China's citric acid sector has one of the largest industrial fermentation scales in the world. Molasses, which is mainly produced from beet and sugarcane processing in the United States, is a crucial substrate that is chosen for its affordability, high fermentable sugar content, and year-round availability. In submerged fermentation, diluted and purified molasses is fed to cultures of Aspergillus niger under carefully regulated conditions of aeration, pH 2.5–3.5, and temperature 28–32°C in order to optimize conversion efficiency. While multi-stage aeration systems maintain oxygen transfer rates above 200 mmol O2/L•h, which is essential for the production of high-yield organic acids, inline refractometry and automated nutrient dosing ensure optimal °Brix and nitrogen balance. Citric acid is recovered downstream by calcium salt precipitation or solvent extraction, and then it is dried and crystallized to meet food or pharmaceutical standards. Citric acid produced in China is used in a variety of industries it acts as an acidulant, flavor enhancer, and preservative in carbonated beverages, candies, jams, and sauces in the food and beverage sector; it stabilizes active ingredients in syrups, effervescent tablets, and injectables in the pharmaceutical industry; it modifies pH and offers moderate exfoliation in skincare products in the cosmetics industry; and it chelates metal ions in descaling agents and detergents in the industrial cleaning industry because of the scale of production, Chinese suppliers can customize the particle size, purity, and solubility profiles of their products to meet the needs of end users, whether it's a fine powder for instant beverage mixtures or a granular form for regulated dissolution in industrial baths.

The integration of molasses supply, fermentation capability, and downstream processing in China is the primary benefit, although incremental improvements in the process such as better aeration control and impurity management continue to drive yields toward theoretical maxima. According to the research report, "China Molasses Market Research Report, 2030," published by Actual Market Research, the China Molasses market is anticipated to grow at more than 6.22% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. One of the most potential paths within this growth trajectory is increasing exports to ASEAN, where demand for molasses in feed, fermentation, and niche food applications is supported by both industrial expansion and changing consumer tastes. The major sugar-producing members of ASEAN, including Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, produce large quantities of molasses domestically, but changes in seasonal variability, quality differences, and domestic allocations provide opportunities for Chinese suppliers to enter the market with a consistent, specification-matched product. Chinese beet and cane molasses can provide competitive landed costs for feed formulators in Vietnam and Malaysia during off-crop seasons, while beverage and fermentation businesses in Singapore and Thailand value consistent Brix and low contaminant profiles for the creation of yeast, ethanol, and organic acids. Compared to more distant origins, the geographical proximity and well-established shipping routes from southern Chinese ports to ASEAN centers like Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, and Manila result in shorter lead times and less freight volatility.

China's capacity to customize molasses grades via blending, clarification, or nutrient manipulation puts exporters in a position to satisfy the varied demands of ASEAN customers, ranging from high-purity food-grade syrups to mineral-rich blackstrap for ruminant feed. As ASEAN economies strengthen regional integration under the RCEP framework, tariff cuts and harmonized standards may further facilitate market access, allowing Chinese manufacturers to secure medium-term supply contracts. China's size enhances this export-oriented potential; its massive, contemporary sugar and ethanol facilities are able to divert excess molasses for export without endangering the local supply, which helps to stabilize income streams and increase utilization rates. China’s molasses market by source is divided into Sugarcane and Sugar Beet. Due to China's overwhelming sugarcane industry in Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Hainan, the nation's molasses supply is divided between sugarcane and sugar beet, with cane molasses accounting for the majority. As a byproduct of the raw sugar milling process, sugarcane molasses is created, which usually has a sweeter flavor, less ash, and more sucrose than beet molasses because of its makeup and year-round milling in tropical and subtropical regions, it is the best substrate for high-performance fermentation citric acid, yeast, and ethanol as well as for high-end culinary applications like rum manufacture, sauces, and confectionary syrups.

Integrated mill-to-fermentation supply chains in Guangxi and Yunnan also benefit cane molasses by lowering transportation costs and minimizing quality loss. The majority of sugar beet molasses production occurs in northern and western regions like Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Heilongjiang, and Gansu, where beets thrive in short growing seasons and milder temperatures. It has 45–50% sucrose, as well as greater ash and betaine concentrations, which may restrict some culinary uses, but it's beneficial in livestock feed due to its binding, palatability, and mineral content, as well as in industrial fermentation for bioethanol, organic acids, and yeast. It was made during the fall–winter beet campaign. With sales into feed and fermentation assisting balance out expensive beet acquisition expenses, beet molasses is also a crucial co-product for the profitability of beet processors. The supply dynamics are influenced by the seasonality of production beet molasses production is concentrated at the end of the campaign and stored in heated tanks to keep it liquid in cold conditions, whereas cane molasses production is more consistent throughout the year.

