Milk Protein Market Size to Cross USD 14.65 Billion in 2025

Milk Protein Market Powers Ahead with Nutritional Innovation and Strong Growth Momentum

The global milk protein market size is expected to grow from USD 14.65 billion in 2025 to USD 25.39 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. This robust expansion is driven by surging demand for high‑quality protein sources in functional foods, sports nutrition, infant formula, and nutraceuticals, along with rising health and wellness awareness worldwide.

Last Updated: 25 July 2025 Category: Food & Beverages Ingredients Insight Code: 5750 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

Milk Protein Market Size, Share and Regional Analysis 2034

The global milk protein market size was calculated at USD 13.78 billion in 2024 with projections indicating a rise from USD 14.65 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 25.39 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 6.3% throughout the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The market is driven by the increasing demand for protein-enriched, clean label and natural food products which are very beneficial for health-conscious consumers. 

Milk Protein Market Size 2025 to 2034

Key Highlights

  • By region, Europe dominated the milk protein market share of 34% in 2024, driven by the increasing demand for calcium-derived products. 
  • By region, Asia Pacific is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period, driven by increasing health awareness among consumers. 
  • By product, the whey protein segment held a major market share of 27% in 2024, driven by the increasing consumer preference towards fitness and wellness.
  • By product, the milk protein concentrates segment is projected to grow at a CAGR between 2025 and 2034, driven by increasing demand for high-protein diets.
  • By form, the powder segment held a major market share of 62% in 2024, driven by increasing demand for protein-rich premixes products. 
  • By form, the liquid segment is projected to grow at a CAGR between 2025 and 2034, driven by the increasing demand for milk consumption.
  • By source, the cow milk segment dominated the market share of 85% in 2024, due to the increasing demand for dairy-based products.
  • By source, the goat milk segment is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period due to the increasing use in infant nutrition. 
  • By application, the food and beverage segment dominated the market share 30% in 2024, due to the increasing demand for protein-rich food products.
  • By application, the dietary supplements segment is expected to grow rapidly due to the increasing consumer awareness towards health and wellness.
  • By distribution channel, the direct/B2B sales segment dominated the market share of 68% in 2024, due to the increasing demand for offline stores.
  • By distribution channel, the online platforms segment is expected to grow rapidly, due to the growing number of food delivery apps.
  • By functionality, the solubility segment dominated the market share 26% in 2024, due to the increasing demand for ready-to-mix products.
  • By functionality, the emulsification segment is expected to grow rapidly due to the widespread use of processed foods.

Industry Coverage

Study Coverage Details
Growth Rate from 2025 to 2034 CAGR of 6.3%
Market Size in 2025 USD 14.65 Billion
Market Size in 2026 USD 15.57 Billion
Market Size by 2034 USD 25.39 Billion
Largest Market Europe
Base Year 2024
Forecast Period 2025 to 2034
Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa

Increasing Demand for Milk Protein Derived Products May Transform Market Growth in 2025

The milk protein market encompasses the production, processing, and distribution of proteins derived from milk, primarily casein and whey proteins. These proteins are extracted via physical or enzymatic processes and are sold in various forms (concentrates, isolates, hydrolysates) for use across a wide range of industries, including food & beverages, nutrition & health supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and animal feed. The market is driven by rising health awareness, increasing protein consumption, clean-label preferences, and advancements in dairy processing technologies.

The milk proteins play an important role in various industries such as animal feed, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. They are supporting muscle health. In addition, some of the major driving factors fueling the growth of the market, such as the increasing use of milk protein in processed food and beverages, increasing consumer preference towards sustainable and natural products and increasing demand for high-protein diets, especially in developed economics. Leading to the development of value-added products, milk protein allowed refinement and efficient extraction of dairy products, which further expected to drive the segment growth in the global market.

  • Increasing fitness trend and health consciousness: The demand for protein-rich products is gaining popularity, as fitness and health-conscious consumers increases rapidly, which expected drives the growth of the global market.
  • Increasing demand for protein-fortified food and beverages: The rising popularity of protein-rich food and beverages, including, ready-to-drink shakes, protein bar and yogurts, is further driving the growth of the milk protein market. 
  • Increasing demand for functional food and beverages: The demand for functional food and beverages increases, helps to increased satiety, enhanced immunity and improved digestion, which further expected to drive the market growth.

