The global demand for flax is growing substantially, owing to its demand from the food, textile and paper industries. Flax usage in baked goods has more than doubled in countries such as the U.S. The global demand for flax as a functional food and feed additive is expected to see strong growth over the next five years. Flax crop derivatives such as the seeds and straw are used in different applications such as healthy flax oils, omega enriched end products, pet foods, textile flax fiber, and insulation materials.
Around 70% of our survey respondents identified the increasing health benefits from consumption of flax seed products as a major factor driving the market. Flax seeds are rich in Lignans, Fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids that aid in the control of blood sugar and cholesterol. Interestingly, 10% of the survey respondents indicated that flax products can help in protecting against breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Moreover, usage of flax in the textile and plastic industries is another key driving factor. Cotton prices are in the range of $1800 to $2000 per ton and it is more economical for textile companies to produce cottonized flax fiber that offers the same benefits as linen or any other non-flax fiber. Besides flax fiber, shive, which is obtained by removing fiber, is also in demand for use in animal bedding, control soil erosion and also as a bio-fuel.
Although several studies indicate that there are side effects associated with the consumption of flax seed products, a majority of the survey respondents indicated that those side effects can be avoided by consuming the product in smaller amounts initially and increasing the dose gradually. In addition, respondents were unclear about the side effects of consumption of flax seeds in pregnant and breast-feeding women.
The market for flax products in Asia and North America, particularly China and the U.S, is set to grow significantly in the near future. Canada, as the larges producer of flax in the world, is the major supplier to the U.S and China. Canada produced 489 thousand tons in 2012 and expects to produce more than 600 thousand tons by the end of this year. In 2012, the average price of flax seeds was in the range of $520 to $550 per ton. Russia is the major exporter of flax and reportedly, will continue to export larger quantities over the next five years. Other countries such as Argentina, China, Kazakhstan, Peru and Ukraine also supply significant quantities of flax products.
Competitive Landscape:
Companies such as Schweitzer-Mauduit, Legumex Walker, Biolin Research Inc, Cargill, Incorporated, Glanbia plc, Archer Daniels Midland Company, CHS Inc., SunOpta Inc, Grain Millers, Inc., SWM INTL, Linen of Desna LLC are some of the key companies involved in processing flax fiber, straw, stalk and seeds. They are all extensively profiled in the report.
The IndustryARC report on the Global Flax Crop Market identifies many such insights and M&A opportunities, besides providing a detailed analysis of the flax crop market.
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Source: www.abnewswire.com
