HUMAN MILK OLIGOSACCHARIDES MARKET ANALYSIS
The human milk oligosaccharides market is estimated to be valued at USD 298.6 Mn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 770.5 Mn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5% from 2024 to 2031.
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Rising awareness about the health benefits of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) for infant nutrition is driving the growth of the market. HMOs play an important role in boosting immune health, gut health, and brain development. They act as prebiotics that promote the growth of beneficial microbes in intestines. With growing working women population, the demand for formula-fed babies is increasing globally. Manufacturers are focusing on fortifying infant formulas with HMOs to provide functional benefits similar to breast milk. The emerging applications of HMOs in food & beverages, pharmaceutical, and personal care products is expected to open new growth opportunities for the market in the coming years.
Drivers of the Market:
Benefits of HMOs for infant gut health and immunity
As scientific research progresses, the benefits of human milk oligosaccharides or HMOs for infant health are being increasingly recognized. Numerous clinical studies in the past decade have demonstrated that HMOs play a critical role in developing the gut microbiota and priming infant immunity. HMOs are the third largest solid component of human breast milk after fat and lactose, and there are over 200 structurally different oligosaccharides present in milk. However, HMOs are not digestible by infants as they lack the enzymes to break them down.
Instead, HMOs act as prebiotics that feed beneficial gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium in the infant colon. The proliferation of these bacteria stabilizes the intestinal environment and prevents the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. This strengthens gastrointestinal barrier functions and reduces the risk of infections in the early life of infants when their immune systems are still developing. Studies have shown lower incidence of diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, and ear infections in breastfed babies. The indirect modulation of the gut microbiota by HMOs is seen as important for priming different areas of the immune system as well, including systemic and mucosal immune responses. With growing evidence on the significance of establishing a healthy gut microbiota from birth, HMOs are gaining recognition as a critical component of human milk that confers protection against various diseases for infants. As breastfeeding rates decline globally, the development of HMO-fortified infant formulas could offer immune and nutritional benefits to formula-fed babies similar to breastfed infants. Manufacturers are working to identify cost-effective production methods to incorporate specific HMOs into new formulations tailored to support infant health.
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Preference for natural and clean label products
Along with health considerations, changing consumer preferences are also influencing industry trends. There is a rising demand for natural, organic, and clean label products globally. Parents today are more educated about ingredients and seek options that are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. In such a marketplace, HMOs have significant advantages over synthetic additives for infant formulas and foods. Being naturally occurring components of breast milk, HMOs appeal more to health-conscious consumers looking for formulations with easy to understand Labels.
Key Takeaways from Analyst:
The human milk oligosaccharides market shows promising growth potential driven by increasing awareness about benefits of HMOs for infant health and development. As research establishes correlation between consumption of HMOs and reduction in many childhood illnesses, their demand as infant formula ingredients is expected to rise substantially. North America currently dominates the market owing to large baby food companies headquartered in the U.S. and Canada aggressively exploring HMOs for R&D and product development. Asia Pacific is likely to be the fastest growing regional market with China and India presenting lucrative opportunities.
High production costs of HMOs extracted from breast milk remains a key challenge for commercialization. Substituting expensive extraction process with cost-effective microbial fermentation would boost the market growth. Additionally, achieving pricing parity with traditional infant formula ingredients is crucial for wider market acceptance. Establishing stability of HMOs during processing and shelf life of infant products also requires more research. Stringent regulatory norms governing new ingredients for baby food category could slow approvals and market launch of HMO-based products.
Collaborations between formula manufacturers, HMO producers and clinical research organizations would expand applications and drive usage beyond infant nutrition. Innovations to utilize HMOs in other consumer products indicate expansion into adjacently categories.
Challenges: High costs associated with HMO production
The high costs associated with the production of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) is a major factor restraining the growth of the human milk oligosaccharides market. Producing HMOs requires complex extraction and purification processes to isolate them from human breast milk in sufficient quantities and purity for commercial applications. These technical challenges result in significantly high production costs. The extraction process involves several separation steps like centrifugation, ultrafiltration, and column chromatography which are costly. The concentrations of HMOs in breast milk are also relatively low, generally between 0.5-1.5 grams per liter. This necessitates processing very large volumes of milk to obtain gram-level quantities of the specific HMOs needed. Further purification steps then need to be carried out to remove proteins, fatty acids, and other components from the milk to obtain highly purified HMO preparations. All these technical operations and the need for specialized equipment increases production costs substantially.
Opportunities: Development of alternative production methods
Development of alternative production methods could unlock tremendous opportunities in the human milk oligosaccharides market. Currently, HMOs can only be harvested from human breast milk in limited quantities, restricting their availability and applications. However, emerging biosynthetic and fermentation technologies now allow for scalable, reliable production of HMOs outside the human body. This shifting production landscape is poised to massively accelerate innovation and adoption of HMOs in various industries over the coming years.
