China Whey Protein Market Size (2024 - 2029)

China Whey Protein Market Analysis

The Chinese whey protein market is expected to grow from USD 242.1 million in 2023 at a CAGR of 4.97% over the next five years.

• 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 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.