HS Code
382499
Last Updated
2026-06-11
Key takeaways for search and sourcing teams
- Microcrystalline cellulose market coverage spans 38 countries.
- 127 exporter companies and 106 importer companies are indexed in the global supply chain intelligence network for this product.
- 304 supplier-linked transactions are summarized across the top 20 countries.
- 0 premium suppliers and 0 catalog items are currently listed.
- Wholesale sample entries: 0; farmgate sample entries: 0.
- Page data last updated on 2026-06-11.
Global Supplier Transactions, Export Activity, and Price Benchmarks for Microcrystalline cellulose
Analyze 304 supplier-linked transactions across the top 20 countries, with monthly unit-price benchmarks to track export competitiveness and sourcing risk for Microcrystalline cellulose.
Microcrystalline cellulose Country YoY Change in Supplier Transactions and Export Momentum
Compare positive and negative YoY shifts in Microcrystalline cellulose to identify accelerating supplier markets and weakening export corridors.
Top YoY shifts for Microcrystalline cellulose: Ecuador (+1092.8%), United States (-49.3%), Japan (+29.8%).
Microcrystalline cellulose Country-Level Supplier Transaction and Unit Price Summary
As of 2025-07, benchmark Microcrystalline cellulose country transaction counts with monthly unit price and volume to prioritize supplier and export markets.
In 2025-12, countries with visible Microcrystalline cellulose transaction unit prices: Austria (85.80 USD / kg), South Korea (83.50 USD / kg), China (71.83 USD / kg), Vietnam (14.96 USD / kg), Thailand (9.40 USD / kg), 4 more countries.
| Country | YoY Change | Transaction Count | 2025-07 | 2025-08 | 2025-09 | 2025-10 | 2025-11 | 2025-12 | 2026-01 | 2026-02 | 2026-03 | 2026-04 | 2026-05 | 2026-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | -25.7% | 63 | 3.75 USD / kg (116,365 kg) | 9.39 USD / kg (40,888 kg) | 3.49 USD / kg (122,681 kg) | 4.08 USD / kg (398,700 kg) | 2.30 USD / kg (126,030 kg) | 2.39 USD / kg (45,570.015 kg) | ||||||
| France | +13.5% | 12 | - (-) | - (-) | 1.74 USD / kg (17,425 kg) | 3.64 USD / kg (27,257.5 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| India | +12.6% | 12 | 15.30 USD / kg (-) | 69.95 USD / kg (21,860 kg) | - (-) | 2.76 USD / kg (16,850 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| China | -6.6% | 50 | 76.89 USD / kg (20,970 kg) | 80.78 USD / kg (4,900 kg) | 74.04 USD / kg (61,520 kg) | 70.93 USD / kg (6,290 kg) | 66.63 USD / kg (9,150 kg) | 71.83 USD / kg (16,000 kg) | ||||||
| Kazakhstan | - | 17 | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | 3.65 USD / kg (336 kg) | - (-) | ||||||
| Italy | - | 6 | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| Singapore | - | 2 | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| Belgium | - | 1 | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| Thailand | -18.1% | 35 | 9.91 USD / kg (70,350.8 kg) | 9.25 USD / kg (132,330 kg) | 7.87 USD / kg (72,590 kg) | 14.70 USD / kg (15,000 kg) | 11.77 USD / kg (42,000 kg) | 9.40 USD / kg (95,350 kg) | ||||||
| Austria | -3.4% | 12 | 108.85 USD / kg (969.5 kg) | 107.51 USD / kg (9,010 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | 85.80 USD / kg (7,702.6 kg) |
Microcrystalline cellulose Global Supply Chain Coverage
233 companies
127 exporters and 106 importers are mapped for Microcrystalline cellulose.
Exporters and importers can use Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to identify counterparties for Microcrystalline cellulose, benchmark reach, and prioritize outreach by market.
Microcrystalline cellulose Export Supplier Intelligence, Trade Flows, and Price Signals
127 exporter companies are mapped in Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence for Microcrystalline cellulose. Exporters and importers can use company profiles and analytics to evaluate supplier coverage, trading activity, and route opportunities.
Microcrystalline cellulose Top Exporters and Supplier Profiles
Review leading exporter profiles while benchmarking against 127 total exporter companies in the Microcrystalline cellulose supply chain intelligence network. Exporters and importers can unlock company profiles and analytics to qualify partners faster.
