Whey Permeate Market Analysis

Global Whey Permeate Market Overview

Whey Permeate Market Size was valued at USD 0.78 billion in 2023. The Whey permeate industry is projected to grow from USD 0.81 Billion in 2024 to USD 1.1 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.84% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Growing illnesses, a decline in economic activity, and an increase in the use of dairy permeate as a sodium-reduction alternative ingredient are all predicted to cushion are the key market drivers enhancing the market growth.

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Whey Permeate Market Trends

• The growing younger population's fitness consciousness fueled market growth

The growing number of young people who are concerned about their fitness has increased the demand for whey as an element in bodybuilding supplements. According to the survey, increased demand in sports nutrition and newborn nutrition is also a key driver for the Whey protein market CAGR. As the sports nutrition market has expanded to include a broader spectrum of consumer groups, volume growth for whey proteins will outpace value growth in the coming years.

In addition, major food & beverage players are expected to enter the protein snacks and shakes market due to the popularity and consumer attention related to rich protein diets. Consumers are seeking nutritive and less time-consuming foods for their breakfasts which offer great prospects for protein for fortified breakfast cereals and snacks.

Increasing urbanization, and penetration of retail sector, the functional food sectors are opening new opportunities for development of protein ingredients for manufacturers to develop and deliver tailor made solutions.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, meat consumption per capita was roughly 30.8 kg in 2019, and is anticipated to reach 35.4 kg in 2032. Permeate frequently contains a high amount of lactose (65-85%), which has been linked to negative effects on body weight and the digestive system. Permeate's high lactose content may limit its application in food and beverages, slowing the permeate market revenue.

Whey Permeate Market Segment Insights

Whey Permeate Application Insights

The Whey permeate market segmentation, based on application includes food and beverages, animal feed and others. The food and beverage segment had the largest market share in 2022, and it is anticipated that it will continue to rise steadily throughout the course of the forecast period. Whey permeate can be used as a bulk sweetener as well as a fat-free carbohydrate component in chocolate and confectionery products. Whey permeate is a cost-effective alternative to expensive milk solids that doesn't affect the flavour or texture of food or need for changing processing parameters. For the foreseeable future, the market for whey permeate in the food and beverage industry is being driven by the multiple advantages of whey permeate.

Figure1: Whey Permeate Market, by Application, 2022&2032 (USD billion)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Whey Permeate Regional Insights

By region, the study provides the market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. The Whey Permeate market was dominated by North America in 2022, and this trend is probably going to hold true for the duration of the projection. North America is one of the major producers of whey permeate, according to the International Dairy Federation. In North America, animal feed is where whey permeate is most commonly used. Because whey permeate is increasingly being used in the feed industry, the market is expected to grow significantly throughout the projected period.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The U.S., Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure2: WHEY PERMEATE MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Europe Whey permeate market accounts for the second-largest market share due to increasing the number of acquisitions, collaborations, and development of novel products in whey permeate is anticipated to drive the demand in the market. Further, the German Whey permeate market held the largest market share, and the UK Whey permeate market was the fastest-growing market in the European region.

The Asia-Pacific Whey Permeate Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. This is due to growing need for processed food and increase in the meat consumption will further boost the growth of the permeate market in the region. Moreover, China’s Whey permeate market held the largest market share, and the Indian Whey permeate market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Whey Permeate Key Market Players& Competitive Insights

Leading market players are extensively spending in research and development in order to extend their product lines, which will help the Whey permeate market grow even further. Market participants are also engaging in a number of strategic initiatives to grow their worldwide presence, with significant market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, increased investments, and collaboration with other organizations. Whey permeate industry must supply cost-effective items in order to flourish and compete in a more competitive and expanding market environment.

Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the Whey permeate industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the Whey permeate industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to medicine. Major players in the Whey permeate market, including Havero Hoogwegt B.V. (Netherlands), Sloan Valley Dairies Lid (Canada), FIT Company (France), Agropur Ingredients (US), and American Dairy Products Institute (US), and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in R&D operations.