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In terms of application: infant formula contributes the highest share of the market owing to focused efforts on baby nutrition
Infant formula accounts for 54.6% share of the human milk oligosaccharides market in 2024, owing to increasing focus on baby nutrition. Breastfeeding is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition; however, many mothers are unable to breastfeed due to various reasons. This has resulted in a rise in the demand for infant formula that can provide nutrition as close to breastmilk as possible. Major infant formula manufacturers are actively working to enhance the nutritional profile of their products. They are investing heavily in research and development activities to identify and add various important human milk oligosaccharides found in breastmilk into formula. This is done with the objective of making formula closer to the ideal nutrition source. Several clinical studies have demonstrated various health benefits of oligosaccharides for infants such as support for immune and gut functions.
Awareness about the importance of oligosaccharides is also growing among parents. They want the best for their baby's development and are increasingly looking for formula products that are scientifically shown to offer similar benefits as breastmilk. This has encouraged manufacturers to fortify their formulas with prebiotics like oligosaccharides. Successful marketing highlighting the added nutrients has boosted the sales and market share of such improved infant formulas. Regulatory bodies too have recognized some core human milk oligosaccharides as essential components in infant nutrition. This encourages their addition in infant foods and is driving the demand. With continued efforts to commercialize newly identified milk sugars and proven benefits, the usage and demand for oligosaccharides in infant formula is expected to significantly rise over the coming years.
Insights by type: In terms of type, 2’FL contributes the highest share of the market owing to its widespread applications
Based on type, 2’FL is expected to account for 28.7% share in 2024. It is one of the most abundant and widely studied oligosaccharides found in human breast milk. Extensive research has identified 2’FL as a prebiotic that supports the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in infants. Due its versatile functional properties and supportive clinical research, 2’FL finds wide applications across various end-use segments. It is extensively used in infant formula to enhance the prebiotic profile. Several global formula brands have incorporated 2’FL into their “next generation” formulas marketed with added health benefits. 2’FL is also utilized in dietary supplements targeted for gut and immune health.
Given its stability and solubility, 2’FL is suitable for incorporation into various food and beverage products as well. It is being evaluated for usage in foods like cereals, yogurt and drinks where manufacturers are looking to enhance the prebiotic value. Some clinical studies also point to 2’FL’s potential role in supporting brain development in infants. This could lead to evaluation for additional applications in the future. Compared to other oligosaccharides, large scale commercial production of 2’FL is relatively well established. This ensures steady supply and competitive pricing. Together, its wide range of applications, proven functional attributes and commercial production feasibility have contributed to 2’FL emerging as the leading type of oligosaccharide with the highest market share.
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North America continues to dominate the global human milk oligosaccharides market, primarily led by the U.S. The region is expected to account for 37.6% of the market share in 2024. The region has a strong foothold of major players that are continuously investing in clinical research and product development activities. Numerous clinical studies validating the health benefits of HMOs have created widespread awareness among consumers in the region. This has boosted the incorporation of HMOs into infant formula, pediatric nutrition, and other pediatric healthcare products. Moreover, the growth of the nutritional and dietary supplement industry has widened the application scope of HMOs.
Asia Pacific is identified as the fastest growing regional market. China represents a highly lucrative market driven by improving living standards, rising health consciousness, and expanding consumer base. There is a growing interest among Chinese manufacturers to develop advanced pediatric nutrition products. This has prompted them to form partnerships with global leaders for technology transfers. Additionally, several rural and underdeveloped parts of the country still face problems of malnutrition and infant mortality. This has fostered government support through rural healthcare projects involving HMOs. Japan too is a major domestic market characterized by an aging population and increasing preference for preventive healthcare solutions.
Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Report Coverage
| Report Coverage | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Year: | 2023 | Market Size in 2024: | US$ 298.6 Mn |
| Historical Data for: | 2019 To 2023 | Forecast Period: | 2024 To 2031 |
| Forecast Period 2024 to 2031 CAGR: | 14.5% | 2031 Value Projection: | US$ 770.5 Mn |
| Geographies covered: |
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| Companies covered: |
ZuChem Inc., Merck & Co. Inc., Chr. Hansen Holding AS , Royal FrieslandCampina NV, BASF, IFF (DuPont Nutrition & Health), Gnubiotics, Inbiose NV, Carbosynth Holdings Limited, Royal DSM N.V, Kyowa Hakko Europe GmbH, Elicityl SA, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, Glycom A/S, Dextra Laboratories Limited, and Rajvi Enterprise |
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*Definition: The human milk oligosaccharides market consists of innovative nutritional supplements based on the complex sugar molecules found naturally in breast milk. These unique oligosaccharides serve important prebiotic functions that support immune and brain development in infants. As researchers advance understanding of their health benefits, companies are developing purified human milk oligosaccharide supplements to replicate these important benefits for formula-fed babies and other vulnerable groups. The growing human milk oligosaccharides market offers promising functional ingredients for pediatric nutrition and beyond.
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About Author
Sakshi Suryawanshi is a Research Consultant with 6 years of extensive experience in market research and consulting. She is proficient in market estimation, competitive analysis, and patent analysis. Sakshi excels in identifying market trends and evaluating competitive landscapes to provide actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making. Her expertise helps businesses navigate complex market dynamics and achieve their objectives effectively.
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