Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Summary

Sales of human milk oligosaccharides to formula makers will rise at a 17.2% CAGR between 2026 and 2036. Starting from USD 394.5 million in 2026, up from USD 339.7 million in 2025, industry revenue is expected to climb to USD 1,925.5 million by 2036, a gain of close to five times over the decade.

In FMI's view, growth in human milk oligosaccharides is coming from more HMO grams going into each tin of infant formula rather than from more babies, as world births are almost flat at about 132.5 million in 2026 and 134.9 million in 2036 under the UN medium projection [1]. Regulators are widening the list of molecules that formula makers can buy, which is the main reason for this shift. In March 2026, dsm-firmenich reported that China's National Health Commission had approved 3'-SL as a nutrition fortifier, while Malaysia and Thailand cleared four further HMOs for infant and follow-on formula [2]. Bottle feeding still reaches most babies, as the World Health Organization reported that only about 47% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed [3]. As a result, the share of formula that carries HMOs is expected to keep rising through the forecast period.

Table 1: Market Size and Forecast for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (USD million), 2025–2036

Market size and forecast	Value
2025 market size	USD 339.7 million
Estimated market size in 2026	USD 394.5 million
Projected market size by 2036	USD 1,925.5 million
CAGR (2026–2036)	17.2%
Added revenue, 2026 to 2036	USD 1,531.0 million

Key Market Trends & Insights

• 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) captures 54.6% of product type demand in 2026, as it is the base molecule in nearly every HMO recipe.
• Most HMO orders arrive dry, and powder captures 84.5% of form demand in 2026 as it blends easily into formula powder.
• Standard infant formula takes 35.7% of end use demand in 2026, the largest share of any application, as mainstream recipes now carry HMOs in every batch.

Regional Highlights

Europe dominates the growth table, with Germany expanding at a 21.3% CAGR and the UK close behind at 20.3%, while South Korea follows at 19.6%. Japan is projected to grow at 15.1%, and the USA, where multi-HMO formula is already common, will record the slowest pace at 14.3%.

Market Evidence

Recent results from the biggest HMO producers are pointing to steady gains, which lends support to the 17.2% CAGR forecast. In February 2026, dsm-firmenich reported 3% organic growth in its Health, Nutrition & Care unit on sales of EUR 2.1 billion, with early life nutrition among the drivers and HMO approvals in more than 170 countries [4]. Novonesis reported 10% organic growth in its Human Health division in 2025, partly due to HMOs, and said its five-HMO mix was still waiting for approval in China [5]. This shows that suppliers are winning business on wider blends, so sales of multi-HMO ingredient packages are expected to grow faster than single-molecule orders.

Supplier rankings are being decided largely in China, as it is the largest formula market and its regulator reviews each producer strain separately. In October 2023, dsm-firmenich announced Chinese clearance for 2'-FL and LNnT at use levels of 0.7 to 2.4 g/L and 0.2 to 0.6 g/L in infant formula [6], while DairyReporter reported that IFF and Mengniu also gained 2'-FL approvals in the same round [7]. Approvals are still moving unevenly, as the NHC added 3'-SL in early 2026 but left 3-FL and LNT at the public comment stage by July 2026 [8], and in November 2025 it asked for more data on four 6'-SL applications [9]. Chinese formula makers will therefore add newer HMOs in stages, which is expected to keep 2'-FL the volume leader while sialylated HMOs gain share.

New fermentation plants are coming on stream ahead of orders, due to which formula buyers are gaining more supply options. Kirin reported in November 2022 that Kyowa Hakko Bio had completed an HMO plant in Thailand with about 300 tonnes a year of capacity for 2'-FL, 3'-SL and 6'-SL [10]. Chr. Hansen paid EUR 310 million for Jennewein in September 2020 and planned to invest more than EUR 200 million in HMO production assets up to 2025 [11], and it bought a factory at Kalundborg Harbour in Denmark to produce HMOs [12]. More plants competing for the same formula contracts will put pressure on prices per kilogram, which is set to widen HMO use in mid-priced formula during the forecast period.