Market Opportunity

Sustainability and Production

One of the significant opportunities revolutionizing the growth of the market is rising sustainability and production. The sustainable production of milk protein is highly connected to sustainable farming practices. To produce milk protein while reducing their ecological footprint, many dairy farms are adopting environmentally friendly methods. This includes practices such as enhancing the efficiency of resource use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving animal welfare.

Consumers can contribute to more eco-friendly responsible food production systems, by choosing milk protein products from sustainable sources, which expected to revolutionize the growth of the milk protein market in the coming years.

Market Challenge

Increasing Consumer Preferences Towards Vegan Diets

One of the major restraining factors hindering the growth of the market is increasing consumer preference towards vegan food and beverages. The vegan population highly consuming food products which are plant-based food products and creates challenges in the consumption of animal-based food products. Instead, they consume the needed proteins and nutrients, such as plant milk protein, which further expected to restrain the growth of the milk protein market.

Regional Insights

How Europe Dominates Market Revenue in 2024?

Europe dominated the milk protein market revenue in 2024. The market growth in the region is attributed to the factors such as the increasing consumer preference towards clean-label and natural ingredients, increasing focus on food innovations, and increasing consumption of high-protein dairy products, such as functional beverages, protein-enriched milk and Greek yogurt. The UK, France and Germany are dominating countries driving the market growth.

Milk Protein Market Share, By Region, 2024 (%)

Germany dominated the market revenue in 2024, driven by the increasing demand for milk proteins in dietary supplements and sports nutrition, increasing consumer awareness towards health and wellness, increasing demand for functional beverages and protein-rich processed foods and rising growth in milk production and dairy industry.

Asia Pacific Milk Protein Market Trends

Asia Pacific is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period. The market growth in the region is driven by the increasing number of imports of milk protein, increasing demand for high-quality infant nutrition products, increasing focus on nutritional value, increasing consumer trend towards health and wellness, and increasing government support for dairy farming improvements. China, India, Japan and South Korea are the fastest growing countries driving the market growth.

India is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period, driven by the increasing prevalence of malnutrition, increasing health awareness and increasing demand for functional and nutritional foods. India is the fastest growing and huge country in the market due to rapidly growing agriculture industry. 

  • In 2023-24, the total milk production in India is 239.30 million tonnes. In terms of total milk production, India ranks first across the globe. In addition, due to the presence of good weather, increased government support for the dairy sector and growing herd size of animals in milk, FAS New Delhi forecasts India’s total milk production to rise to 216.5 MMT in 2025.

Segmental Insights

Product Insights

How Whey Protein Segment Dominates Milk Protein Market Revenue in 2024?

The whey protein segment dominated the milk protein market revenue in 2025. Whey protein is a premium protein, rich in beneficial amino acids and derived from cow’s milk. Cow’s milk undergoes an extraction process, to make whey concentrated protein extract. Due to its rich content of macronutrients and vitamins, whey protein provides various benefits. Whey protein helps in the reduction of body fat and offers support for weight loss. Whey protein helps in development of new muscle, tissue repair and muscle and serves as an excellent muscle-building resource. In addition, reduces hunger, reduce blood cholesterol, enhances bodily antioxidant defenses, reduces inflammation in the body and helps treat type 2 diabetes are the major benefits driving the segment growth.

The Milk Protein Concentrates Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The milk protein concentrates deal with dairy protein products that contains both whey proteins and caseins and can be produced through blending or ultrafiltration of dairy ingredients. The segment growth in the market is attributed to the increasing demand for functional and high-protein foods, increasing focus on wellness, fitness and health, rising advancements in processing technologies and increasing consumer preference towards personalized nutrition. 

Form Insights

What Factors Help Powder Segment Grow in 2024? 