(Tanzania)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Food Manufacturing
Value Chain Roles: Food Manufacturing
(Sri Lanka)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
(China)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
(Ireland)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Food PackagingOthers
Value Chain Roles: Food ManufacturingOthers
(United Arab Emirates)
Latest Export Transaction: 2025-11-26
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / Wholesale
Exporting Countries: Pakistan
Supplying Products: Microcrystalline cellulose, Magnesium stearate, Polydimethylsiloxane
(China)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-11
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
Microcrystalline cellulose Global Exporter Coverage
127 companies
Exporter company count is a key signal for Microcrystalline cellulose supply depth and sourcing optionality.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics to narrow Microcrystalline cellulose opportunities by country, product, and value-chain role, then open company profiles to validate fit.
Microcrystalline cellulose Import Buyer Intelligence, Demand Signals, and Price Benchmarks
106 importer companies are mapped for Microcrystalline cellulose demand intelligence. Use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to prioritize buyers, distributors, and downstream demand partners by market.
Microcrystalline cellulose Top Buyers, Importers, and Demand Partners
Review leading buyer profiles and compare them against 106 total importer companies tracked for Microcrystalline cellulose. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to evaluate buyer quality and demand concentration.
(Pakistan)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-11
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Industries: Food ManufacturingFood PackagingFood Services And Drinking Places
Value Chain Roles: -
(Vietnam)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-01-14
Recently Import Partner Companies: 2
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD Over 1B
Industries: Beverage ManufacturingFood ManufacturingOthers
Value Chain Roles: -
(South Africa)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-07-03
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Beverage ManufacturingFood ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Zambia, Namibia, Botswana
(Bangladesh)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-12-02
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 51 - 100 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 10M - 50M
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Mexico)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-12-09
Recently Import Partner Companies: 2
Employee Size: 101 - 500 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Guatemala)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-11
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 501 - 1000 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 10M - 50M
Industries: Animal ProductionFood ManufacturingOthers
Value Chain Roles: -
Global Importer Coverage
106 companies
Importer company count highlights the current depth of demand-side visibility for Microcrystalline cellulose.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics and company profiles to identify active Microcrystalline cellulose buyers, compare partner density by country, and refine GTM priorities.
Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDry Powder
Industry PositionFood Additive / Functional Ingredient
Market
Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC; also known as cellulose gel) is a purified, partially depolymerised cellulose produced by treating alpha-cellulose pulp from fibrous plant material with mineral acids and is supplied globally as a functional food additive. It is used primarily for texture and physical functionality (e.g., stabilizer/thickener, anticaking/free-flow, formulation aid) across processed foods and dietary supplements, and it is listed in FDA’s food ingredient inventory for multiple technical effects. International market access is shaped less by seasonality and more by conformance to identity/purity specifications (e.g., JECFA specifications and EU specifications for E 460(i), including an EU amendment clarifying the sodium hydroxide concentration used for solubility testing). Regulatory safety assessments by EFSA and JECFA support widespread use under good manufacturing practice, reinforcing MCC’s role as an established global additive with performance driven by particle/quality attributes and specification compliance.
