Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Size, Share and Emerging Innovations

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Size 2025 to 2034

The global human milk oligosaccharides market size reached at USD 337.72 million in 2024 and is anticipated to increase from USD 384.66 million in 2025 to an estimated USD 1,241.06 million by 2034, witnessing a CAGR of 13.90% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The market is proliferating due to growing demand for scientifically backed infant solution, highly advancing production method to extract oligosaccharides and usage of it beyond infant formula.

Key Highlights

• By region, the Europe dominated the global human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market in 2024 with maximum share. The growth is related with the expansion of HMO applications in various arrays after infant nutrition. It includes functional foods, cosmetics and dietary supplements.
• By region, the Asia Pacific is expected to propel at the fastest CAGR during foreseeable period from 2025 to 2034. The market is expanding in the region due to increasing demand for functional foods and beverages having HMOs as a main content to combat ailments like diabetes, sugar and irritable bowel movements.
• By region, the North America held the significant market share in 2024. The market is expanding in the region due to increasing shift towards personalized nutrition, innovation in the biotechnology industry and regulatory support.
• By type, the 2’FL HMOs held the largest market share in 2024. The segment is growing due to increasing demand for human milk alternative which is nutritious for babies and ailments during maternal period right after delivery.
• By type, the DFL HMOs segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during foreseeable period. The segment is propelling due to its characteristics to offer healthy gut microbiome and strong immunity function.
• By application, the infant formula is accounted for the largest market share in 2024. The segment is growing significantly as it shows similar traits of breast milk with health benefits.
• By application, the dietary supplement is expected to propel at the fastest CAGR during foreseeable period. It helps to enhance cognitive functions, gut health and supports immune system as well.

Industry Coverage

Market Overview

The Source of Prebiotic, Leading to Healthy Gut: HMOs

The human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market is significantly proliferating due to the increasing awareness about infant’s nutritional needs at initial stage right after birth, technological methods used for maximum HMO Human Milk oligosaccharides) production, growing rate of research and development supporting for health benefits of HMO along with supportive regulatory framework. Functional foods benefits and its effect on gut health is one of the popular subjects for the people with health-conscious attitude and thus looking for products like HMO to increase and support their immune system is another key factor driving the market growth.

In functional foods, supplements sector HMO stands out as most effective food that support to multiply health gut microbiome produced in the human stomach which keeps their gut clean, healthy and thus eventually helps to keep whole human system including brain health at optimum level. As per studies gut health is directly affects health of nervous system or brain health in a simple term. Moreover, HMO hold prebiotic properties that helps increase their demand in the global market.

What are the Key Trends in the Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market?

• Increasing research and development in the food and beverages sector and validating importance of oligosaccharides derived from mammalian milk and its influence on cognitive development of infant is fuelling the market growth.
• The frontiers in the market like nestle, Abbott, BASF are continuously seeking a solution to apply HMOs with various formulations for infants by prioritizing consumers demand and increasing need for infant formula.
• The regulatory bodies like US FDA and from different countries like China, Europe are facilitating the incorporation of HMOs as a default ingredient due to its versatility is strengthening the market on a global scale.
• Leading companies are operating in the market to offer solutions for adults having digestive ailments and gut problems by integrating HMOs in probiotic-prebiotic supplements, customized nutritional products is another trend in the market.
• Majority of the companies are shifting their production process towards an HMOs which is fermentation-based which offers cost-effective solution with higher level purity.

Market Opportunity

How does Advanced Research Revolutionizing Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market?

The major opportunity that HMO market holds is technologically backed advanced research which efficiently synthesize HMOs. Innovations in the biotechnology further offers methods that are cost-effective to synthesize HMOs on a huge scale which enables manufacturers in food and beverages industry to add these components into various food products. Ongoing research is also contributing to the confirmation of gut health benefits offered by HMOs including, increased immune function, infection barriers with another bunch of vital nutrition. The expansion of research and development shedding light on the various ways to incorporate HMOs in a wide array of products by increasing the functions of HMOs and its interaction with human system.

• In April 2025, the IAEA is set to launch a new coordinated research project which describes method named as dose-to-mother deuterium oxide method- a non-radioactive isotope technique that measures breast milk intake by infants, aiming to excel worldwide maternal-child health at optimum level. By creating data about maternal predictors of breastfeeding, the database of IAEA will refine the procedure for higher precision. (Source: IAEA)

Market Challenge

Complex Extraction Method of HMOs

A significantly affecting challenge for human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market is associated with highly complex method to retract pure HMOs from mammalian milk and develop large-scale production process. In a precise manner, major challenge involves removing sugar molecules like lactose, galactose and glucose that do not possess any pre-biotic properties, and it might result in a negative impact while recovering products. There are some methods that were successful to extract oligosaccharides from mammalian milk like use of lactose hydrolysis with membrane filtration. But the method was tedious and fail to compete market’s demand-supply chain. Hence, a rigorous method with advanced instruments is required to obtain, which will create the process simpler with mass production.

Regional insights

Why is Europe Region Dominating the Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market?

Europe is dominated the global human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market in 2024 with the largest share. The growth is attributed to the HMOs applications expanding for functional foods, dietary supplements and in cosmetics also due to its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. The companies are leading the market in the Europe owing to their huge contribution and long-standing presence in the nutritional products sector. Many companies are primarily working to develop infant formula products containing HMOs as a main ingredient further fuelling the market growth.

Approval: dsm-firmenich

• In September 2024, a leading ingredient provider, dsm-firmenich achieved approvals for two types of human milk oligosaccharides in the UK and EU government bodies. These approvals enable dsm-firmenich to market these ingredients with their brand name GLYCARE with various food formulas. (Source: Nutraceuticals World)

What are the Trends in the Asia Pacific Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market?

Asia Pacific expects the fastest growing region with a significant CAGR during foreseeable period. The region is expanding due to increasing rate of chronic diseases like gut diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, pre-diabetic conditions and other gut related diseases. Due to this people are looking for health food solutions like functional foods and beverages having HMOs as its prime ingredient owing to its excellent properties like pre-biotic, anti-inflammatory. The increasing awareness of importance of breastfeeding to infant which further multiplies production of infant solutions with HMOs in it is also plays an important part in the growth of the market.

On the other hand, the human milk oligosaccharides Singapore is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during upcoming period due to country’s evolving research and development area. In addition to this, healthcare professionals, industry leaders and research institutes are heavily contributing to the product development based on HMOs.

How is North America Contributing to the Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market?

The human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market in North America is significantly expanding with notable market share registered in 2024. The region is growing due to people’s inclination towards personalized nutrition and food products offering gut friendly ingredients. On country level, United States market is leading in the region with highest market share in 2024. The expansion is related with the increasing infant rate in the U.S. that multiplies demand for infant formula with nutritional benefits. Leading players are also involving with partnerships, collaborations and acquisitions that further supporting the market’s growth.

Segment insights

Type Insights

Why is 2’FL HMOs Type Segment Accounted for the Largest Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market Share in 2024?

The 2’FL HMOs type segment held the largest human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market share in 2024. The segment is proliferating owing to the various reasons that include growing demand for infant formula and other alternatives for human milk due to health issues face by women during maternity phase, pregnancy phase which has affected their capacity to create milk for infants. Also, some professional commitments need to fulfil by working women is another reason people looking for best substitute to feed the infant while mother is not near to the child. Hence, 2’FL provide prominent component which is like human milk is driving the market growth further. Also, regulatory approvals from US FDA and EFSA supported the efficiency of 2’FL milk products as a highly nutritional food supplement for infants is a key driver for this segment.

The DFL HMOs Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR During Upcoming Period.

The segment is growing due to DFL has a proven benefit, similar to the mammalian milk and deliver these benefits to the infants. It supports proliferation of healthy gut microbiome with antimicrobial properties. Due to increasing research around benefits of DFL HMOs, DFL is witnessing a surge in the market.

Application Insights

Why is Infant Formula Dominated the Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) Market?

The infant formula segment held the largest human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) market share in 2024. The segment is expanding because they offer similar health benefits as breast milk along with its proven benefits. Complex carbohydrates are naturally presents in breast milk which is also found in human milk oligosaccharides. The component is vital for the immune system of newborn to foster their health gut development. It is also helpful to shield against various infections. By recognizing these benefits, manufacturers are capitalizing on these trends in the market which is fuelling the segment’s growth on a large scale.

The Dietary Supplements Segment is Expected to Bolster at a Notable CAGR During Forecast Years. 

The segment’s growth is attributed to the growing demand of HMOs in dietary supplements by recognizing their versatility and health offerings for adults. As HMOs provide pre-biotics, complex carbs that digest slowly and offers constant energy to human body by supporting its immune system as well. Many individuals are looking for such supplement for better digestive health owing to the increasing health awareness among majority of people is further propelling the market’s growth on a global scale.

Recent Developments in the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market

Chr. Hansen and Novozymes

• Merger: In January 2024, a leading players Chr. Hansen and Novozymes, which is a Denmark-based company merged to form Novonesis aiming to become leader in sustainable products to reduce environmental impact and improve food grade and health. (Source: Novozymes)

Chr Hansen

• Approval: In March 2024, the biosafety review set by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural affairs by China, approved a Five Single HMOs presented by Chr Hansen in the market. This approval made enterprise, as a leading one for infant formula and innovation to provide comprehensive solution of HMOs. (Source: CHR-Hansen)

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Leading Companies

• Glycom A/S
• Chr. Hansen Holding A/S
• Kyowa Hakko Europe GmbH
• Friesland Campina Ingredients
• BASF SE
• Dextra Laboratories Limited
• Inboise N.V.
• Biosynth Limited
• ELICITYL S.A.
• ZuChem Inc.
• RAJVI ENTERPRISE

Segments Covered in the Report

By Type 

• 2’FL
• 3’FL
• 3’SL
• 6’SL
• LNT
• LNnT
• DFL

By Application 

• Food & Beverages
• Dietary Supplements
• Infant Formula
• Pharmaceuticals

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
• Latin America