The powder segment dominated the milk protein market revenue in 2024. The powder segment is widely used in various dry blends, such as milk powder, protein powder, and various powders. The segment provides longer shelf life and ease of storage, to make them appropriate for a wide range of food and beverage products, which may drive the segment growth. In addition, the powder segment is significantly contributing to market growth, due to the use in dietary supplements and nutritional products, which are expected to drive the segment growth in the global market.

The Liquid Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period.

The segment growth in the market is driven by the various benefits including versatility and ease of incorporation. Due to the perception and convenience, consumers are increasingly adopting milk protein shakes and other beverages. In addition, increasing demand for minimally processed and natural milk proteins, increasing consumer preference towards fitness trends, and increasing consumption of protein milk shakes are further expected to drive the growth of the market.

Source Insights

What Factors Help Cow Milk Segment Grow in 2024?

The cow milk segment dominated the milk protein market in 2024. Cow milk is a great source of protein, calcium, and calories for growing children. There are various health benefits of cow’s milk, such as helping infants to grow taller, helping fitness enthusiasts to make protein shakes, helping to make stronger teeth, necessary for the brain cells and nervous systems, and promoting a healthy heart, which may expect to drive the segment growth.

The Goat Milk Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The segment growth in the market is driven by the increasing health and nutritional benefits related to goat milk, increasing demand in clinical and infant nutrition, increasing consumer awareness towards health and wellness, increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases and increasing consumer preference towards eco-friendly and sustainability. In addition, the total population of goats is 1.09 billion across the globe. India is the second largest country in goat population with148.88 million goat population, which further accelerate the demand for goat milk. 

Application Insights

How does Food & Beverage Segment Held the Largest Milk Protein Market Revenue in 2024?

The food and beverage segment dominated the milk protein market revenue in 2024. The segment growth in the global market is attributed to the growing food and beverage industries, increasing consumption of protein-rich milk shakes, increasing consumer awareness towards health and wellness, increasing demand for additive-free products and increasing environmental consciousness. In addition, the food and beverages deal with drinks and edible products by using goat milk as an ingredient, which includes, functional drinks, goat-milk-based desserts, protein milk powder, yogurt, cheese and liquid goat milk, which further increases the segment growth in the global market.

The Dietary Supplements Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The segment growth in the market is driven by the increasing demand for protein rich supplement products, increasing demand from wellness and sports industry, growing population of working people and sports athletes, and increasing consumer preferences towards organic and clean label products

Distribution Channel Insights

Why Supermarkets and Hypermarkets Segment Held the Largest Milk Protein Market Revenue in 2024? 

The supermarkets and hypermarkets segment dominated the market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is driven by increasing growth of in-store organic or natural sections, increasing accessibility of consumers and widespread reach, increasing demand for offline stores and increasing consumer desire to shop offline stores without waiting for online delivery. Hypermarkets and supermarkets are convenient for shopping for milk protein shakes and other products as these channels are consumer-friendly and convenient options for consumers. It has a convenient and longer shelf life. As consumers can shop for milk protein products of their choice, they can feel more comfortable and flexible while shopping with offline retail channels, which may fuel the demand for these retail channels in the global market. 

The Online Platforms Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The segment growth in the market is driven by factors such as increasing busy and modern lifestyles, growing e-commerce platforms, increasing consumer expenditure on milk protein products, increasing consumer trend for online shopping due to availability and easy access and increasing preference towards animal-based products and increasing high usage of internet penetration.

Functionality Insights

Why Solubility Segment Dominates the Milk Protein Market Revenue in 2024?

The solubility segment dominated the market revenue in 2024. The segment growth in the market is attributed to the increasing demand for easy-to-mix and ready-to-drink food products, increasing popularity of health drinks, and increasing focus on texture and taste to enhance consumer experience. The solubility segment deals with consumer acceptance and quality performance to improve dietary supplements products, which is expected to drive segment growth.

The Emulsification Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The segment growth in the global milk protein market is driven by the rising technological advancements in processing methods, increasing demand for natural additives, improved longer shelf life, increasing use in processed foods and increasing better mixing of ingredients which helps mix water and oil in food products.

