Infant Formula Market

How Big is the Infant Formula Market in 2026?

An updated infant formula market study values the market at USD 64.2 Billion in 2026, up from USD 58.3 Billion in 2025.

According to FMI's report, sales of infant formula will record a 10.1% CAGR during the forecast period and will reach USD 167.6 Billion by 2036.

Growth of infant formula market compares with 18% for the A2 infant formula market, 17.2% for the human milk oligosaccharides market, 6.4% for the infant formula and early-life nutrition ingredients market, and 5.5% for the baby milk market.

A2 and HMO recipes are expected to outpace volume sales of baby milk. For instance, Nestlé's June 2025 rollout of NAN Sinergity, with probiotics and six HMOs, shows brands adding value per feed.

Growth potential of infant formula market is lucrative. The infant formula producers will face challenges to prove marketing claims or face roll back of products. In February 2026, Germany's BfR found that probiotic formula benefits remain unproven for healthy infants. As a result, successful GTM strategy will include ethical labelling of products during the forecast period.

Key Takeaways of Infant Formula Market

• Starting milk formula will account for 50% of product type revenue in 2026.
• Pharmacy stores and supermarkets are projected to hold 50% of distribution channel revenue in 2026.
• Formula makers profiled by FMI include Nestlé S.A., Danone S.A., Abbott Laboratories, Reckitt Benckiser Group (Mead Johnson Nutrition), FrieslandCampina, China Feihe Limited, The a2 Milk Company, and Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd., out of many players covered in the full FMI report.
• Germany will record the highest infant formula growth among profiled countries, at a 12.8% CAGR through 2036, followed by the UK at 12.2%. Japan will grow slowest, at 7.6%, on a record low in births.

Analyst Perspective

“Infant formula suppliers putting money into ingredient-chain control and proven premium recipes will see the best returns through 2036. The recalls of early 2026 showed how fast one contaminated ingredient empties shelves across many countries. In my opinion, brand loyalty will stay with suppliers offering a clean safety record, steady supply, and a fair price per feed.”

- Nandini Roy Choudhury, Principal Consultant, Future Market Insights

How is the Infant Formula Market Segmented?

The infant formula market is segmented into Product Type, Distribution Channel, and Region.

Product type includes starting milk formula, follow-on milk formula, toddlers milk formula, special milk formula, and others. Based on the distribution channel, FMI's report covers formula sales through pharmacy stores, supermarkets, specialty outlets, online stores, and other routes. Regional coverage includes seven regions and over 30 countries.

What Makes Starting Milk Formula Central to the Product Type Category?

By product type, starting milk formula will account for half the market share in 2026.

Over 45% of working mothers rely on infant formula, specifically starting milk formula, for primary or supplemental nutrition. Professional commitments limit the feasibility of exclusive breastfeeding, creating demand for convenient, ready-to-feed alternatives. Workplace flexibility and dual-income households further increase reliance on formula to ensure consistent infant nutrition.

• Starting milk formula will hold 50% of product type revenue in 2026.
• In June 2025, Nestlé announced the global rollout of NAN Sinergity, a recipe combining probiotics with six HMOs, reaching Latin America and the Middle East.

Why do Pharmacy Stores and Supermarkets Lead the Distribution Channel Category?

Ease of buying to drive 50% of sales of infant formula through pharmacies and supermarkets in 2026.

Pharmacy stores and supermarkets are pivotal in driving sales due to multiple strategic and operational factors within the distribution channel. Retail pharmacies and supermarkets serve as the final touchpoint between manufacturers and consumers, ensuring products are physically available where consumers shop.

• Sales to remain high from pharmacies owing to better accessibility across urban, semi-urban, and rural markets.
• As per FMI's report, pharmacy stores and supermarkets will take 50.0% of distribution channel revenue in 2026.

What are the Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities in the Infant Formula Market?

Working mothers in both developed and developing regions support growing demand for formula feeding as a practical alternative to breastfeeding. also safety rules and risks in formula ingredients will slow launches and can empty shelves. Higher affordability allows for uptake of premium and specialty formula products enriched with nutrients like DHA, ARA, HMOs, and probiotics.