Europe and South Korea are pulling ahead of the USA, as formula makers there are at an earlier stage of approval and recipe change. Germany leads at a 21.3% CAGR even though births are falling, as Destatis reported 692,989 births in 2023, about 6% fewer than in 2022 [13]; EU rules let formula makers add new ingredients once the EU authorises them, as it did for Chr. Hansen's LNT in January 2023 [14]. The UK follows at 20.3% as Great Britain runs its own novel food reviews, and in October 2024 the FSA and FSS found LNT safe for infant formula and supplements [15]. South Korea is next at 19.6%, helped by a rise in births to 238,317 in 2024 from 230,028 in 2023 [16]. However, the USA is expected to grow at 14.3%, the slowest pace, as branded formula there has carried multiple HMOs since Abbott's five-HMO Similac launch in November 2021 [17].

Table 2: Supporting Industry Indicators for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (mixed units), mixed years

Indicator	Data point	Why it matters	Source
World births (UN medium projection)	132.5 million in 2026; 134.9 million in 2036	Shows that HMO growth depends on more HMO per infant, not more infants	[1]
Exclusive breastfeeding, infants 0-6 months	About 47% worldwide (data 2018-2025)	Most infants receive some formula, which is the main HMO channel	[3]
China NHC approval of 3'-SL (result)	Announced March 2026	Opens the largest formula market to a sialylated HMO	[2]
China use levels for 2'-FL and LNnT (rule)	0.7-2.4 g/L and 0.2-0.6 g/L in infant formula (October 2023)	Sets the ceiling on HMO grams per litre of Chinese formula	[6]
China HMO approvals pending (status)	3-FL and LNT at public comment by July 2026	Shows the next wave of molecules waiting for market access	[8]
US GRAS for 2'-FL (rule)	Up to 2.4 g/L in infant formula; FDA letter November 2016	Set the early US benchmark for HMO dose in formula	[18]
Canada five-HMO blend (result)	No objection published September 2025; blend up to 6.96 g/L	Allows multi-HMO formula in Canada, subject to Division 25 review	[19]
Kyowa Hakko Bio Thai plant (capacity)	About 300 tonnes a year, completed November 2022	A rare disclosed HMO capacity figure	[10]
dsm-firmenich HMO approvals (result)	More than 170 countries (FY 2025)	Largest supplier is selling into almost every formula market	[4]
Novonesis Human Health (result)	10% organic growth in 2025, HMOs cited as a driver	Confirms demand growth at a second major supplier	[5]

Market Value per Birth Analysis

FMI's market values divided by UN medium-scenario births give a calculated HMO spend of about USD 2.98 per baby born in 2026, rising to about USD 14.27 per baby in 2036 [1]. World births grow by only 1.8% between 2026 and 2036, a calculated birth CAGR of 0.18%, so about 1% of the market's value growth comes from more babies and the rest comes from higher HMO spend per baby (calculated). Since roughly 53% of infants under six months are not exclusively breastfed [3], the calculated spend per non-exclusively-breastfed birth is about USD 5.62 in 2026 and USD 26.92 in 2036; this is an illustrative upper reference, as many of these infants are partly breastfed.

Births are falling in several of the profiled countries, which makes per-infant penetration the only growth route there. UN projections show births in Germany falling 7.3% and South Korea 3.2% between 2026 and 2036 (calculated), while the USA, UK and Japan see small rises of 3.6% to 5.1% [1]. Recent official counts point the same way, with Japan recording 686,061 births in 2024, down 5.7% [20], and the USA 3,628,934 births, up 1% [21]. Spend per birth is therefore expected to roughly quintuple (4.8 times, calculated) as more formula carries HMOs and each recipe carries more of them.