Recent Developments in the Milk Protein Market

Promilk

  • Launch: In March 2025, a protein-rich milk product Promilk was launched by Mother Dairy. The aim behind this launch was to address nutritional gaps. (Source: outlook business)

HRX

  • Launch: In June 2025, fitness and lifestyle brand, HRX announced the launch of its new plant-based oat milk protein shakes crafted for active and health-conscious consumers. (Source: ffoods spectrum)

Milk Protein Market Leading Companies

Milk Protein Market Companies

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product Type

  • Casein
    • Caseinates (Sodium, Calcium, Potassium)
    • Rennet Casein
    • Acid Casein
  • Whey Protein
    • Whey Protein Concentrates (WPC)
    • Whey Protein Isolates (WPI)
    • Whey Protein Hydrolysates (WPH)
  • Milk Protein Concentrates (MPC)
    • Low-protein MPC (<70%)
    • Medium-protein MPC (70–85%)
    • High-protein MPC (>85%)
  • Milk Protein Isolates (MPI)
    • Colostrum Protein
    • Other Dairy Proteins (e.g., native whey, micellar casein)

By Form

  • Powder
  • Liquid
  • Bar/Solid

By Source

  • Cow Milk
  • Goat Milk
  • Bovine Colostrum
  • Others (e.g., buffalo, camel)

By Application

  • Food & Beverage
    • Dairy Products
    • Bakery & Confectionery
    • Infant Nutrition
    • Functional Beverages
    • Sports & Performance Nutrition
  • Dietary Supplements
    • Protein Powders
    • RTD (Ready-to-Drink) Shakes
    • Nutritional Bars
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Cosmetics & Personal Care
  • Animal Nutrition
    • Pet Food
    • Livestock Feed

By Distribution Channel

  • Direct/B2B Sales
  • Retail/Offline Channels (Supermarkets, Specialty Stores)
  • Online Platforms

By Functionality

  • Emulsification
  • Foaming
  • Gelling
  • Thickening
  • Solubility
  • Water Binding

By Region

  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Latin America
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  • Report Covered: [Revenue + Volume]
  • Historical Year: 2021-2023
  • Base Year: 2024
  • Estimated Years: 2025-2034

Meet the Team

Vidyesh Swar, Senior Research Analyst at Towards Food & Beverages, specializes in market research, focusing on supply-demand evaluation, pricing analysis, alternative proteins, plant-based foods, and sustainable food technologies within the industry.

Learn more about Vidyesh Swar

Aditi Shivarkar, with 14+ years in Food and Beverages market research, specializes in food, beverage, and eco-friendly packaging. She ensures accurate, actionable insights, driving Towards FnB's excellence in industry trends and sustainability.

Learn more about Aditi Shivarkar

Related Insights

FAQ's

The global milk protein market was valued at USD 13.78 billion in 2024, with projections showing it will grow to approximately USD 25.39 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 6.3%. This growth is driven by rising consumer demand for protein-enriched and natural products.

Key drivers include the increasing health and fitness trends, rising consumer demand for protein-enriched functional food and beverages, sustainable production practices, and the growing preference for clean-label and natural ingredients in food and nutrition products.

Europe dominates the market in 2024 with a share of 34%, driven by high demand for dairy products and calcium-derived milk proteins.

The whey protein segment held the largest market share in 2024, driven by its popularity in fitness and wellness. The milk protein concentrates segment is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period, thanks to rising demand for high-protein diets and wellness products.

The growing popularity of vegan diets poses a challenge for the milk protein market, as consumers increasingly turn to plant-based proteins. Additionally, consumer resistance to animal-derived products and higher production costs for premium milk protein products may slow market growth.

The food and beverage segment is the largest application, especially for functional beverages like protein shakes, dairy products, and protein-rich snacks. The dietary supplements segment is expected to grow rapidly due to the increasing demand for health and wellness products.

Key market leaders include Arla Foods, Fonterra, FrieslandCampina, Kerry Group, and Glanbia plc. These companies are driving innovation in functional proteins, sustainable sourcing, and advanced dairy processing technologies, maintaining a competitive edge in the growing global milk protein market.

The food and beverage sector remains the largest market for milk protein, with increasing demand for protein-enriched dairy products, functional beverages, and protein-rich snacks. Consumer interest in additive-free, clean-label products is reshaping this market.