The molasses market in China by end use is divided into Industrial, Food and Beverages, Biofuel, Animal Feed, Commercial and Household each with unique demand profiles. For citric acid, yeast, amino acids, and other biochemicals, industrial applications rely on large-scale fermentation, with cane and beet molasses serving as cost-effective carbon sources; facilities in Guangxi, Yunnan, and Inner Mongolia integrate supply from neighboring mills to maintain year-round throughput. Due to its depth of flavor, color, and capacity to retain moisture, higher-purity cane molasses is used in the food and beverage sector for alcoholic drinks such baijiu and rum, as well as for traditional condiments, sauces, confectionery, and bakery syrups. The majority of biofuel production, primarily fuel ethanol, utilizes excess molasses from both cane and beet campaigns, with production dependent on provincial blending requirements and economics in comparison to grain-based feedstocks; a consistent supply from southern cane regions enables more consistent plant utilization. A significant outlet continues to be animal feed, especially in ruminant and poultry diets, where molasses binds pellet, reduces dust, improves palatability, and provides fast-releasing energy and minerals; feed mills in major livestock provinces like Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan are important buyers. Commercial applications connect retail and industrial channels by supplying food-grade molasses in intermediate pack sizes, frequently tailored for origin, Brix, and flavor profile, to artisanal bakers, foodservice providers, and craft brewers/distillers.

Retail-packaged molasses and treacle-style syrups are sold at the household level through supermarkets and e-commerce sites. They are used in home baking, holiday candies, marinades, and health tonics, with branding and perceived naturalness playing a role in consumers' purchasing choices because beet molasses underpins feed and cost-sensitive industrial applications, cane molasses is often chosen for usage in food, beverages, and high-performance fermentation across these segments due to its lower ash and smoother flavor. The molasses market in China by nature is divided into organic and conventional streams, each catering to different supply chains and end-use demands. In accordance with the National Organic Product Standard GB/T 19630 and accredited by organizations like COFCC or OFDC, organic molasses is manufactured from sugarcane or sugar beets. This production is frequently in line with the EU Organic Regulation for export compatibility. Synthetic pesticides, mineral nitrogen fertilizers, and GMOs are excluded from cultivation, while processing must ensure complete separation from conventional products and avoid the use of unapproved help.

Lot coding and transaction certificates are used to enforce traceability, and some manufacturers also use Fairtrade or local eco-labels to increase their products' marketability because of restricted approved acreage and the requirement for specific extraction and storage operations, volumes are restricted, which increases unit prices. The majority of China's organic molasses is utilized in high-end food and drink applications, such as natural sweeteners for sauces, confectionery, and baked goods, as well as specialized uses in organic liquors, dietary supplements, and specialized animal feed for eco-tourism farms. Both the volume and variety of uses for traditional molasses are dominated by beet factories in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Heilongjiang, and Gansu, as well as large-scale cane mills in Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Hainan. It is priced for its cost effectiveness, consistent °Brix, and functional adaptability since it is produced using standard agronomic and processing methods that are not organically certified. Conventional grades are a staple in mixed animal feed for ruminants, pigs, and poultry; they support high-volume industrial fermentation for citric acid, yeast, amino acids, and ethanol; and they are used in mainstream baking, confectionary, and commercial sauce production where ash content and flavor profile are acceptable. In China molasses market, by type is divided into Light Molasses, Dark Molasses and Blackstrap Molasses each have different roles influenced by their production phase, composition, and target consumers.

Light molasses, which comes from the initial boiling of cane or beet juice, has the highest sucrose concentration, the least ash, and a light amber hue with a gentle, pristine sweetness. It is mostly used in high-end culinary and beverage products, such as bakery syrups, confectionery fillings, marinades, and traditional condiments, where flavor delicacy and color control are essential. This grade in China is mostly sourced from Guangxi and Yunnan mills, with a few imports to satisfy high-specification needs. Dark molasses is produced during the second boiling, when more sugar is extracted, resulting in a denser, darker syrup with a bittersweet flavor and greater mineral content. It is popular in medium-scale fermentation, where flavor complexity is tolerated, and in hearty culinary applications like regional baked products, soy-based glazes, and braised meat sauces. Both cane and beet sources contribute, with beet dark molasses frequently used in affordable food production or mixed fermentation feedstocks.

The most mineral-rich potassium, calcium, magnesium and lowest in sugar, blackstrap molasses is produced during the third boiling. It has a strong bitterness and an extremely high viscosity. It is a common ingredient in livestock feed for poultry and ruminants, where it adheres feed particles together, improves flavor, and provides quick-release energy. It supports industrial fermentation of ethanol, amino acids, yeast, and citric acid in China. It also has specialized applications in health supplements promoted for their mineral content. Depending on the kind, logistics and handling vary.

Blackstrap is transported in bulk railcars or tankers to industrial centers, while light and dark grades are transported in food-grade tankers or IBCs under stringent quality standards. Considered in this report• Historic Year: 2019• Base year: 2024• Estimated year: 2025• Forecast year: 2030Aspects covered in this report• Molasses Market with its value and forecast along with its segments• Various drivers and challenges• On-going trends and developments• Top profiled companies• Strategic recommendationBy Source• Sugarcane • Sugar BeetBy Type• Light Molasses• Dark Molasses • Blackstrap MolassesBy Nature• Organic • ConventionalBy End Use• Industrial• Food and Beverages• Biofuel• Animal Feed• Commercial• Household.