaceutical industry was poor and the export volume of pharmaceutical products fell overall. In the API market in the pharmaceutical pr

• China's Pharmaceutical Industry
• 2023
• Global Trade

Jiangsu Fangmaoshan Polymer Materials Co., Ltd. plans to invest a total of 122.25 million yuan to build a new high-performance anti-corrosion coating project with an annual output of 30,000 tons of low VOCs content.

• anti corrosion coating

On December 4, Sumitomo Chemical announced that the company decided to close the cyclohexanone production unit at its Ehime plant in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, and withdraw from the business.

• Sumitomo chemical
• cyclohexanone

Norway's pipeline gas exports to continental Europe and the UK rose to a 10-month high in November, with supplies now approaching total capacity.

• Norway's pipeline gas

Since November, with the support of the cost side and demand side, the market price of Glufosinate ammonium has bottomed out.

• Glufosinate
• ammonium
• Glufosinate-p
• pesticides

On December 5, 2023, Finnish chemicals company Kemira signed an agreement to divest its oil and gas-related portfolio to Sterling, the US subsidiary of global industrial company Artek Industries, for €260 million.

• Kemira
• Sterling
• Oli
• Gas

On November 30, Xingxin New Materials disclosed its letter of intent for an initial public offering of shares and officially launched its offering.

• Xingxin New Materials

At the FI Europe 2023 Conference, Filott gave a presentation titled “Plant-based meat alternatives: Back to the drawing board”, in which he shared insights about why plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) have stalled and what needs.

• plant-based meat
• FI Europe 2023 Conference
• PBMAs

The EU-supported food community EIT Food has released recommendations on protein diversification to advance progress and spur production and consumption changes.

• plant protein
• European Institute of Innovation and Technology

Research from the University of Minnesota explores the diverse bioactives found in insoluble dietary fibre and sheds light on the potential health benefits beyond conventional fibre advantages.

• insoluble dietary fiber
• bioactives

Rev Gum, a caffeine-infused chewing gum challenging the norms of gum consumption, emerges amid the declining chewing gum market and the rise of energy products and functional food.

• energy drink

Aviko Rixona is the first to enter the market with Potato Cheezz: the first plant-based alternative to cheese, made from fresh potatoes.

• plant-based additives

European Commission requests SCCS for a scientific opinion on Silver (CAS/EC No. 7440-22-4/231-131-3) used in cosmetic products.Commission Department requesting the Opinion: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.

• SCCS
• Micron-sized Particulate Silver
• Decorative Cosmetic
• Skin care