Key Players
Competitive Landscape
The competitive field splits into ingredient makers, which sell HMOs to many brands, and formula companies, which build HMOs into their own products. Ingredient makers are competing on the number of approved molecules and on plant capacity, as shown by Kyowa Hakko Bio's 300-tonne-a-year plant in Thailand [10] and Chr. Hansen's planned investment of more than EUR 200 million in HMO production assets [11]. Formula brands, in turn, are using HMO counts to set their products apart, with Abbott launching a five-HMO formula in 2021 [17] and Nestle a six-HMO blend in 2025 [23].
Access to China is the main dividing line between suppliers. dsm-firmenich, IFF and Mengniu received China's first 2'-FL approvals in October 2023 [7], while FrieslandCampina Ingredients reported in October 2023 that its 2'-FL production strain had cleared the agriculture ministry and still awaited final approval [28]. Suppliers that clear China for newer molecules first are expected to win the largest multi-HMO contracts during the forecast period.
Company developments mapped to drivers, trends and opportunities (2026-2036)
Table 8: Company Developments Mapped to Drivers, Trends and Opportunities for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (qualitative), mixed years
| Development | Driver | Trend | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. | In October 2023, FrieslandCampina Ingredients reported Chinese agriculture ministry approval of its 2'-FL production strain, with final fortifier approval still pending [28] | Access to the large Chinese formula market | China approves HMOs in stages, strain by strain | Prepare Chinese customer recipes ahead of final approval |
| BASF SE | In March 2021, BASF received Australian TGA approval for PREBILAC 2'-FL in supplements, with up to 5 g a day for adults and two years of exclusive supply [25] | Interest in HMOs beyond infant formula | Supplement approvals extend HMOs to adults | Build adult gut health supplement lines |
| Abbott Laboratories | In November 2021, Abbott launched Similac 360 Total Care with five HMOs in the USA [17] | Branded formula differentiation | Brands are moving from one HMO to blends | Supply multi-HMO packages to formula brands |
Source: Future Market Insights, Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Report, 2026-2036.
Who Leads the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market?
dsm-firmenich and Chr. Hansen (Novonesis) hold the broadest documented HMO ranges, as dsm-firmenich reported approvals in more than 170 countries [4] and Chr. Hansen gained EU authorisation for LNT in January 2023 [14]. Abbott and Nestle lead on the formula side, which shapes the blends that ingredient makers must supply.
Which Companies Lead Industrial Ingredient Platforms?
dsm-firmenich and Chr. Hansen (Novonesis) lead, with approved ranges across fucosylated, sialylated and neutral-core HMOs [2] [19]. FrieslandCampina is building its Aequival range with China in view [28].
Which Companies Lead Fermentation and Specialty Glycan Supply?
Kyowa Hakko Bio built a 300-tonne-a-year HMO plant in Thailand before Meihua bought the business [10] [27]. Inbiose won Canadian clearance for its 2'-FL in 2025 [26], while BASF held supplement approvals from 2021 [25].
Which Companies Lead Downstream Formulation?
Abbott sells five-HMO Similac 360 Total Care in the USA [17], and Nestle sells HMO products in more than 50 countries [23].
Representative Company Overview
Table 9: Representative Company Overview for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (qualitative), mixed years
| Company | Positioning | Verified Development |
|---|---|---|
| Inbiose NV | Specialty HMO developer using its own E. coli production strains | In July 2025, Health Canada published its no-objection opinion on Inbiose's 2'-FL for formula at up to 1.2 g/L and for general foods [26]. |
| Nestle Health Science | Formula and nutrition brand owner using HMOs in its own products | In June 2025, Nutrition Insight reported Nestle's launch of NAN Sinergity with six HMOs and probiotics [23]. |
| Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. | Fermentation producer whose HMO business is now owned by Meihua | In November 2022, Kirin reported completion of the Thai plant with about 300 tonnes a year of 2'-FL, 3'-SL and 6'-SL capacity [10]. |
| Chr. Hansen A/S (Novonesis) | Multi-HMO ingredient supplier | In January 2023, the EU authorised Chr. Hansen's LNT as a novel food, with five years of data protection [14]. |
Company Selection and Benchmark Notes
Companies were selected from the source report's profiles and grouped by their role as ingredient platforms, fermentation specialists or formula brands. Benchmark ratings reflect dated public evidence of HMO range, approvals and products, not market share or product quality. Ownership changes such as Meihua's purchase of Kyowa Hakko Bio's HMO business mean buyers should confirm the current supplying entity before contracting [27].
