Infant Milk Formula Market Report 2026

Infant Milk Formula Market Overview

• Infant milk Formula market size has reached to $62.36 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $105.12 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% • Growth Driver: Surge In Working Mothers Fueling The Growth Of The Market Due To Increasing Demand For Convenient Infant Feeding Solutions • Market Trend: dvancements In Science-Based Growing-Up Milk Solutions In The Market Elevate Early Childhood Nutrition • Europe was the largest region in 2025 and Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Infant Milk Formula Market?

Infant milk formula is a specially manufactured food product designed to serve as a substitute for human breast milk, providing essential nutrients for babies and infants under 12 months of age when breastfeeding is not possible or insufficient. It is typically made from cow’s milk that has been modified to be suitable for infants, and comes in powder or ready-to-feed liquid forms to support healthy growth and development during the first year of life. The main product types of the infant milk formula market include starting milk formula and follow-on milk formula. Starting milk formula refers to nutritionally balanced, scientifically formulated early-stage infant nutrition products designed to closely mimic the composition of human breast milk, providing essential proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals that support healthy growth, immune development, and digestive comfort in newborns during the first months of life. The target consumer groups include premature infants, lactose intolerant infants, infants with allergies, twins and multiples, low birth weight babies, and the general population, and the applications include specialty stores, supermarkets, online retail, chemists or pharmacies or drugstores, and others.

What Is The Infant Milk Formula Market Growth Forecast?

The infant milk formula market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $105.12 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for specialized and hydrolyzed formulas for allergy-prone infants, increasing preference for premium and fortified nutrition formulas, expansion of infant formula sales in emerging markets with growing birth rates, development of clean-label and sustainably sourced formula ingredients, growing adoption of e-commerce platforms for infant nutrition purchases. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for specialized and hypoallergenic infant formulas, premiumization and growth of organic and clean-label infant formulas, expansion of toddler and follow-on milk formula categories, increasing infant formula adoption in emerging and developing markets, stricter regulatory oversight and quality compliance in infant nutrition.

Global Infant Milk Formula Market Segmentation

1) By Product Type: Starting Milk Formula, Follow-On Milk Formula 2) By Target Consumer Group: Premature Infants, Lactose Intolerant, Infant with Allergies, Twins/Multiples, Low Birth Weight Babies, General Population 3) By Application: Specialty Stores, Supermarkets, Online Retail, Chemists Or Pharmacies Or Drugstores, Other Applications Subsegments: 1) By Starting Milk Formula (0–6 months): Cow Milk-Based Formula, Soy-Based Formula, Hydrolyzed Protein Formula, Specialty Formula 2) By Follow-On Milk Formula (6–12 months): Cow Milk-Based Formula, Soy-Based Formula, Goat Milk-Based Formula, Probiotic Or Prebiotic-Enriched Formula

What Is Driver Of The Infant Milk Formula Market?

The growing number of working mothers is expected to propel the growth of the infant milk formula market going forward. Working mothers refer to women with children who are engaged in paid employment outside the home. The rise in the number of working mothers is driven by greater workplace flexibility, which allows them to better balance professional responsibilities with childcare and family needs. Infant milk formula helps working mothers by providing a convenient and reliable alternative to breastfeeding, enabling them to balance infant care with their professional responsibilities. For instance, in July 2025, according to the Official Statistics, a UK-based government agency, in England in 2024, 44% of mothers were employed full-time, while 27% worked part-time for 16 to 29 hours per week. Additionally, employment levels for mothers with children under age 5 have reached 99.2 percent of their pre-pandemic levels. Therefore, the growing number of working mothers is driving the growth of infant milk formula industry.

Key Players In The Global Infant Milk Formula Market

Major companies operating in the infant milk formula market are Nestlé S.A., Pfizer Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Danone S.A., The Kraft Heinz Company, Arla Foods amba, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, FrieslandCampina N.V., Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd., Perrigo Company plc, Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd., Mead Johnson & Company LLC, The Hain Celestial Group Inc., Hero Group AG, Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd., Biostime Inc., HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG, Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co. Ltd., Synutra International Inc., Bellamy's Organic Pty Ltd.

Global Infant Milk Formula Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the infant milk formula market are focusing on advanced innovation, such as science-based growing-up milk solutions, to closely mimic the benefits of human breast milk, support early childhood development, and meet the evolving health and nutritional needs of infants and toddlers. Science-based growing-up milk solutions refer to formulas enriched with clinically validated ingredients such as HMOs, probiotics, and essential nutrients to support infants' immune, cognitive, and overall developmental health. For instance, in November 2023, Nestlé, a Switzerland-based food and beverage sector company, introduced its first growing-up milk formula with Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) in mainland China. This growing-up milk solution, manufactured in Suzhou, contains two major types of HMOs, including 2'Fucosyllactose (2'FL) and Lacto-N-(neo)tetraose (LNnT), and aims to support gut health, immune function, and cognitive development in infants. The launch follows China’s National Health Commission approval of HMO use in infant nutrition, reinforcing Nestlé's global leadership in nutrition science and expanding its HMO offerings in China.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Infant Milk Formula Market? Bobbie Strengthens Manufacturing And Market Reach By Acquiring Nature’s One

In July 2023, Bobbie, a US-based infant formula company, acquired Nature’s One for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Bobbie aims to expand its product portfolio and gain greater control over its manufacturing process to ensure high-quality, organic infant nutrition. Nature’s One is a US-based company that offers infant milk formulas and is recognized for its organic and specialty products.

Regional Insights

Europe was the largest region in the infant milk formula market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

What Defines the Infant Milk Formula Market?

The infant milk formula market consists of sales of cow's milk-based formula, soy-based formula, and hydrolyzed formula. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Infant Milk Formula Market Report 2026?

The infant milk formula market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides market statistics, including industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the market share, detailed market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the infant milk formula industry. The market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future state of the industry.