• Driver: Inclusion of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), lactoferrin, and microbiome-supporting ingredients improves the perceived health benefits of formulations.
• Restraint: Compliance with regional authorities (FDA, EFSA, Codex Alimentarius, Chinese State Administration) is complex and often slows product launches.
• Opportunity: Emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa offer growth potential due to rising middle-class populations and increasing parental awareness.

The infant formula market is experiencing strong global growth, driven by demographic trends, technological advancements, and product specialization. The stringent regulatory oversight, high-cost barriers, and safety concerns pose notable challenges. Companies that can innovate in specialized nutrition, secure regulatory approvals efficiently, and leverage digital platforms for distribution are best positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities, particularly in Asia-Pacific and premium segments worldwide.

Safe preparation matters as much as the recipe. CDC guidance in May 2026 noted that powdered formula is not sterile. Babies under two months, premature babies, and babies with weak immune systems need extra care. CDC names ready-to-feed formula as an option when tap water carries harmful chemicals, which adds sales potential for sterile formats during the forecast period.

Key challenges in infant formula market include ingredient failures, owing to which sales can stop overnight. In January 2026, Nestlé recalled batches of NAN and other formulas after cereulide was found in arachidonic acid (ARA) oil from a supplier. ARA is one of the polyunsaturated fatty acids added to many formulas. Danone followed with targeted recalls of the company's own batches.

Which Country CAGRs are Profiled in the Infant Formula Market?

Country	CAGR, 2026 to 2036
Germany	12.8%
UK	12.2%
South Korea	10.4%
USA	9.8%
Japan	7.6%

How do Country-Level CAGRs Compare?

Growth of the infant formula market across profiled countries falls into three bands between 2026 and 2036. Germany at 12.8% and the UK at 12.2% lead the group, with South Korea and the USA close to the global 10.1% pace. Japan sits last at 7.6%, 5.2 percentage points behind Germany. Both fast-growing European markets face falling births, owing to which recipe value and shelf pricing rules shape more of the spread than newborn numbers.

• Germany's 12.8% CAGR comes despite 654,241 births in 2025, the lowest post-war level, as premium formula with proven claims lifts value per feed.
• The UK will grow at 12.2%, 0.6 points behind Germany. Brands adjust to CMA-backed shelf and pricing rules after formula prices rose more than 25%.
• Demand for infant formula in South Korea will rise at 10.4% with a 6.8% jump in 2025 births to 254,500.
• At 9.8%, the USA stays just below the global rate, and ready-to-feed launches such as Abbott's Similac will add more value than birth numbers.

Country CAGRs for 30+ countries across North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa appear in the full FMI report.

Country Outlook

• Premium claims will shape infant formula sales in Germany, since the BfR found in February 2026 that the health benefits of probiotic formulas remain unproven for healthy infants. Brands backing recipes with firm evidence will lift value per feed. Destatis counted 654,241 births in 2025, the lowest post-war level, so newborn volume adds little. Even so, demand will grow at a 12.8% CAGR till 2036, the fastest among profiled countries.
• Brands making value easy to compare will gain shelf share in the UK, as formula prices rose between 18% and 36% depending on brand in recent years. In December 2025, the UK government accepted six CMA recommendations in principle, including clearer nutrition messages and separate shelf placement for infant and follow-on formula. Sales of infant formula in the UK will grow at a 12.2% CAGR through 2036.
• South Korea recorded 254,500 births in 2025, a 6.8% rise and a 15-year high, as per the Ministry of Data and Statistics. This larger demand base will lift the infant formula market at a 10.4% CAGR over the forecast period. Suppliers with stage-specific recipes suited to local standards will gain the most.
• Supply resilience will matter more than birth trends for US infant formula sales, with CDC reporting births down 1% in 2025 to 3,606,400. Abbott's whole-milk, ready-to-feed Similac launch shows how new formats and fair pricing will add value. Growth of the infant formula market in the USA will reach a 9.8% CAGR till 2036.
• Key challenges in the Japan infant formula market include a tenth straight year of falling births, with 671,236 babies born in 2025, the lowest since records began in 1899. Targeted products with compliance and convenience benefits will justify a higher price and carry future growth. Sales in Japan will rise at a 7.6% CAGR through 2036, the slowest among profiled countries.

Who are the Notable Companies in the Infant Formula Market?

