Updates on the Aloe Markets

by Daniel Avaro

Manager

Aloetrade America

The future of the aloe industry is really surprising and exciting, both for final products and raw materials or ingredients. New industries are adding aloe into product formulations on these days.

During many years and till today, for most of people aloe has been a product known as useful in many external uses, usually for healing or soothing and specially in sunburns. Since the 70s and specially in the 80s and 90s aloe juices and aloe dietary supplements grown into the health market, but not reached the mass market.

With the launching of aloe drinks in the past years, beverage bottlers are helping the aloe industry to reach the mass market. In the past, aloe juices were marketed mainly through distribution channels reaching the health, nutrition and dietary stores, while today, aloe drinks are distributed to the largest retailers and may reach the mass market. In the past, you found aloe juice only at a health store, but now, you may find an aloe drink in many supermarkets, hypermarkets, hard discount stores, drugstores, convenience stores, etc. These are goods news for the industry, because demand is growing yearly.

Furthermore, aloe products or raw materials has widened the scope, and now are being used in very different demanding industries, some of them not much known for people. Let´s see those examples.

1. Aloe vera drinks. This is one of the most attractive products. Aloe drinks are increasing sales both in European and american markets, replacing the previous concept of aloe juices. Aloe drinks must be formulated for general use, or focused for sports & fitness markets, new age beverages, etc.

2. Aloe vera as ingredient in functional foods and beverages. Market is not so high yet, but growing. Many fruit juices processors are incorporating aloe into the formulation. Nutraceutical beverages are growing and becoming a hot market today.

3. Aloe in cosmetics, personal care and toiletry. The most known side of aloe is stagnant, but not losing sales volume. Aloe continues to be relevant in many cosmetics for instance, and in our experience, we find many small niches into this area yet to be explored. New cosmetics, personal care and spa products with aloe are being formulated continuously.

4. Aloe in the OTC and pharmaceutical products. The pharmaceutical industry continues to be an attractive market for aloe products, most for 100X or 200X powders, to formulate a wide range of products for different pharmaceutical categories, such as first aid creams, aloe sprays, mouth washes, anti-acne formulas, among many others.

5. Aloe in Veterinary, animal nutrition and pet food sector. While exists many product from several years ago, new products are being formulated and launched into this category, aimed to specific requirements.

6. Aloe in agriculture. Yet this demand is still low, but offers high growing possibilities in the near future. Some wineyards are using aloe as coating for grapes , for instance.

7. Aloe as a new food. We have frequent consultations for our aloe marmalade, and also have demand for aloe leaves to be used in different cuisine preparations. In America and european countries we may see aloe diced cubes in syrup, aloe yogurts, aloe soups, aloe herbal teas and aloe jellies, for instance.

8. Aloe in textiles. We are seeing a just born demand into the textile/apparel industry. Aloe is starting to be used into different products, from bikinis to mattresses. Small yet, but perhaps to grow much in the coming years. We offer additional comments in our blog at http://www.aloetradeamerica.com/blog

9. Aloe yellow sap, an old product into this industry, used to prepare laxative products, is now having great demand. We actually supply aloe bitter sap from Venezuela for further processing into aloin, then to be refined to obtain diacerein, a new drug for osteoarthritis.

10. Aloe in the fire-fighting foam. Saponins which are Glycosides form about 3% of what’s in Aloe Vera gel. Aloe is starting to be used as a source of saponins to manufacture fire-fighting foam.

11. Aloe into the Oil and Gas Industry. Researchs found Aloe resins are useful as an anti-corrosive agent in oil and gas pipelines. First experiences are being held in Venezuela but no final products have been launched yet.

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