Table 3: Market Value per Birth for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (USD and number of births), 2024-2036

Metric	2026	2036	Source
FMI market value (USD million)	394.5	1,925.5	FMI
World births (UN medium scenario)	132,503,470	134,945,600	[1]
HMO market value per birth (USD)	2.98	14.27	Calculated
Growth in births vs growth in value per birth, 2026-2036 (CAGR)	0.18%	16.97%	Calculated
Infants 0-6 months not exclusively breastfed (share)	About 53%	Not projected	[3] / Calculated
Value per non-exclusively-breastfed birth (USD, illustrative)	5.62	26.92	Calculated
Germany births (change 2026-2036)	689,997	639,720 (-7.3%)	[1] / Calculated
South Korea births (change 2026-2036)	249,556	241,459 (-3.2%)	[1] / Calculated
USA births (change 2026-2036)	3,673,260	3,861,265 (+5.1%)	[1] / Calculated
Japan births (change 2026-2036)	745,943	778,369 (+4.3%)	[1] / Calculated
UK births (change 2026-2036)	678,001	702,379 (+3.6%)	[1] / Calculated

Analyst Perspective

"With 2'-FL holding 54.6% of sales in 2026, the next phase will be won by suppliers that can move customers from one HMO to approved blends of three to five. Formula makers will pay for that step where each extra molecule has a clear approval and a clear role in the recipe."

- Nandini Roy Choudhury, Principal Analyst at Future Market Insights

How is the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Segmented?

The human milk oligosaccharides market is split into product type, form, end use and region.

By product type, the market covers 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL), Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), 3'-Sialyllactose (3'-SL), Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), 6'-Sialyllactose (6'-SL), 3-Fucosyllactose (3-FL) and the 2'-FL/DFL mix, which are different sugar molecules found in breast milk and now made by fermentation. By form, buyers purchase either powder or liquid. By end use, the market covers standard infant formula, follow-on formula, gut health supplements, specialty infant formula, growing-up milk, immune support supplements, probiotic yogurt and dairy products, infant cereals and others such as personal care and research. Regional coverage spans North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

Why Does 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) Lead the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market by Product Type?

2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) is set to hold 54.6% of market share by product type in 2026.

2'-FL holds 54.6% of the market in 2026 as it is the most common HMO in breast milk and the first one most regulators cleared, which gives formula makers the longest safety record to work with. In November 2016, the US FDA raised no questions about Glycom's 2'-FL for term infant formula at up to 2.4 g per litre [18], and China later allowed 2'-FL at 0.7 to 2.4 g/L in four formula categories [6]. Use is also spreading beyond formula into baby food, as Nestle began selling a Gerber infant cereal with 2'-FL in China in May 2025 [22]. LNT, 3'-SL, LNnT, 6'-SL, 3-FL and the 2'-FL/DFL mix are expected to gain share as they enter multi-HMO blends, while 2'-FL will remain the base of almost every recipe.

• 2'-FL will keep more than half of product type sales, starting from a 54.6% share in 2026, as nearly every multi-HMO blend is built on it.
• In March 2026, dsm-firmenich reported approvals for 3'-SL in China and for 3'-SL, 2'-FL/DFL, LNT and 6'-SL in Malaysia and Thailand [2].

Why Does Powder Lead the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market by Form?

Powder accounts for 84.5% of form sales in 2026.

Powder holds 84.5% of the market in 2026 as most infant formula is sold as powder, and a dry HMO can be weighed straight into the dry blend or dissolved during wet mixing. Regulators also assess HMOs as dried, purified powders, as seen in October 2024 when the FSA and FSS described Chr. Hansen's LNT as a white to ivory powder with at least 75% LNT on a dry basis [15]. Liquid HMO suits plants that make ready-to-feed formula or drinks, but buyers pay to ship the water it contains. Demand for powder is therefore expected to stay dominant, while liquid grows with ready-to-feed and adult drink products.

• Powder will hold above four-fifths of form sales over the forecast period, starting from 84.5% in 2026.
• In October 2024, the FSA and FSS concluded that Chr. Hansen's LNT powder was safe for use in infant formula, follow-on formula and food supplements [15].

Why Does Standard Infant Formula Lead the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market by End Use?

