2085481 9213912 PCTABS00014 Described are agglomerated polymer particles produced from finely divided water-soluble or water-swellable polymerisates and a method of producing such particles by the removal of water from azeotropic water-in-oil emulsions of water-soluble or water-swellable polymerisates in the presence of 1-40 % by wt., relative to the polymers, of poly(alkylene glycol) compounds (a) obtained by the addition reaction of C2-C4 alkylene oxides with alcohols, phenols, amines or carboxylic acids and (b) containing at least two alkylene oxide units in the polymer structure. The agglomerated polymer particles thus produced are subsequently isolated. The water-soluble agglomerated polymer particles may be used as flocculation, retention and water-removal agents, while the water-swellable polymer powder may be used as a thickening agent for aqueous systems, in particular for textile-printing pastes.