Asia Pacific Protein Ingredients Market Rise nutrition innovation with clean-label, plant-animal protein diversification

Asia Pacific Protein Ingredients Market Size and Forecast 2025 to 2034

The Asia Pacific protein ingredients market size was calculated at USD 18.43 billion in 2024 and is predicted to reach around USD 32.09 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 5.70% from 2025 to 2034. The expanding population and the increasing demand for protein-reach food and supplements due to the unavailability of the required protein in a natural diet are driving the growth of the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market.

Asia Pacific Protein Ingredients Market Key Takeaways

• The Asia Pacific protein ingredients market was valued at USD 18.43 billion in 2024.
• It is projected to reach USD 32.09 billion by 2034.
• The Asia Pacific protein ingredients market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.70% from 2025 to 2034.
• China accounted for the largest market share of 35% in 2024.
• India is projected to expand at a notable CAGR of 7.05% during the forecast period.
• By product, the animal protein segment led the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market in 2024.
• By product, the plant protein segment is expected to witness significant growth in the market during the forecast period.
• By form, the isolates segment held a substantial share of the market in 2024.
• By form, the concentrates segment is predicted to witness significant growth in the market over the forecast period.
• By application, the food and beverages segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2024.
• By application, the infant formulation segment is expected to have substantial growth during the predicted period.

How Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact the Asia Pacific Protein Ingredients Market?

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market. The AI improves the protein functionality in plant-based meat. It can help design and produce sweet protein as a successful alternative to artificial sweeteners. The ongoing research by scientists to design and make protein from several sources, such as cultivated meat and enzymes for food safety, uses generative AI technology.

• In May 2024, Shiru, a California-based AI-enabled startup that developed performance ingredients, launched ProteinDiscovery.ai, claiming it is the world's first protein marketplace and discovery platform.

China Protein Ingredients Market Size and Growth 2025 to 2034

The China protein ingredients market size was accounted at USD 6.45 billion in 2024 and is expected to be worth around USD 11.39 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.85% from 2025 to 2034.

Market Overview

Protein is an important part of the human body and a part of a healthy lifestyle. It is a chemical building block known as amino acids used for building and repairing muscles and bones. Protein is also an essential factor in the making of enzymes and hormones. Protein is the major energy source of the human body. The increasing demand for protein and associated products recommended by doctors and physicians to fulfill the deficiency of protein in the Asian diet is driving the growth of the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market.

Asia Pacific Protein Ingredients Market Growth Factors

• Rise in awareness about health: The increasing awareness about the health and essential nutrients in the body, such as protein, iron, carbohydrates, fibers, vitamins, and other nutrients, are increasing the demand for protein ingredients.
• Rising population: The increasing population of Asia Pacific countries like India and China, which causes the rising demand for food and supplements and the rising cases of protein deficiency in the regional population, is driving the growth of the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market.
• Increasing vegetarian preference: The larger population preferring the vegetarian diet or the vegan lifestyle is accelerating the demand for clean food alternatives or plant-based protein, contributing to the expansion of the market.
• The evaluation of plant-based protein: The rising acceptance of plant-based protein, which is a successful alternative to animal-based protein, and the development of plant-based protein ingredients owing to the rising consumer base is driving the growth of the market.
• Rising government interventions: The rising government intervention in the food manufacturing and processing industry and the nutritional standards regulation in Asian countries are contributing to the expansion of the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market.

Asia Pacific Protein Ingredients Market Trends

• India has the largest food processing sector in the world, and its output is expected to reach USD 535 billion by 2025-26. The horticulture production is expected to be 355.48 million tons in the year 2022-23, with an increase of 8.3 (2.39%). The fish production was recorded at 17.54 million tons in 2022-23.
• India imported a total of USD 353.9 million in plant-based and animal-based protein ingredients from around the world. By volume sales, non-animal-derived protein in India accounted for 1.9 thousand tons in 2022, and animal-derived protein accounted for 45.7 thousand tons.

Market Scope

Market Dynamics

Driver

Increasing awareness about the health

The rising awareness about health and the additional nutritional value in the body is driving the demand for protein ingredients. The increasing prevalence of chronic disease and the geriatric population are collectively driving the demand for the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market. A rising number of people in Asian countries are protein deficient because their daily diets are insufficient to fulfill their daily requirement for protein.

Restraint

Side effects and additional additives in protein ingredients

In the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market, some products have side effects in some cases in allergenic people. The addition of excess flavors, caffeine, sweeteners, and other ingredients may seriously harm the health of consumers.

Opportunity

Sustainability in protein ingredients

The continuous research and development program in the evaluation of the sustainable protein solution and demand for the cruelty-free alternative for protein is driving the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market. The development of biomass proteins such as prebiotics, postbiotics, cultured meat, and gas-fed and fermented microbes are all proteins derived from microorganisms and are made for human consumption. Additionally, people's diversion into the vegan diet lifestyle is further driving the demand for plant-based protein solutions.