Standard Infant Formula represents 35.7% of end use demand in 2026.

Standard infant formula takes 35.7% of the market in 2026 as once a brand adds HMOs to a mainstream recipe, the ingredient is bought in every production batch. Abbott showed this in November 2021 when it launched Similac 360 Total Care in the USA with five HMOs, namely 2'-FL, 3-FL, 3'-SL, 6'-SL and LNT [17], and Nestle reported in 2025 that its HMO products were sold in more than 50 countries [23]. Follow-on formula, growing-up milk and specialty formula, including probiotic infant formula lines, are following the same path, while gut health and immune support supplements use HMOs for older children and adults. Probiotic dairy, infant cereals and other uses remain small, though they are expected to grow as approvals extend to general foods.

• Standard infant formula will remain the single largest end use, starting from a 35.7% share in 2026, as reformulated recipes lock in repeat HMO orders.
• In June 2025, Nutrition Insight reported that Nestle had launched NAN Sinergity, which combines probiotics with six HMOs, first in Europe and then in Latin America and the Middle East [23].

What are the Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities in the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market?

New HMO approvals are driving demand, slow strain-by-strain reviews are holding back conversion, and supplements for older children and adults offer a second route to growth.

• Driver: Regulators in Asia, Europe and North America are approving more HMOs and blends, which lets formula makers add new molecules to their recipes.
• Restraint: Each producer strain and each finished formula still needs its own review, which delays orders and raises the cost of switching suppliers.
• Opportunity: Approvals for supplements and general foods open demand from older children and adults beyond infant formula.

The driver is a widening menu of approved molecules. In March 2026, dsm-firmenich said HMOs from all three structural classes were now available in China, Malaysia and Thailand [2], and in September 2025 Health Canada published its no-objection opinion on Chr. Hansen's blend of 2'-FL, 3-FL, LNT, 3'-SL and 6'-SL for infant and toddler formula [19]. This lets brands move from one HMO to five, which multiplies the grams bought per tin; as a result, HMO spend per formula-fed infant is expected to keep rising.

The restraint is the time each approval takes. Health Canada stated that formulas containing the five-HMO blend still need pre-market review under Division 25 [19], while in November 2025 China asked for more data on four 6'-SL applications and its risk assessment body recommended not approving one LNnT application [9]. In the EU, Delegated Regulation 2016/127 names only fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharides as optional carbohydrates, so other ingredients such as HMOs rely on separate novel food authorisations [24]. Suppliers with approvals already in hand will hold an advantage, and new entrants are expected to take several years to win formula contracts.

The opportunity lies in older age groups. In March 2021, BASF received Australian approval to supply 2'-FL in supplements at up to 5 g a day for adults and reported approvals in 13 Asia Pacific countries plus Europe, the USA and Latin America [25]. Health Canada also cleared Inbiose's 2'-FL in July 2025 for foods for young children and the general population as well as formula [26]. Sales of HMOs into gut health and immune support supplements are expected to grow from a small base as these approvals spread, which will set HMOs against other prebiotic ingredients competing for space in supplement recipes.

Which Country CAGRs are Profiled in the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market?

Table 4: Country CAGRs for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (%), 2026-2036

Country	CAGR, 2026 to 2036
Germany	21.3%
UK	20.3%
South Korea	19.6%
Japan	15.1%
USA	14.3%

How do Country-level CAGRs Compare in the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market?

The five profiled countries fall into two bands. Germany, the UK and South Korea sit between 19.6% and 21.3%, as formula makers there are still adding HMOs and newer molecules to mainstream recipes, while Japan at 15.1% and the USA at 14.3% grow more slowly as premium formula there already carries HMOs. Germany's 21.3% exceeds the USA's 14.3% by 7.0 percentage points, but the gap reflects growth pace, not market size.

• EU novel food approvals for newer HMOs such as LNT are letting German formula makers reformulate even as births fall, and Germany will grow at a 21.3% CAGR.
• In the UK, which is set to expand at a 20.3% CAGR, Great Britain's separate review process is clearing more HMOs for new recipe launches.
• Premium formula demand and a recent rise in births are supporting fast HMO uptake in South Korea, where sales are projected to grow at a 19.6% CAGR.
• Japan will grow at a 15.1% CAGR, as a shrinking birth cohort limits volume and pushes suppliers toward more HMO per tin.
• With multi-HMO formula already on shelves, the USA has less room for first-time adoption and is expected to grow at a 14.3% CAGR.

The full report extends human milk oligosaccharides estimates to more than 25 countries and country groups across seven regions.

Country Outlook

• In July 2024, Destatis reported that births in Germany fell about 6% to 692,989 in 2023 [13], so HMO sales there must come from more HMO per infant, and demand is projected to grow at a 21.3% CAGR.
• UK brands gained wider recipe choices in October 2024, when the FSA and FSS found Chr. Hansen's LNT safe for infant formula and supplements [15], and UK sales are projected to expand at a 20.3% CAGR.
• Statistics Korea data released in August 2025 showed South Korean births rising to 238,317 in 2024, the first increase in nine years [16], which supports formula volumes and will help HMO demand grow at a 19.6% CAGR.
• Japan's Health Ministry counted 686,061 births in 2024, down 5.7% [20], so suppliers there will rely on higher HMO content per tin, and demand is projected to rise at a 15.1% CAGR.
• A stable formula base is in place in the USA, where NCHS reported 3,628,934 births in 2024, up 1% from 2023 [21], and HMO sales are expected to grow at a 14.3% CAGR.

Who are the Leading Companies in the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market?

DSM-Firmenich AG, Chr. Hansen A/S (Novonesis), Royal FrieslandCampina N.V., BASF SE, Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd., Inbiose NV, Nestle Health Science and Abbott Laboratories are among the leading suppliers across ingredient platforms, fermentation specialists and formula brands.

Competition is centred on approval breadth and fermentation capacity. dsm-firmenich reported HMO approvals in more than 170 countries in its 2025 results [4], while Novonesis said in February 2026 that it was increasing HMO market penetration [5]. Ownership is also changing, as Meihua Holdings closed its purchase of Kyowa Hakko Bio's amino acid and HMO business by August 2025 [27]. Buyers are expected to favour suppliers that can offer several approved HMOs from one source, which will push smaller players toward niche molecules or regional approvals.

• Industrial ingredient platforms such as DSM-Firmenich AG, Chr. Hansen A/S (Novonesis) and Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. sell HMO ingredients to formula makers alongside wider nutrition portfolios.
• Among fermentation and specialty glycan participants, BASF SE, Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. (HMO business now owned by Meihua) and Inbiose NV develop and produce specific HMOs by fermentation.
• Nestle Health Science and Abbott Laboratories form the downstream formulation group, using HMOs in their own branded formulas and nutrition products.

Competitive Benchmarking

Table 5: Competitive Benchmarking for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (qualitative ratings), 2026

Company	Documented HMO Breadth	Ingredient Commercialization Evidence	Finished-Formula Deployment	Geographic Reach
DSM-Firmenich AG	High	High	Unscored	China, Malaysia, Thailand; approvals in 170+ countries
Chr. Hansen A/S (Novonesis)	High	High	Unscored	EU, Great Britain, Canada; China pending
BASF SE	Medium	Medium	Unscored	Australia, Asia Pacific, Europe, USA, Latin America (2021)
Nestle Health Science	High	Unscored	High	Europe, Latin America, Middle East, China; 50+ countries
Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.	Medium	Medium	Unscored	China strain approval 2023; final approval then pending
Abbott Laboratories	High	Unscored	High	USA
Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd.	Medium	Medium	Unscored	Thailand plant; business transferred to Meihua in 2025
Inbiose NV	Medium	Medium	Unscored	Canada

Ratings rest on dated public evidence, with High breadth meaning at least four named HMOs in a product or portfolio, High commercial evidence meaning recent approvals in several markets, Medium meaning fewer HMOs or a single or older approval or plant record, finished-formula deployment scored only for companies that sell their own formula, and Unscored meaning the measure does not apply or no public evidence was found rather than a weakness.

Key Developments

• In March 2026, dsm-firmenich announced Chinese approval of 3'-SL and approvals of four HMOs in both Malaysia and Thailand [2].
• In September 2025, Health Canada published its no-objection opinion on Chr. Hansen's five-HMO blend for infant and toddler formula [19].
• In August 2025, Noerr reported that Meihua Holdings had closed its acquisition of Kyowa Hakko Bio's amino acid and HMO business, including review of Kyowa Hakko Europe GmbH [27].
• In July 2025, Health Canada published its no-objection opinion on Inbiose's 2'-FL for formula, infant foods and general foods [26].

Key Players

Industrial Ingredient Platforms

• DSM-Firmenich AG
• Chr. Hansen A/S (Novonesis)
• Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.

Fermentation and Specialty Glycan Participants

• BASF SE
• Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd.
• Inbiose NV

Downstream Formulation Participants

• Nestle Health Science
• Abbott Laboratories

Report Scope and Methodology

Table 6: Report Scope for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (descriptive), 2025-2036

Coverage field	Report scope
Market breakdown	Product Type; Form; End Use; Region
Quantitative units	USD Million
Market definition	Revenue from the sale of HMO ingredients (2'-FL, LNT, 3'-SL, LNnT, 6'-SL, 3-FL and 2'-FL/DFL) to formula, supplement, food and other buyers, counted once at the ingredient sale. Finished formula and supplement sales, and other prebiotics such as GOS, are excluded.
Regions covered	North America; Latin America; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; East Asia; South Asia and Pacific; Middle East and Africa
Countries covered	USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Benelux, Nordics, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, China, Japan, South Korea, India, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand, GCC Countries, South Africa, Turkiye, Israel; country CAGRs profiled for USA, UK, Germany, Japan and South Korea
Key companies profiled	DSM-Firmenich AG; Chr. Hansen A/S (Novonesis); BASF SE; Nestle Health Science; Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.; Abbott Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd.; Inbiose NV
Forecast period	2026 to 2036
Approach	FMI ingredient-revenue estimates, read alongside public regulatory records, company disclosures and official birth and breastfeeding statistics.

Research Methodology

Table 7: Research Methodology for the Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market (descriptive), 2025-2036

Method	Approach
Primary research	Public statements by market participants; no new interviews are represented as conducted for this report.
Desk research	Regulator decisions, company releases and annual results, official birth statistics and WHO breastfeeding data, limited to material available by October 2026.
Market sizing and forecasting	FMI estimates of 2025-2036 market values, segment shares and country CAGRs on an ingredient-sale basis.
Data validation	Values and labels are checked across sections; double counting, finished-product revenue and substitute prebiotics are excluded.

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market by Segments

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Segmented by Product Type

• 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL)
• Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT)
• 3'-Sialyllactose (3'-SL)
• Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT)
• 6'-Sialyllactose (6'-SL)
• 3-Fucosyllactose (3-FL)
• 2 FL DFL

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Segmented by Form

• Powder
• Liquid

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Segmented by End Use

• Standard Infant Formula
• Follow-On Formula
• Gut Health Supplements
• Specialty Infant Formula
• Growing-Up Milk
• Immune Support Supplements
• Probiotic Yogurt and Dairy Products
• Infant Cereals
• Others (Personal Care, Research & Therapeutics, etc.)

