chemical · input
Corn-glucose-derived polyol used as the humectant/sweetener base of toothpaste (typically 20–40% by weight). Also used in sugar-free confectionery and pharma syrups.
8
Source countries
6
Companies
2
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
2 essential American goods rely on sorbitol (70% solution, humectant) somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| CNChina | 29% |
| FRFrance | 23% |
| IDIndonesia | 18% |
| INIndia | 10% |
| THThailand | 9% |
| DEGermany (Federal Republic of Germany) | 5% |
| KRSouth Korea (Republic of Korea) | 3% |
| MXMexico | 2% |
Who makes it
6 companies produce sorbitol (70% solution, humectant).
French family-owned starch and pharmaceutical excipients company; pioneered pharmaceutical-grade parenteral dextrose ~40 years ago; brand: Lycadex PF (pyrogen-free dextrose monohydrate for IV/PD solutions); operates new GMP injectable carbohydrate facility at Lestrem, France; supplies global PD solution and parenteral nutrition manufacturers; one of the largest pharmaceutical starch/glucose suppliers in Europe
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (Chicago IL; NYSE: ADM; ~$85B revenue FY2023; founded 1902) is the world's largest agricultural commodity processor and a major corn merchandiser supplying livestock feed. ADM's AG Services and Oilseeds segment operates 270+ facilities including corn origination elevators throughout Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and Minnesota. ADM's Animal Nutrition segment produces lysine, threonine, and other amino acid feed additives used in swine feed premixes globally. ADM's corn wet milling operations (Decatur IL flagship plant; Cedar Rapids IA) produce corn starch, corn syrup, corn oil, ethanol, and DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles) — DDGS is sold as a protein-energy supplement in swine diets at inclusion rates of 10-20%. ADM is simultaneously the largest US corn merchandiser, a producer of DDGS feed ingredients, and a supplier of amino acid additives that enable lower-protein corn-soy diets in hog production. ADM faced a significant accounting investigation in 2023-2024: the company disclosed that its Nutrition segment had misreported results; CEO Juan Luciano resigned in January 2024 amid DOJ/SEC inquiry, creating management uncertainty during a period of corn market volatility.
Largest privately held company in the US by revenue (~$160B in FY2024). Cargill Protein – North America processes beef and pork with major plants at Dodge City KS (one of the world's largest beef plants), Schuyler NE (4,800 cattle/day, 2.7M lbs/day), Wichita KS (beef). ~22% of US beef packing (mid-2000s estimate; current share may be slightly lower). Also a major agricultural commodity trader, animal feed maker, and food ingredient supplier. Cargill's private structure means no public financial disclosure — making supply chain risk assessment harder. The Cargill family holds the majority of shares, making it the wealthiest private US company.
Indian maker of sorbitol and other polyols/starch sugars for food, pharma and industrial use.
American ingredients company (NYSE: INGR, HQ Westchester IL; formerly Corn Products International); wet milling and specialty ingredients producer with significant pharmaceutical-grade dextrose output. Ingredion operates corn wet mills in Argo IL (one of the largest corn wet mills in the US), Darien WI, and other locations producing pharmaceutical-grade glucose/dextrose (anhydrous and monohydrate) under its Pharma Solutions brand. Ingredion historically served the confectionery (glucose syrups), brewing (glucose syrups), and food industries before expanding into pharma-grade. Argo IL wet mill has been operating since 1906 — one of the longest continuously operating corn processing facilities in the US.
French agricultural cooperative and second-largest sugar group globally; major producer of vital wheat gluten, wheat starch, and ethanol from wheat. Plants in Normandy (Lillebonne) and Belgium. Has a bioplastics partnership with Futerro using wheat proteins.
