The milk protein market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• In recent years, the size of the milk protein market has seen steady expansion. It's projected to increase from $12.85 billion in 2024 to $13.71 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. Factors such as advancements in nutritional science research, the upsurge in health and wellness trends, escalating demand for sports nutrition, the growth in the functional food and beverage industry, and the shift towards plant-based alternatives, can explain the growth during the historic period.
The Milk Protein market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• In the coming years, the milk protein market size is expected to experience robust growth, with projections indicating that it will increase to $17.94 billion by 2029, a development reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%.
This predicted growth over the forecast period can be ascribed to evolving eating habits, sustainable production methods, advancements in food science research, innovation in plant-based substitutes, an expanding market for functional food and beverages, and the increased use in infant formulas. The forecast period will also witness significant trends such as growing demand for high-quality protein sources, continued research and development in the field of nutrition science, a focus on customization and specialty products, technological innovations in processing, and a heightened awareness of sustainability and ethical consumption.
The expected increase in the infant birth rate is predicted to fuel the growth of the milk protein market. The rate at which births occur, often measured by dividing the total number of births by the total population, is referred to as the infant birth rate. As this rate increases, the need to provide for the nutritional requirements of infants also escalates, and milk protein can greatly help fulfill these needs, thereby boosting the market growth. For instance, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, a government organization based in the U.S., reports that approximately 4 million babies are born annually in the country. Consequently, the escalating infant birth rate stimulates the augmentation of the milk protein market.
The milk protein market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Milk Protein Concentrate, Milk Protein Isolate [MPI], Milk Protein Hydrolysates, Casein And Caseinates, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Other Types
2) By Form: Dry, Liquid
3) By Livestock: Cow, Buffalo, Goat
4) By Application: Dairy Products, Frozen Desserts, Infant Formula, Dietary Supplements, Bakery, Confectionery, Beverages, Sweet, Savory Snacks
5) By Distribution Channel: Online, Offline
Subsegments:
1) By Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC): MPC 40% Protein, MPC 70% Protein
2) By Milk Protein Isolate (MPI): MPI With 90% Protein, MPI With 95% Protein
3) By Milk Protein Hydrolysates: Low-Degree Hydrolysates, High-Degree Hydrolysates
4) By Casein And Caseinates: Sodium Caseinate, Calcium Caseinate, Acid Casein
5) By Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC): WPC 34%, WPC 80%
6) By Whey Protein Isolate (WPI): WPI With 90% Protein, Hydrolyzed WPI
7) By Other Types: Milk Peptides, Blends Of Milk Proteins
The milk protein market is experiencing a significant shift due to product innovation. Major participants in this market are striving to create novel technological improvements to enhance their market stance. For example, Arla Foods, a multinational cooperative headquartered in Denmark and Sweden and a leading producer of dairy products, introduced Lacprodan ISO in September 2022. This is a new ingredient designed for protein bars with distinctive features like high-quality protein, low sugar, high protein concentration, and top-grade ingredients. It's a pre-mixed product containing whey protein isolate and other dairy proteins. In addition, it proposes the use of a sugar-free substitute, making it tolerable for those with digestive issues.
Major companies operating in the milk protein market include:
• Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.
• Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
• Arla Foods amba
• Amco Proteins Company.
• Saputo Inc.
• Glanbia plc
• Kerry Group plc
• Havero Hoogwegt Group B.V.
• Lactalis Ingredients
• Sachsenmilch Leppersdorf GmbH
• Cargill Inc.
• Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
• Charotar Casein Company
• Danone Nutricia
• Hilmar Ingredients
• Milk Specialties Global
• Idaho Milk Products
• Agropur Dairy Cooperative
• Carbery Group Limited
• Davisco Foods International Inc.
• Leprino Foods Company
• Lactose Limited
• Erie Foods International Inc.
• Grande Custom Ingredients Group
• Milkaut S.A.
• Farbest Brands Inc.
• Batory Foods Inc.
• Armor Proteines
• Nutrimed Healthcare
• Agri-Mark Inc.
• Arion Dairy Products B.V
North America was the largest region in the milk protein market share in 2024. The regions covered in the milk protein market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa