Xanthan Gum, Food Grade (E415, 80 / 200 Mesh) and Oilfield Grade (API 13A)

Fermentation gum bought on viscosity in 1% KCl, mesh and pyruvate; API 13A grade on rheometer readings

Xanthan gum is made by fermenting a sugar feedstock with Xanthomonas campestris, precipitating with alcohol, drying and milling, and it is the one hydrocolloid that thickens at low dose, holds viscosity across pH, salt and temperature, and shear-thins so a sauce pours and a drilling mud pumps. Food and pharmaceutical grade is sold to E415 under Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, FCC and USP: pyruvic acid not less than 1.5%, nitrogen not more than 1.5%, residual ethanol and propan-2-ol limited singly or together (the EU limit is 500 mg/kg), loss on drying and ash within monograph limits, and a viscosity specification the buyer sets, commonly 1,200–1,700 mPa·s for a 1% solution in 1% KCl at 60 rpm. Mesh decides the use: 80 mesh for dry blends, bakery and general food where dust and dispersion matter less; 200 mesh for beverages, sauces, dressings, personal care and pharmaceuticals where fast hydration and a smooth mouthfeel are wanted. Oilfield grade is tested to API Specification 13A, the drilling-fluids materials standard, on a direct-indicating viscometer at 25 °C in deionised water and in brine, with the dial readings at 600 and 300 rpm and the low-shear readings defining yield point and apparent viscosity; the buyer is a mud company or a national oil company's drilling-fluids tender. Xanthan declares under HS 3913.90 (natural and modified natural polymers, a subheading that also holds other polymers), so customs data blend it with other products. Supply is Chinese-led: published capacity figures put Fufeng at 80,000–90,000 MT a year and Deosen at about 35,000 MT, with Meihua the third large Chinese producer; CP Kelco runs 50,000–60,000 MT across the USA, China and Europe; Jungbunzlauer ferments xanthan (and citric acid) at Pernhofen in Austria, its largest site, expanded in 2020; world capacity is put at 300,000–400,000 MT a year. The USA has held an anti-dumping duty order on xanthan gum from China since 2013, reviewed and continued, which is why US buyers source Austrian and US material and why Chinese offers into the USA carry a duty line.

The buyer is a food or beverage manufacturer, a sauces and dressings plant, a bakery or gluten-free producer, a pharmaceutical or personal-care formulator, a pet-food plant, a drilling-fluids company or a hydrocolloid distributor. Documents are the certificate of analysis (COA) to the grade bought against, the safety data sheet (SDS), a certificate of origin, halal and kosher certificates from bodies the buyer accepts for food grade, and the API 13A test report for oilfield grade; the gum is not classed as dangerous goods for sea carriage. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers food, pharmaceutical and oilfield xanthan gum from Chinese, Austrian and US producers and trader positions, in 25 kg multiwall paper bags with PE liner palletised in 20-ft dry containers, on FCA, FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Price is per MT and depends on grade, mesh, viscosity and origin (with the destination duty on Chinese material into the USA); minimum quantities are confirmed per product and pack. Send the grade, mesh, the viscosity method and range you buy against, certification, monthly volume and destination, and the enquiry is screened and worked against it.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.