Global Baby Infant Formula Market Size Likely to Grow at a CAGR of 10.4% By 2035

The market size of global baby infant formula will be estimated at USD 28.5 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to between USD 31.4 billion in 2026 and about USD 76.6 billion by 2035, with a current CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 10.4% during the period of 2026 to 2035.

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Baby Infant Formula Market Revenue and Trends

The baby, infant, or baby food is a specially designed nutritional product for partial or total feeding of an infant, typically, up to the age of 1 year. It is produced as a substitute for human milk when breastfeeding is not possible, desired, or available. Infant formula is a balanced food that contains the number of calories and nutrients needed for a child’s proper growth and development. Moreover, it includes such ingredients as protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and other approved additives.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), infant formula is a food for special dietary use for infants because it is related to human milk or designed to partially or completely replace human milk. The current trends in the infant formula market include the use of human milk oligosaccharides, probiotics, prebiotics, DHA, lactoferrin, and other ingredients to create new advanced analogs of mother’s milk.

Another trend is linked to “precision fermentation,” which enables the production of particular milk proteins and other ingredients. Furthermore, companies are developing specialized formulas for premature infants, children with allergies, sensitive tummy, and other dietary needs. Finally, there is a growing concern about food safety, which leads to stricter testing for contaminants and better supply chain management to guarantee product safety and brand reputation.

For instance, the FDA’s Operation Stork Speed is conducting the first comprehensive review of the nutrient content of infant formulas since 1998. In addition, an expanded testing program monitors the presence of various contaminants and microorganisms in infant formulas.

What are the Factors That Have a Significant Contribution to the Growth of the Baby Infant Formula Market?

The growth in e-commerce and organized retail is a critical driver for the baby infant formula market. The organized retail chains and e-commerce players enable easy availability of products and offer a wide range of options to choose from. With the help of e-commerce, the parents can shop from the comfort of their homes, compare prices and ingredients and get the desired product delivered at their doorsteps.

The organized retail stores also offer an easy buying experience with a wide range of products on offer along with several brands and discounts. The baby food and milk powder market has witnessed exponential growth and is expected to grow further driven by the organized retail and e-commerce space. According to the Ministry of Finance, India’s total digital-payment transaction value grew from 2,071 crore in FY2017–18 to 22,831 crores in FY2024–25, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 41%. Of these, UPI accounted for 81% of retail digital-payment transactions in FY2024–25.

The Economic Survey reports show that there has been a boom in e-commerce in India, aided by online payments and local delivery aggregators. The organized retail chains and e-commerce players enable easy availability of products and offer a wide range for the customers to choose from. India’s organized retail market is projected to touch US$150 billion by 2026.

For infant formulas, the organized retail market and e-commerce would enable the manufacturers to reach out to the consumers in not just metro cities but also smaller towns and the e-commerce platforms would also make it easy for the customers to access premium, organic, hypoallergenic, lactose-free, and other special needs formulas.

Regional Insights

The Asia Pacific dominates the baby infant formula market. The growth of the industry is due to a large infant population, urbanization, increasing middle-class income, female labor force participation, and the growing awareness of the need to improve the nutrition of infants. In addition, China’s and India’s significant contributions to the global market were identified, as well as the tendency of the market to grow through premiumization, development of functional ingredients and products, and the growth of e-commerce.

Besides, Europe is growing at a significant rate. “The region’s growth is driven by parents’ awareness of the importance of proper infant nutrition and demand for premium and organic products, as well as stringent food-safety regulations. There’s a trend toward organic, clean label, allergen-free, lactose-free and functional formulae. The growing popularity of e-commerce and the trend of dual income homes are driving demand for simple feeding options. The region’s low birth rate is compensated by the inclination of premiumization and the necessity for higher-value products to achieve revenue development.

Report Scope

Recent Developments

• In February 2025, Kabrita, the leading provider of goat milk nutrition in the world, is pleased to announce the launch of its Goat Milk-Based Infant Formula for babies between 0-12 months. For the first time ever, the Infant Formula, which has received approval from Health Canada, is now available across Canada for families to purchase at Walmart and on Amazon.ca, and it will be available from other major retailers in the coming months. The Infant Formula is available in 800-gram canisters, offering 44 servings per container, as well as 400-gram canisters, offering 22 servings per container.

List of the prominent players in the Baby Infant Formula Market:

• Nestlé S.A.
• Danone S.A.
• Abbott Laboratories
• Reckitt
• China Feihe Limited
• Yili Group
• FrieslandCampina
• Ausnutria Dairy Corporation
• Arla Foods
• Health & Happiness (H&H) Group / Biostime
• Perrigo Company
• Beingmate Baby & Child Food
• Morinaga Milk Industry
• Meiji Holdings
• Bellamy's Organic
• HiPP GmbH
• Mengniu Dairy / Yashili
• Synutra International
• Kraft Heinz
• Holle Baby Food
• Others

The Baby Infant Formula Market is segmented as follows:

By Type

• Infant milk
• Specialty baby milk
• Follow on milk
• Growing-up milk

By Ingredient

• Carbohydrate
• Vitamins
• Protein
• Fat
• Minerals
• Others

By Distribution Channel

• Online Channel
• Offline Channel

Regional Coverage:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico
• Rest of North America

Europe

• Germany
• France
• U.K.
• Russia
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Egypt
• Kuwait
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America