Infant nutrition to see 7% CAGR

30 Mar 2016

A new report from Research & Markets says that the global infant nutrition market is worth $50 billion and will be the fastest growing packaged food segmentgrowing at a rate of 7% per annum between now and 2020.

A new report from Research & Markets – “Assessment of the Indo-China Baby Food Market” - highlights key dynamics of the global, India and China's baby food market. The potential of the sector has been investigated along with the emerging trends. The current market scenario and future prospects of the sector have also been studied.

The rising middle class globally is boosting the baby food market, according to Research & Markets. At the end of 2015, the baby food and formula market was worth approximately $35 billion. At present it is estimated that the global infant nutrition market is worth $50 billion and is forecast to be the fastest growing packaged food segment, in the period 2015-2020, growing at a rate of 7% per annum.

The leading areas contributing to the market size are Europe and North America which accounted for 87% of baby food and 66% of baby formula sales in 2014. However, while these areas did not record a growth in sales in 2014, Latin America, MENA and Asia Pacific recorded a growth in sales.

In the period 2010-2015, baby food sales in China have almost doubled according to the report, and the country now consumes approximately $19 billion of baby food per annum. In terms of channels of sales, almost 30% of the baby formula consumed is ordered online as consumers are doubtful about the quality of domestic dairy produce.

Next to China, in the Asia Pacific region, India is the largest market for baby food and infant formula. The baby food market in India was worth $250 million in 2014. Even though India has a large infant base, the per capita consumption of baby food is said to be very low due to the fact that traditionally Indian mothers prefer to feed fresh food to babies and also India has strict legislations related to this sector.

The report contains profiles of key players including Nestle, Danone, Fonterra, Amul, Heinz and Beingmate.