Notable companies in the infant formula market include Nestlé S.A., Danone S.A., Abbott Laboratories, Reckitt Benckiser Group (Mead Johnson Nutrition), FrieslandCampina, China Feihe Limited, The a2 Milk Company, and Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd., out of many players covered by FMI.

Infant formula market players compete on formulation evidence, manufacturing control, and local registration. In 2025, FrieslandCampina introduced Friso Prestige Pura, an organic formula line, in China. In September 2025, The a2 Milk Company completed the purchase of the Pokeno plant, which holds China-label formula registrations. Profiled companies fall into three strategy groups in the FMI benchmark.

• Global Multi-Market Infant Nutrition Platforms: Nestlé S.A., Danone S.A., Abbott Laboratories, and Reckitt Benckiser Group (Mead Johnson Nutrition) combine large formula brands with research teams and registrations in many countries.
• Dairy-Integrated Premium Formula Suppliers: FrieslandCampina and China Feihe Limited compete on control of the milk supply, company-owned factories, and premium recipes for Asian buyers.
• Milk-Source Differentiated Formula Brands: The a2 Milk Company and Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd. center formula ranges on A2 infant formula and a distinct milk source.

Competitive Benchmarking

Company	Specialty and Format Breadth	Functional Formulation Evidence	Supply and Manufacturing Control	Geographic Reach
Nestlé S.A.	High	High	High	Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Asia, and other international markets
Danone S.A.	High	High	Medium	Europe, China, USA, and other international markets
Abbott Laboratories	High	High	High	USA and international nutrition markets
Reckitt Benckiser Group (Mead Johnson Nutrition)	High	Medium	High	USA and international infant nutrition markets
FrieslandCampina	Medium	High	High	China, Hong Kong, Europe, and other priority markets
China Feihe Limited	Medium	High	High	Mainland China with a factory in Canada
The a2 Milk Company	Medium	Medium	High	China, Australia, New Zealand, and USA
Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd.	Medium	Medium	Medium	Mainland China

Scoring basis: Specialty and Format Breadth covers documented range across formula stages, specialty needs, and powder and liquid formats. Functional Formulation Evidence covers public evidence of differentiated ingredients or science-backed recipe work. Supply and Manufacturing Control covers documented ownership of production and oversight of ingredient suppliers. High indicates broad, clearly documented capability. Medium indicates credible but narrower documented capability. Low indicates limited public documentation for the criterion. Geographic Reach reflects evidenced sales, distribution, or facility activity. Public company documents, reviewed in September 2026, form the basis for each score.

Key Developments

• In June 2025, Nestlé announced the rollout of NAN Sinergity, with probiotics and six HMOs, across Latin America and the Middle East, with more Asian launches planned.
• In April 2026, Mead Johnson Nutrition and Mass General Brigham announced a five-year research program on human milk composition and pediatric nutrition for premature and vulnerable infants.
• In August 2026, Abbott launched Similac 360 Total Care Made With Whole Milk, a sterile ready-to-feed formula priced close to Abbott's powder per feed.

Key Players

Global Multi-Market Infant Nutrition Platforms

• Nestlé S.A.
• Danone S.A.
• Abbott Laboratories
• Reckitt Benckiser Group (Mead Johnson Nutrition)

Dairy-Integrated Premium Formula Suppliers

• FrieslandCampina
• China Feihe Limited

Milk-Source Differentiated Formula Brands

• The a2 Milk Company
• Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd.

Report Scope and Methodology

Coverage field	Report scope
Market breakdown	3 categories covering Product Type (Starting Milk Formula, Follow-on Milk Formula, Toddlers Milk Formula, Special Milk Formula, Others), Distribution Channel (Pharmacy Stores, Supermarkets, Specialty Outlets, Online Stores, Others), and Region
Quantitative units	USD Billion
Market definition	Revenue from infant formula sold within the stated Product Type and Distribution Channel segmentation. The definition excludes downstream feeding services, finished foods using formula only as an ingredient, and adjacent or substitute products.
Regions covered	North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, Middle East and Africa
Countries covered	30+ countries, including the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, and South Korea
Key companies profiled	Nestlé S.A., Danone S.A., Abbott Laboratories, Reckitt Benckiser Group (Mead Johnson Nutrition), FrieslandCampina, China Feihe Limited, The a2 Milk Company, and Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd., a few of the notable companies out of many players covered by FMI
Forecast period	2026 to 2036
Approach	FMI applies a hybrid bottom-up and top-down sizing framework that reconciles formula volumes, stage mix, pricing and supplier revenue signals with birth, feeding-practice and channel indicators.