Specification
Physical Attributes
- Fine, white or almost white, odourless, free-flowing crystalline powder (food-grade specifications)
- Purified, partially depolymerised cellulose prepared from alpha-cellulose pulp from fibrous plant material using mineral acids
- Insoluble in water and common organic solvents; functions via insoluble particles that can swell/structure dispersions (application-dependent)
Compositional Metrics
- Degree of polymerisation is typically less than 400 (identity specification context)
- Assay: not less than 97% of carbohydrate calculated as cellulose on the dry basis (JECFA specification context)
- Loss on drying: not more than 7.0% (JECFA specification context)
- pH: 5.0–7.5 (JECFA specification context)
- Sulfated ash: not more than 0.05% (JECFA specification context)
- EU specification amendment (2018) describes solubility in sodium hydroxide solution (50 g NaOH/L) as 'practically insoluble or insoluble'
Grades
- EU food additive designation: E 460(i) Microcrystalline cellulose (specifications in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, as amended)
- Codex/JECFA identity/purity specifications: Microcrystalline cellulose / cellulose gel (INS 460) in the FAO/JECFA Compendium/Monographs
- Pharmacopeial excipient context: USP posting on harmonized standard adoption for Microcrystalline Cellulose (PDG process)
ProcessingFunctional performance is sensitive to physical attributes (e.g., particle size distribution, moisture) and dispersion behavior, so buyer specifications commonly reference pharmacopeial/food-additive monographs and certificates of analysis
Supply Chain
Value Chain
- Alpha-cellulose pulp from fibrous plant material -> mineral-acid treatment (controlled hydrolysis/depolymerisation) -> purification/washing -> drying -> milling/sieving -> packaging -> distribution to food and supplement manufacturers
Demand Drivers
- Reformulation needs for texture/viscosity and physical stability in processed foods (stabilizer/thickener/formulation aid roles)
- Powder handling and flow performance needs in dry mixes (anticaking/free-flow roles)
- Cross-sector demand linkage with dietary supplements and excipient markets (performance specifications aligned to monographs/standards)
Temperature
- Typically handled and shipped as a dry powder at ambient temperature; moisture control is critical to preserve flow and meet moisture-related specifications
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighGlobal trade is highly sensitive to specification compliance because microcrystalline cellulose is regulated and defined through identity/purity standards (e.g., EU E 460(i) specifications under Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and JECFA specifications). Changes or clarifications to test conditions (such as the EU amendment specifying the sodium hydroxide concentration for solubility testing) can affect acceptance decisions, and non-conforming lots risk rejection, relabeling, or forced reformulation.Qualify suppliers against target-market specifications (EU/JECFA/FCC or pharmacopeial where applicable), require certificates of analysis aligned to the relevant monographs, and monitor regulatory specification updates in key jurisdictions.
Food Safety MediumFood-grade MCC acceptance depends on meeting monograph limits tied to purity and basic quality parameters (e.g., moisture/loss on drying, ash, pH, assay) and demonstrating consistent identity; deviations can trigger quality holds and customer complaints, especially in applications where functional performance is specification-sensitive.Use incoming QC testing and supplier audits aligned to the FAO/JECFA and/or EU specification parameters; implement lot traceability and change-control for process or raw-material shifts.
Sustainability MediumBecause MCC is produced from alpha-cellulose pulp derived from fibrous plant material, buyer scrutiny can extend to upstream fiber sourcing (e.g., forest impacts and traceability), potentially influencing supplier selection and market access for brands with deforestation/forest-risk commodity policies.Implement chain-of-custody documentation for forest-based inputs (e.g., FSC or PEFC systems) and provide origin/traceability evidence to downstream customers.
Sustainability
- Upstream fiber sourcing and traceability for forest-based materials used to produce alpha-cellulose pulp (customer ESG requirements may drive demand for certified chain-of-custody inputs)
Labor & Social
- Human-rights and labor due diligence expectations in forest-based supply chains; third-party chain-of-custody systems (e.g., FSC/PEFC) include labor-related requirements as part of certification expectations
FAQ
How is microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) produced for food use?Food-grade MCC is defined in major specifications as purified, partially depolymerised cellulose produced by treating alpha-cellulose pulp from fibrous plant material with mineral acids, followed by purification and drying to meet identity and purity requirements.
What are common technical functions of microcrystalline cellulose in foods?Regulatory and specification sources describe MCC as a functional additive used for physical effects such as stabilizer/thickener and anticaking/free-flow performance, and it is also listed in FDA’s food ingredient inventory for additional technical effects including formulation aid and related functionality depending on the application.
What regulatory identifiers are commonly used for microcrystalline cellulose in global food additive contexts?In the European Union it is designated as E 460(i) (microcrystalline cellulose) with specifications set under EU food additive regulations, and in FAO/WHO JECFA specifications it is described as microcrystalline cellulose (also called cellulose gel) with an INS designation used in Codex-aligned additive frameworks.
Microcrystalline cellulose Country Coverage for Suppliers, Export Flows, and Prices
Explore country-level Microcrystalline cellulose market pages for supplier coverage, trade flows, and price benchmarks.
India
United Kingdom
United States
Spain
South Korea
Germany
Philippines
Panama
Vietnam
Cambodia
Malaysia
China
All country market pages: India, United Kingdom, United States, Spain, South Korea, Germany, Philippines, Panama, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, China, Russia, Japan, Italy, Singapore, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Algeria, Ecuador, France, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar [Burma], Mexico, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Thailand, Taiwan, Ukraine, South Africa
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