Wheat Protein Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Wheat Gluten, Wheat Protein Isolate, Textured Wheat Proteins, Wheat Protein Hydrolysates), By Protein Concentration, By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global wheat protein market size was estimated to be worth USD 6.13 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% from 2022 to 2030. The growth of the wheat protein industry is expected to be driven by the rising adoption of plant-based diets as well as an increase in the number of people adopting vegan diets in developing economies. Furthermore, product demand is likely to be fueled by a rising geriatric population, income levels, and increased urbanization.

The COVID-19 pandemic positively boosted the plant-based protein industry thereby fueling the wheat protein demand. Many consumers switched to plant-based proteins from animal-based counterparts owing to various safety and environmental concerns. The pandemic emphasized on the importance of eating a healthy diet, increasing the demand for plant-based foods with high protein content. Many manufacturers in the plant-based food industry began to alter their strategies and invest in R&D for new product development to cater to the sudden increase in demand.

Weight control was always a concern in the global population and now obesity has become an epidemic worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, global obesity has tripled since 1975, with approximately 13% of adults obese and 39% of adults overweight. Furthermore, according to the Global Nutrition Report, 149.2 million children under the age of five are stunted, 38.9 million are overweight, and 45.4 million are wasted. As a result, people are focusing on eating a healthy, plant-based diet to maintain their overall health and weight, which is driving market growth.

Wheat protein offers exceptional capabilities for a broad range of industries due to several benefits. Among its many uses are bakery products, flour milling, meat replacer, pasta, aquafeed, breakfast cereal, milk replacer, and pet food. The baker's adjustment, also known as the flour miller, is the most fundamental and widely used application of wheat protein. As a result, such a wide range of applications for various end-use industries is anticipated to fuel market growth over the forecast period.

Lactose intolerance is a condition in which the body is unable to digest lactose, a type of natural sugar in dairy products such as milk. Although whey protein isolates are more filtered and processed to effectively remove more lactose than whey protein concentrates, individuals who have even a slight lactose intolerance should avoid such products. For consumers who want to boost protein intake for health or training purposes, plant-based alternatives such as wheat protein are the best option which may contribute to the market growth.

The limited supply of wheat for protein extraction in some regions is expected to limit market growth over the coming years. Furthermore, it contains gluten, which can cause diseases in consumers thereby limiting the product demand. Additionally, rising wheat prices with high protein content, the presence of a large number of alternatives, and increasing incidences of celiac disease are expected to limit growth over the projected timeframe.

Product Insights

Wheat gluten dominated the product segment accounting for the highest revenue share of 38.9% in 2021. Wheat gluten has a wide range of functionalities, including texturing, viscoelasticity, foaming, binding, and emulsification which leads to its widespread use in bakery products. It also acts as an excellent meat substitute for vegetarian and vegan products. These properties are expected to drive the segment demand during the forecast period.

However, due to rising gluten intolerance rates, demand for wheat gluten has been restrained in recent years. Celiac disease affects one out of every 133 individuals in the U.S. according to Beyond Celiac. The disease is inherited and is passed through generations. It raises the chances of developing arthritis, liver disease, obesity, peripheral neuropathy, lactose intolerance, and other diseases. Gluten intolerance can only be treated with a gluten-free diet. Furthermore, even those who are not allergic to gluten prefer a gluten-free diet which may hinder the segment growth.

The wheat protein hydrolysate in the product segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period of 2022-2030. The rapid expansion of this segment is primarily due to the growing demand for plant-based ingredients in dietary supplements and technical advances in the personal care and cosmetics product sector. Furthermore, wheat protein isolate is experiencing a significant rate of growth in demand. It is a protein-rich dietary supplement that is widely used in sports supplements.

Protein Concentration Insights

Wheat protein is made up of protein ingredients extracted from wheat using various methods. The global wheat protein market is segmented into three concentrations: 75% protein, 80% protein, and 95% protein. 75% protein led the market with the highest revenue share of over 41% in 2021 since it contains a higher concentration of diluted protein and is primarily used in dietary supplements.

