Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether Market Estimated at USD 115–155 mn in 2025, Says Market Krystal

30 October 2026 – Market Krystal has published its Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether market report, covering demand, supply, the value chain and market size, with a forecast for 2026–2035 and scenarios to 2047.

Hydroxypropyl starch ether is a starch reacted with propylene oxide, sold as a cold-water-soluble powder. In dry-mix mortars, construction HPS is a co-additive to cellulose ethers that gives anti-sag, slip resistance and longer open time in tile adhesives, gypsum plasters, renders and skim coats; food (E1440) and paper grades share the CAS number but sit outside this scope. Supply depends on a few European potato starch processors and a growing group of Chinese producers, so the starch potato harvest and propylene oxide cost drive availability.

Key findings

Demand

Tile adhesives are the largest use, followed by gypsum plasters; Asia-Pacific is the largest consuming region (Credence Research).

Supply

Avebe, Agrana and Emsland Group lead, holding over 70% between them (Intel Market Research); Shandong-based Chinese producers supply the volume end.

Value chain

Potato starch (amylopectin-rich) + Propylene oxide + Corn, tapioca and waxy starches → construction HPS → Cementitious tile adhesives (C1T, C2T, C2TE, S1), Gypsum plasters and gypsum-based mortars, Cement renders, machine plasters and ETICS/EIFS mortars

THE QUESTION THE REPORT ANSWERS
How large is demand for construction HPS in tile adhesives and dry-mix mortars, who supplies it, and where can new suppliers or formulators win share to 2035?

Companies covered include

Royal AvebeAGRANAEmsland GroupBiesterfeld

Recent developments

May 2026
AGRANA reported 2025|26 starch segment revenue of EUR 982.4 mn and EBIT of EUR 23.5 mn, down 26.6%, citing lower starch prices and a specialities strategy to stabilise margins. AGRANA
Dec 2025
Royal Avebe published its 2024/2025 annual report with a performance price of EUR 136.79 per tonne of starch potatoes and EUR 60 mn invested, and flagged a larger European starch potato supply. Royal Avebe
May 2023
AGRANA announced a EUR 23 mn drum-drying plant at Gmünd, Austria, raising technical speciality starch capacity for the construction and adhesive sectors by one-third, with completion planned for July 2025. AGRANA

THE FULL REPORT

Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether (construction grade) Market Report 2026-2035: Size, Producers, Pricing and Scenarios to 2047 (CAS 9049-76-7)

Producers and capacities, demand by application and region, value chain, pricing, market size and scenarios. PDF and Excel.

View contents and pricing

About Market Krystal

Market Krystal is a chemical market intelligence company. It publishes CAS-level market reports that follow each molecule from feedstock and production route through producers, applications and end users, and tracks chemical-industry developments from official company and regulator sources.