Research Methodology

Method	Approach
Primary research	FMI's primary-research framework engages formula manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, distributors, retail and pharmacy buyers, pediatric nutrition specialists and procurement teams to test purchase drivers, approval needs, pricing and supply continuity.
Desk research	The analysis reviews birth statistics, regulator notices, public health guidance, company filings and product announcements. FMI retains sources that define demand mechanisms, supplier roles, country conditions or product developments inside the market boundary.
Market sizing and forecasting	The sizing framework combines the baseline value with stage mix, price and volume indicators, company participation and country-level demand. Forecasts consider birth trends, premium mix, regulation, recalls and supply capacity.
Data validation	Estimates are checked against public data, company activity and interview findings. Adjacent baby foods, overlapping revenues and unsupported claims are excluded before final reconciliation.

Infant Formula Market by Segments

Infant Formula Market Segmented by Product Type

• Starting Milk Formula
• Follow-on Milk Formula
• Toddlers Milk Formula
• Special Milk Formula
• Others

Infant Formula Market Segmented by Distribution Channel

• Pharmacy Stores
• Supermarkets
• Specialty Outlets
• Online Stores
• Others

Infant Formula 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

• Nestlé (2025, June 2). Nestlé's groundbreaking Sinergity is going global.
• Just Food (2025, August 18). A2 Milk acquires Yashili New Zealand Dairy from Chinese owners.
• Inside FMCG (2025, September 4). A2 Milk completes acquisition of Pokeno facility.
• UK Department of Health and Social Care and devolved governments (2025, December 3). Government response to the CMA infant formula market study.
• Tonghuashun Finance (2025, December 12). (Bright Dairy: the company has launched A2 milk-source series products).
• NutraIngredients (2026, January 7). Nestlé recalls infant formulas due to potential presence of toxin.
• Danone (2026, January 23). In context of evolving authorities' guidance, Danone announces targeted recall of specific infant formula batches.
• German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (2026, February 3). Gesundheitlicher Nutzen von Säuglingsnahrung mit Zusatz von „Probiotika“ wissenschaftlich weiterhin nicht belegt.
• Korea.net (2026, February 26). No. of births in 2025 breaks 15-year high at 254,500: data.
• Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. (2026, March 11). Global Investor Update, Year-End 2025.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (2026, April 9). U.S. Births down 1% in 2025.
• Reckitt (2026, April 15). Mead Johnson Nutrition and Mass General Brigham expand research program with 5-year commitment to advancing pediatric and lifespan nutrition.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2026, May 14). Infant Formula Preparation and Storage.
• Nippon.com / Jiji Press (2026, June 3). Japan 2025 Births Hit Record Low of 671,000.
• German Federal Statistical Office (2026, July 1). Total fertility rate drops to 1.32 children per woman in 2025.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2026, July 13). FDA Calls on Infant Formula Industry to Better Safeguard Against Contaminants Introduced through their Supply Chain.
• Abbott Laboratories (2026, August 31). Abbott launches the first and only ready-to-feed liquid infant formula made with whole milk in the U.S. at similar price to its existing Similac powdered formula.

This bibliography serves as a reader reference and is not exhaustive. The full FMI report holds the complete reference list and detailed citations.

This Report Answers

• What is the Infant Formula Market size in 2026, and what value is FMI forecasting for 2036?
• Which feeding needs and caregiver pressures will keep supporting demand for infant formula?
• Why will starting milk formula hold the leading position within the Product Type category in 2026?
• Why will pharmacy stores and supermarkets lead the Distribution Channel category?
• How will growth rates differ across Germany, the UK, South Korea, the USA, and Japan till 2036?
• How will the roles and capabilities of the profiled companies shape supplier choice?
• How will ingredient-supplier risk and strict safety rules limit growth?
• How will ready-to-feed formats and evidence-backed recipes shape premium demand?
• Which supplier strengths will decide the infant formula partners that retailers, pharmacy chains, and procurement teams choose?