Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a class of naturally occurring nutrients in breast milk, which are carbohydrates or complex sugars present only in high concentrations and diverse structures in breast milk. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have various important physiological functions, such as maintaining intestinal microbiota balance, inhibiting intestinal pathogenic microbial infections, regulating immune responses, and promoting brain development in infants and young children.

Overview of Market Development

At present, the main driving factor of the global HMOs market is the organic food sector, especially the demand for HMOs in infant and dairy products, which continues to grow. According to our research data, the global HMOs market size is estimated to be $203 million in 2024, an increase of 8.06% compared to 2023. It is expected to continue to expand to $437 million by 2029.

Segmented Market Analysis

From the perspective of product types, HMOs can be divided into two categories based on their physical and chemical properties: neutral HMOs and acidic HMOs. Among them, neutral HMOs dominate the market, with an expected market share of 73.82% in 2024.

From the perspective of downstream applications, HMOs are mainly used in the fields of food supplements, functional foods and beverages, and infant formula. Among them, the field of food supplements is the largest downstream application market, with an estimated application share of 79.41% in 2024.

Source: www.globalmarketmonitor.com

Analysis of Market Competition Pattern

From the perspective of market competition, the concentration of the global HMOs market is moderate. The data shows that in 2023, the total output value of HMOs among the top 3 enterprises was $88.60 million, with a total share of 51.21%. The top three companies were Elicityl SA, ZuChem, and Dextra Laboratories. In 2023, these three companies accounted for 19.98%, 17.63%, and 13.60% of the global market share.

HMOs Output Value and Share of Main Companies in 2023

Companies	Output Value (Million USD)	Share
Elicityl SA	34.57	19.98%
ZuChem	30.50	17.63%
Dextra Laboratories	23.53	13.60%
Top3 Companies	88.60	51.21%

Source: www.globalmarketmonitor.com

Market Outlook Forecast

In the future, with in-depth research on the physiological efficacy of HMOs, advances in extraction and preparation technologies, and the development of commercial products, the HMOs market is expected to continue to grow. Especially the microbial synthesis technology based on bioengineered bacteria such as Escherichia coli and yeast, due to its advantages of low production cost and low environmental pollution, has become the most active field in the commercial practice of HMOs. In addition, the application of HMOs in the field of adult nutrition is also expected to become a growth point in the future.