Market overview
The global human milk oligosaccharides market is worth USD 448 mn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 1.4 bn by 2036, growing at a 12.0% CAGR. China is the largest country market and 2'-fucosyllactose is the largest by compound segment.
| Scope | Synthetic and fermentation-made sugars identical to those in human breast milk (2'-fucosyllactose, lacto-N-tetraose and others) used in infant formula, medical nutrition and supplements. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and Beverage |
| Value 2025 | USD 400 mn |
| Value 2026 | USD 448 mn |
| Value 2036 | USD 1.4 bn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 12.0% |
| Volume 2026 | 1,493 tonnes |
| Volume 2036 | 5,974 tonnes |
| Average price 2026 | USD 300,000 per tonne |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Human Milk Oligosaccharides market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 448 mn |
| 2027 | USD 502 mn |
| 2028 | USD 562 mn |
| 2029 | USD 629 mn |
| 2030 | USD 705 mn |
| 2031 | USD 790 mn |
| 2032 | USD 884 mn |
| 2033 | USD 990 mn |
| 2034 | USD 1.1 bn |
| 2035 | USD 1.2 bn |
| 2036 | USD 1.4 bn |
Human Milk Oligosaccharides market segmentation
By compound
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2'-fucosyllactose | 52.0% | 42.0% | USD 233 mn | 9.6% |
| Lacto-N-tetraose | 14.0% | 17.7% | USD 63 mn | 14.6% |
| Lacto-N-neotetraose | 12.0% | 13.9% | USD 54 mn | 13.6% |
| Sialyllactoses | 12.0% | 12.7% | USD 54 mn | 12.6% |
| Others | 10.0% | 13.7% | USD 45 mn | 15.6% |
By application
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant formula | 78.0% | 72.4% | USD 349 mn | 11.2% |
| Medical nutrition | 8.0% | 9.7% | USD 36 mn | 14.2% |
| Dietary supplements | 8.0% | 10.6% | USD 36 mn | 15.2% |
| Other foods | 6.0% | 7.3% | USD 27 mn | 14.2% |
By production method
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microbial fermentation | 78.0% | 81.0% | USD 349 mn | 12.4% |
| Enzymatic synthesis | 14.0% | 13.0% | USD 63 mn | 11.2% |
| Chemical synthesis | 8.0% | 6.0% | USD 36 mn | 8.8% |
By form
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powder | 74.0% | 71.0% | USD 332 mn | 11.5% |
| Liquid syrup | 16.0% | 18.0% | USD 72 mn | 13.3% |
| Blends and premixes | 10.0% | 11.0% | USD 45 mn | 13.1% |
By product configuration
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single HMO | 52.0% | 44.0% | USD 233 mn | 10.1% |
| Blends of two to five HMOs | 38.0% | 44.0% | USD 170 mn | 13.7% |
| Complex blends of six or more | 10.0% | 12.0% | USD 45 mn | 14.1% |
Top 25 countries for human milk oligosaccharides by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 82.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 95.3%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | USD 99 mn | 22.0% | USD 420 mn | 15.6% |
| 2 | United States | USD 90 mn | 20.0% | USD 245 mn | 10.6% |
| 3 | Germany | USD 31 mn | 7.0% | USD 78 mn | 9.5% |
| 4 | Netherlands | USD 27 mn | 6.0% | USD 67 mn | 9.5% |
| 5 | France | USD 27 mn | 6.0% | USD 67 mn | 9.5% |
| 6 | Japan | USD 22 mn | 5.0% | USD 56 mn | 9.5% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | USD 22 mn | 5.0% | USD 56 mn | 9.5% |
| 8 | Australia | USD 18 mn | 4.0% | USD 49 mn | 10.5% |
| 9 | Singapore | USD 18 mn | 4.0% | USD 54 mn | 11.7% |
| 10 | Switzerland | USD 13 mn | 3.0% | USD 33 mn | 9.5% |
| 11 | New Zealand | USD 9.3 mn | 2.1% | USD 26 mn | 11.0% |
| 12 | Ireland | USD 6.6 mn | 1.5% | USD 19 mn | 11.1% |
| 13 | Denmark | USD 5.4 mn | 1.2% | USD 15 mn | 11.0% |
| 14 | South Korea | USD 4.7 mn | 1.0% | USD 17 mn | 13.8% |
| 15 | Canada | USD 4.2 mn | 0.9% | USD 12 mn | 11.0% |
| 16 | Spain | USD 3.8 mn | 0.8% | USD 11 mn | 11.0% |
| 17 | Mexico | USD 3.5 mn | 0.8% | USD 13 mn | 13.9% |
| 18 | Brazil | USD 3.3 mn | 0.7% | USD 12 mn | 13.8% |
| 19 | India | USD 3.1 mn | 0.7% | USD 14 mn | 16.5% |
| 20 | Thailand | USD 3.0 mn | 0.7% | USD 11 mn | 13.7% |
| 21 | Malaysia | USD 2.8 mn | 0.6% | USD 10 mn | 13.7% |
| 22 | Vietnam | USD 2.7 mn | 0.6% | USD 12 mn | 16.4% |
| 23 | Indonesia | USD 2.6 mn | 0.6% | USD 9.5 mn | 13.8% |
| 24 | Belgium | USD 2.5 mn | 0.6% | USD 7.1 mn | 11.0% |
| 25 | Taiwan | USD 2.4 mn | 0.5% | USD 6.8 mn | 10.9% |
| Rest of world | USD 21 mn | 4.7% | USD 72 mn | 13.1% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- dsm-firmenich
- Novonesis
- Kyowa Hakko Bio
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Inbiose
- Biosynth
- ZuChem
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Elicityl
- Glycosyn
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the human milk oligosaccharides market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 12.0% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by compound, by application, by production method, by form, by product configuration. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the human milk oligosaccharides market?
The global human milk oligosaccharides market is estimated at USD 400 mn in 2025 and USD 448 mn in 2026.
How fast will the human milk oligosaccharides market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 1.4 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 12.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 943 mn.
Which country is the largest market for human milk oligosaccharides?
China is the largest market by revenue at USD 99 mn in 2026, 22.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 49.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, China is growing fastest at 15.6% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which human milk oligosaccharides segment is largest?
In the by compound split, 2'-fucosyllactose is the largest segment with 52.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading human milk oligosaccharides companies?
Global leaders include dsm-firmenich, Novonesis, Kyowa Hakko Bio.
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