Chinese Whey Protein Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The report covers Chinese Whey Protein Powder Manufacturers and the market is segmented by Form (Concentrates, Hydrolyzed, and Isolates), End User (Animal Feed, Food and Beverages, Personal Care and Cosmetics, and Supplements). The market size and forecasts for China's whey protein market are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.

Chinese Whey Protein Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

China Whey Protein Market Size

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China Whey Protein Market Summary
Study Period 2019 - 2030
Base Year For Estimation 2024
Forecast Data Period 2025 - 2030
Historical Data Period 2019 - 2023
CAGR 4.97 %
Market Concentration Low

Major Players

China Whey Protein Market Major Players

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Compare market size and growth of China Whey Protein Market with other markets in Food & Beverage Industry

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Food

Food Ingredients and Food Additives

Food Supplements

China Whey Protein Market Analysis

The China Whey Protein Market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.97% during the forecast period.

  • Growing healthier and more sporting lifestyles in the country, along with the increasing craze of fitness and the use of whey protein products by fitness practitioners, is driving the market's growth in China. These factors are pushing manufacturers in the country to add whey protein as an ingredient in most healthy products to attract consumers. For instance, in January 2021, United States-based food technology company Perfect Day, backed by Li Ka-shing's Horizons Ventures, partnered with a Hong Kong ice cream maker to launch an animal-free dairy variety of the dessert. The company claimed that the range of ice creams launched uses whey protein developed by fermentation from the gene sequence of bovine whey protein.
  • Additionally, whey is a very nutrient-dense by-product of the cheese industry that can be fed to animals in various ways, including dried whey products, liquid whey, condensed whey, or dried whey to improve their health and performance. For instance, ruminants can consume up to 30% of their dry-matter intake as liquid whey without impaired performance. Nonruminant rations frequently contain small amounts of dried whey or partially lactose whey to boost weight increases, feed effectiveness, protein, and fat digestibility, as well as mineral absorption and retention.
  • Owing to these factors, both consumers and manufacturers frequently tend to prefer whey-based feed products, which are rising in demand. However, domestic feed supplies have been unable to keep up with soaring demand, and imports of whey powder expanded rapidly. Moreover, increasing applications of whey protein in different industries like animal feed, food and beverages, personal care, cosmetics, and supplements are expected to raise the demand for whey protein in the country during the forecast period.

China Whey Protein Industry Overview

The Chinese whey protein market is fragmented, with the presence of various global players and developing regional players. The companies in the market are involved in strategic joint ventures to rapidly tap the actively growing nutrition industry, which is expected to evolve during the forecast period. Several small and international players are involved in the manufacturing and distribution of whey protein ingredients in the country. Manufacturers are focusing on product innovation and advertising their products through fitness enthusiasts across the country. A few major players in the market include Arla Foods, LACTALIS Ingredients, FrieslandCampina, Glanbia plc, and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited.

China Whey Protein Market Leaders

  1. Arla Foods

  2. LACTALIS Ingredients

  3. FrieslandCampina

  4. Glanbia plc

  5. Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
China Whey Protein Market Concentration
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China Whey Protein Market News

  • June 2023: the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in China, in collaboration with the National Health Commission (NHC) and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, issued an update regarding healthy food raw materials. This update introduced two new raw materials, namely Soybean Protein Isolate and Whey Protein, for use in health food products.
  • August 2022: Arla Foods Ingredients intensified its focus on the Chinese market by unveiling a range of innovative whey protein-based ingredient concepts. The company presented these ingredients at the Food Ingredients China (FIC 2022) event held in Guangzhou. These concepts encompassed various categories, including organic dairy, early life nutrition, sports nutrition, and medical nutrition. Among the products launched, Nutrilac Organic milk proteins stood out for their ability to not only enable manufacturers to create organic products but also to reduce whey wastage and generate cost savings in capital expenditure.

China Whey Protein Market Report - Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definitions
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

  • 4.1 Market Drivers
    • 4.1.1 Efficient processing abilities and growing applications of whey protein
    • 4.1.2 Rising number of fitness and sports enthusiasts
  • 4.2 Market Restraints
    • 4.2.1 High processing and production cost of whey protein
  • 4.3 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.3.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.3.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
    • 4.3.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.3.4 Threat of Substitute Products
    • 4.3.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SEGMENTATION

  • 5.1 By Form
    • 5.1.1 Concentrates
    • 5.1.2 Hydrolyzed
    • 5.1.3 Isolates
  • 5.2 By End-User
    • 5.2.1 Animal Feed
    • 5.2.2 Food and Beverages
    • 5.2.3 Personal Care and Cosmetics
    • 5.2.4 Supplements

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Most Adopted Strategies
  • 6.2 Market Position Analysis
  • 6.3 Company Profiles
    • 6.3.1 Glanbia PLC
    • 6.3.2 Arla Foods
    • 6.3.3 Lactalis Group
    • 6.3.4 FrieslandCampina
    • 6.3.5 Fonterra Co-operative Group
    • 6.3.6 Hilmar Cheese Company
    • 6.3.7 Agropur Cooporative
    • 6.3.8 Euroserum
    • 6.3.9 Danone
    • 6.3.10 MuscleTech
  • *List Not Exhaustive

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

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China Whey Protein Industry Segmentation

Whey protein is a powdered form of protein sourced from whey. 

The Chinese whey protein market is segmented by product type and application. By product type, the market is segmented into whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and hydrolyzed whey protein. Based on application, the market is segmented into sports and performance nutrition, infant formula, and functional or fortified food. 

For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done based on the value in USD million.

By Form Concentrates
Hydrolyzed
Isolates
By End-User Animal Feed
Food and Beverages
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Supplements
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China Whey Protein Market Research FAQs

What is the current China Whey Protein Market size?

The China Whey Protein Market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.97% during the forecast period (2025-2030)

Who are the key players in China Whey Protein Market?

Arla Foods, LACTALIS Ingredients, FrieslandCampina, Glanbia plc and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited are the major companies operating in the China Whey Protein Market.

What years does this China Whey Protein Market cover?

The report covers the China Whey Protein Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the China Whey Protein Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Whey Protein in China Industry Report

Statistics for the 2025 China Whey Protein market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. China Whey Protein analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.