Product Insights

The animal protein segment led the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market in 2024. The rising demand for a protein-based diet to fulfill the daily requirement of protein in the body is driving the consumption of animal protein. Animal-based protein mainly includes eggs, lean meat, fish and seafood, poultry, wild game, and dairy products, including milk, cheese, yogurt, and others. There are several other benefits that are also included in animal protein, such as other nutrients like vitamin B12 and iron called heme iron. Salmon, chicken, whole eggs, shellfish, and turkey are the best nutritional sources of animal-based protein. Animal protein has several health benefits, such as it helps to increase lean muscle mass and reduce muscle loss. There are several animal proteins that help in reducing the risk of heart disease, increase muscle mass, and enhance cholesterol levels.

The plant protein segment is expected to witness significant growth in the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market during the forecast period. The rising preference of the population from Asian countries like India and Japan is accepting vegan lifestyles and eating habits that drive the demand for plant-based protein sources for the daily requirement of protein in the body. There are several sources of plant protein, such as nuts, beans, legumes, buckwheat, soybean products, including tempeh, tofu, and edamame, and others. The consumption of plant protein also has various health benefits, such as being used to reduce high blood pressure, lower body weight, and minimize the risk of cancer and stroke.

Form Insights

The isolates segment held a substantial share of the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market in 2024. The increasing demand for whey protein isolates is due to their highly nutritional properties. The average whey protein found in dairy products, such as a cup of milk, consists of 5% carbohydrates, 4% fat, and 3% protein, of which 20% is whey and the remaining 80% is casein. The isolated protein ingredient is suitable for different types of diet plans, including weight management, muscle building, weight loss, and others. The isolated protein ingredients have benefits such as treating type 2 diabetes, enhancing immune function and muscle growth, reducing inflammation, increasing bodily antioxidant defense, low carbohydrates, improving heart health, high protein content, curbing insulin spikes, preventing muscle wasting, lowering blood pressure, and others.

The concentrates segment is predicted to witness significant growth in the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market over the forecast period. The concentrated protein ingredients provide some of the common benefits, such as muscle support and having a higher protein content with decadent flavor. It helps in fat loss, promotes muscle growth, increases the immune system, and reduces inflammation, lowers blood pressure, helps in hypercholesterolemia, muscle repair, and others.

Application Insights

The food and beverages segment accounted for the largest share of the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market in 2024. The rising preference for a highly nutritious protein-based diet with lower levels of fats is driving the adoption of protein-inclusive food and beverages. Milk, yogurt, sunflower seeds, eggs, lentils, quinoa, fish and shellfish, and whey protein powder are some types of food and beverage products that consist of protein.

The infant formulation segment is expected to have substantial growth in the Asia Pacific protein ingredients market during the predicted period. The infant formulation is the food formula that is designed for the baby's feeding. Infants under the age of 12 months of age usually get infant formula, which has a high source of protein, as most infant formulas contain purified cow's milk whey and casein as protein sources. The increasing demand for highly nutritious and protein-inclusive milk formula and the rising market competition in infant food or baby food products are driving the growth in the market.

Asia Pacific Protein Ingredients Market Companies

• Kerry Group plc
• Tate & Lyle
• Ingredion
• DSM
• Cargill, Incorporated
• Glanbia PLC
• Roquette Frères
• Proeon
• Wilmar International Ltd
• ETChem
• Australian Plant Proteins Pty. Ltd.
• Entobel
• Shandong Jianyuan Group

Latest Announcements by the Industry Leaders

• In July 2024, Tata & Lyle, a global food and beverage solutions company, acquired CP Kelco, a nature-based ingredients company. The company stated that the acquisition “expands our offering in the large (USD 19 billion) and fast-growing (6% CAGR) specialty food and beverage ingredients addressable market and developed potential growth opportunities in adjacent and core markets.
• In July 2024, Australian Plant Proteins (APP), Australia's first plant-protein isolate manufacturer, entered the voluntary administration with market leaders expressing frustration with insufficient government support, a drop in R&D investment in a sector, and a reliance on imports with great opportunities in Australia.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product

• Plant Proteins
  • Cereal-Based
  • Legumes-Based
  • Root-Based
  • Nuts and Seeds-Based
  • Ancient Grains
• Animal/Dairy Proteins
  • Egg Protein
  • Milk Protein Concentrates/Isolates
  • Whey Protein Concentrates
  • Whey Protein Hydrolysates
  • Whey Protein Isolates
  • Gelatin
  • Casein/Caseinates
  • Collagen Peptides
• Microbe Proteins
  • Algae
  • Bacteria
  • Yeast
  • Fungi
• Insect Proteins
  • Coleoptera
  • Lepidoptera
  • Hymenoptera
  • Orthoptera
  • Hemiptera
  • Diptera
  • Others

By Application

• Food and Beverages
  • Bakery and Confectionery
  • Beverages
  • Dairy Alternatives
  • Breakfast Cereals
  • Dietary Supplements/Weight Management
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Meat Alternatives and Extenders
  • Snacks
  • Others
• Infant Formulations
• Clinical Nutrition
• Animal Feed
• Others

By Form

• Isolates
• Concentrates
• Hydrolyzed