Yeast, featured by natural and abundant nutrition system, has been widely applied in China during the recent years, not only in food fermentation but in such fields as feedstuff, condiment, and pharmacy. In 2009, Chinese yeast output arrived at 200 kilotons, an increase of 10 kilotons from a year earlier. The yeast production in China gives priority to high active dry yeast whose output surpasses 50% of the total, followed by feedstuff yeast of approximately 15%.
China Yeast Industry Report, 2010
Yeast production in China is dominated by Angel Yeast Company, AB Mauri, and Lesaffre; hereinto, Angel Yeast enjoys the largest capacity mainly distributed in its 6 production bases like Yichang (Hubei) and Yili (Xinjiang). AB Mauri possesses 6 yeast production bases in Mainland China, while Lesaffre has 2 yeast production bases and a yeast extract production base.
During 2009-2010, Angel Yeast, AB Mauri, and Lesaffre all expanded the production of yeast extract.
Angel Yeast increased the yeast extract capacity in its Yili production base in 2009;
AB (Harbin) Food Additive Co., Ltd, built by AB Mauri in 2007, went into operation in 2010 with the capacity of 5-kiloton yeast extract;
Guangxi Yi Pin Xian Biotechnology Co., Ltd., jointly established by Lesaffre and Donta Group in Laibin City (Guangxi), is specialized in yeast extract with the capacity of 6 kilotons in 2010.
AB (Harbin) Food Additive Co., Ltd, built by AB Mauri in 2007, went into operation in 2010 with the capacity of 5-kiloton yeast extract;
Guangxi Yi Pin Xian Biotechnology Co., Ltd., jointly established by Lesaffre and Donta Group in Laibin City (Guangxi), is specialized in yeast extract with the capacity of 6 kilotons in 2010.
Yeast extract gets mainly used in condiments. The application amount of yeast extract in EU has taken 60% of the total condiment consumption, far higher than that of monosodium glutamate, while China holds a proportion of less than 10%. If 50% monosodium glutamate is replaced by yeast extract, the demand of yeast extract will exceed one million tons in China. Consequently, there will be considerable prospect for the development of yeast extract. Besides, pasta yeast will see a comparatively bright future in China since the large consumption of pastas like steamed bread, steamed stuffed bun and bread in China brings along the huge demand potentiality of pasta yeast. China’s yeast output and the current capacity of yeast enterprises fail to meet the consumption demand, therefore, the yeast industry, a rising sector in China, will welcome more investment opportunities.