Glanbia plc is a worldwide nutrition company based in Ireland with operations in 32 countries. It holds market leadership positions in sports nutrition, cheese, dairy ingredients, specialized non-dairy components, and vitamin and mineral premixes. Glanbia products are available in over 130 countries. While Europe and the United States continue to be the Group's largest markets, the Group is also expanding into the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The major listing of Glanbia is on Euronext Dublin. Glanbia Nutritionals, Performance Nutrition, Glanbia Ireland, and Joint Ventures & Associates are the Group's four businesses, with approximately 7,000 people in 32 countries. Dairy products have long been the backbone of Ireland's agricultural economy, and the country was among the world's top producers by the early nineteenth century. In 1848, Ireland accounted for two-thirds of all butter imports into London. In August 2019, Glanbia Nutritionals and Proliant Dairy Ingredients formed a joint venture to invest $85 million in establishing a whey protein manufacturing factory in Michigan. This aided the corporation in broadening its product line and, as a result, increasing its consumer base.

Dairy Farmers of America Inc. (DFA) is a national milk marketing cooperative in the United States. DFA promotes raw milk from its members and sells milk and derivative products (dairy products, food components, ingredients, and shelf-stable dairy products) to wholesale buyers both locally and internationally. In 2016, net sales were $13.5 billion, accounting for approximately 22% of raw milk production in the United States. DFA was created in 1998 by the merging of four dairy cooperatives: the Southern section of Associated Milk Producers Inc., Mid-America Dairymen Inc., Milk Marketing Inc., and Western Dairymen Cooperative Inc. Since then, five more cooperatives have joined DFA: Independent Cooperative Milk Producers Association, Valley of Virginia Milk Producers Association, California Cooperative Creamery, Black Hills Milk Producers, and Dairylea Cooperative. Labia Nutritionals, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), and Select Milk Producers Inc. have chosen to establish the "Big Whey and Cheese Production Plant" in Michigan. The production process, which would cost $ 470 million, is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2020. Furthermore, these companies have agreed to treat whey permeate with ProLiant Dairy Ingredients. ProLiant is to invest $ 85 million in the construction of an adjacent facility to process the whey permeate generated by this joint venture. As a result, this cooperative partnership allows the permeate market to expand in size.

• Arla Foods amba (Denmark)


• Agri-Dairy Products, Inc (US)


• Melkweg Holland BV. (Netherlands)


• LACTALIS Ingredients (France)


• Arion Dairy Products B.V (Netherlands)


• Havero Hoogwegt B.V. (Netherlands)


• Sloan Valley Dairies Lid (Canada)


• FIT Company (France)


• Agropur Ingredients (US)


• and American Dairy Products Institute (US).

In June 2020, Idaho Milk Products, a company that converts raw milk into milk protein concentrate and milk permeate, announced a US$ 26 million expansion facility in Michigan, U.S. This facility is intended to enhance the company's overall manufacturing capacity by 1 million pounds per day, allowing the company to extend its product portfolio.

In September 2019, Glanbia Ingredients collaborates in Ireland with AgriChemWhey, a European Commission project. This initiative was primarily supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative in partnership with an EU research consortia, engineering, and business interests. The major goal is to develop technology that converts dairy products into high-value commercial products. The first goal is to build a $ 41.2 million integrated biorefinery that will process 25,000 tons of whey permeate and whey pearl lactose each year into polylactic acid, L-lactic acid, minerals for human nutrition, and bio-based fertilizers. As a result, Bio-Based Industries Joint Technology Initiative encourages more permeate production, so propelling the permeate market forward.

In September 2022, Dyet Nutrition, an established Indian nutritional supplement firm, has introduced a new line of vanilla and chocolate-flavored whey protein concentrates. The goal of this launch is to provide high-quality supplements for bodybuilders, athletes, and people wishing to improve their overall fitness.

Whey Permeate Market Segmentation

Whey Permeate Market Application Outlook

• Food and beverages


• Animal Feed


• Others

Whey Permeate Regional Outlook