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Market Segmented by Region

• North America
• Latin America
• Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• East Asia
• South Asia and Pacific
• Middle East and Africa

Research Sources and Bibliography

• [1] Our World in Data, based on United Nations World Population Prospects (medium scenario) (2026, accessed October 8). Number of births (World and selected countries, estimates and projections).
• [2] dsm-firmenich (2026, March 5). dsm-firmenich strengthens HMO offering in Asia with new regulatory approvals.
• [3] World Health Organization (2026, August 4). Infant and young child feeding (fact sheet).
• [4] Nutrition Insight (2026, February 13). Strategic moves drive net sales over EUR 9B in dsm-firmenich FY 2025.
• [5] Nutrition Insight (2026, February 26). Novonesis Human Health division achieves 10% organic sales growth in 2025.
• [6] dsm-firmenich (via PR Newswire) (2023, October 10). dsm-firmenich achieves regulatory clearance in China for two HMO ingredients for early life nutrition.
• [7] DairyReporter (2023, October 17). China HMOs approvals: Two MNCs and one local giant get the green light from regulators.
• [8] CIRS Group (2026, July 16). Review of China new food additives in the first half of 2026.
• [9] CIRS Group (2025, November 27). Multiple HMO substances face approval delayed or recommended non-approval.
• [10] Kirin Holdings (2022, November 25). Completion of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) production facility.
• [11] Chr. Hansen (Novonesis) (2020, September 22). Chr. Hansen acquires Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH to enter and lead the high-growth Human Milk Oligosaccharides market.
• [12] Kalundborg Symbiosis (n.d., accessed 2026, October 8). Chr. Hansen.
• [13] Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) (2024, July 17). Fertility rate down to 1.35 children per woman in 2023.
• [14] European Commission (2023, January 3). Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/7 authorising lacto-N-tetraose produced by derivative strains of E. coli BL21(DE3) as a novel food.
• [15] Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland (2024, October 31). Assessment of Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) as a novel food for use in food and food supplements (RP2101).
• [16] The Korea Times (reporting Statistics Korea data) (2025, August 27). Newborn numbers rise in 2024 for 1st time in 9 years.
• [17] Abbott (2021, November 16). Abbott Launches Similac 360 Total Care with Exclusive Blend of Five HMO Prebiotics and Designed to Support the Immune System, Digestive Health and Brain Development.
• [18] U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2016, November 23). Agency Response Letter GRAS Notice No. GRN 000650 (2'-O-fucosyllactose, Glycom A/S).
• [19] Health Canada (2025, September 8). Novel food information: 2'-Fucosyllactose, 3-Fucosyllactose, Lacto-N-Tetraose, 3'-Sialyllactose and 6'-Sialyllactose Blend Produced by Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) Strains.
• [20] Euronews (reporting Japan Health Ministry data) (2025, June 5). Annual births in Japan fall for 16th straight year amid deepening population crisis.
• [21] National Center for Health Statistics, CDC (2025, July 24). Births in the United States, 2024 (NCHS Data Brief No. 535).
• [22] NutraIngredients (2025, June 24). Nestle launches Gerber's first infant cereal with HMO in China.
• [23] Nutrition Insight (2025, June 3). "Big bet" on early life nutrition: Nestle's Sinergity launch blends probiotics with HMOs.
• [24] European Commission (2015, September 25). Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for infant formula and follow-on formula.
• [25] BASF (2021, March 1). BASF's 2'-Fucosyllactose receives Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration approval.
• [26] Health Canada (2025, July 22). Novel food information: 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) from Escherichia coli K-12 strain INB-2FL_03.
• [27] Noerr (2025, August 22). Noerr advises Meihua Holdings on acquiring Kyowa Hakko Bio's amino acids and HMO business.
• [28] Nutrition Insight (2023, October 13). FrieslandCampina Ingredients' Aequival prepares to enter world's largest infant milk formula market, as China gives green light.

This bibliography is provided for reader reference and is not exhaustive. The full report contains the complete reference list and detailed citations.

This Report Answers

• What will the human milk oligosaccharides market be worth in 2026 and 2036, and at what CAGR will it grow?
• Why does 2'-FL lead the product type category with a 54.6% share?
• Why do formula makers buy most HMOs as powder?
• Which end uses beyond standard infant formula are adding HMO demand?
• Which regulatory approvals in China, the EU, the UK, Canada and the USA are shaping supply?
• Which profiled country is growing fastest, and why?
• Which companies lead HMO supply, and what capacity and approvals do they hold?
• What does HMO spend per birth reveal about the source of market growth?