Concentrations of 95% and 80% show some issues with characteristics such as aggregation, gelation, precipitation, and high viscosity. Therefore, the development of the formulation requires manufacturing process stability as well as several other delivery-related difficulties. This limits the overall demand for formulations with higher protein concentrations.

Application Insights

In 2021, the bakery and confectionery dominated the application segment and accounted for a volume share of 38.75%. The demand for wheat protein in bakery applications is being driven by factors like increased moisture content, improved water absorption, and softness of the finished product. Furthermore, increased consumption of quick-bite foods like confectionery and snacks as a result of changing lifestyles is fueling product demand. The market will grow further during the forecast period due to increased product adoption in the manufacturing of pastries, bread, cakes, rolls, and other bakery items to meet rising consumer demand.

Dairy in the application segment is expected to grow steadily with a CAGR of 1.9% from 2022 to 2030. The large presence of lactose-intolerant people has increased demand in the dairy application segment. Additionally, this protein effectively replaces lactose in fermented dairy items. It is frequently used in vegetable beverages and desserts and serves primarily as a low-cost alternative to milk. People who are lactose intolerant are the products' target market. Additionally, hydrolyzed proteins work well to replace dairy proteins. As a result, the demand would continue to be supported in the coming years by expanding applications in the dairy industry.

Wheat proteins serve as an essential nutritional supplement for good health. Compared to whey and casein, it is a low-calorie supplement with a higher glutamine content. Additionally, it aids in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and cholesterol management. It can be a vital component of a healthy diet because of its many advantages, thus driving up consumer demand. Furthermore, athletes and bodybuilders who engage in strength training prefer wheat-based protein isolates because they have higher nutritional content and few calories.

Regional Insights

In terms of revenue, North America held a market share of 34.22% in 2021. This region's market share can be attributed to several factors, including growing consumer awareness of the health benefits of wheat protein, and the well-established food processing industry. Additionally, an increasing vegetarian population, the growing consumption of bakery goods, and meat substitutes are fueling product demand. Other contributing factors include the enormous production of wheat and the rising demand for healthy and nutritional products in the region.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% over the forecast period due to a growing vegan population and increased awareness of healthy food consumption among people seeking to live a healthy lifestyle. The industrial growth of the healthcare and cosmetics sectors in China, Japan, India, and South Korea, combined with rising domestic demand is boosting the product demand. Moreover, low protein manufacturing costs in comparison to the U.S. and developed European countries is anticipated to propel the market over the projected timeframe.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global wheat protein market is expected to witness high competition among the companies owing to the presence of a large number of players across the globe. Manufacturers are increasingly engaged in R&D activities to formulate innovative products owing to increasing demand from consumers. The players focus on capacity and geographic expansions as well as strategic mergers & acquisitions to gain a competitive edge in the market.

For instance, in August 2021, Summit Ag along with its portfolio company named Summit Sustainable Ingredients announced the establishment of a wheat protein manufacturing facility worth USD 200 million to be built near Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy. The facility is expected to be operational by the summer of 2023 which will expand the production capacity of wheat protein to nearly double any existing unit in North America. Some prominent players in the global wheat protein market include:

• Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)

• Agridient

• MGP Ingredients

• AB Amilina

• Cargill Inc

• Manildra Group

• Crespel & Deiters GmbH and Co. KG

• Kroener Staerke

• Crop Energies AG

• Roquette

Wheat Protein Market Report Scope

Global Wheat Protein Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global wheat protein market report based on product, protein concentration, application, and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Wheat Gluten

  • Wheat Protein Isolates

  • Textured Wheat Proteins

  • Wheat Protein Hydrolysates

• Protein Concentration Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • 75% concentration

  • 80% concentration

  • 95% concentration

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Bakery & Confectionaries

  • Animal Feed

  • Dairy

  • Personal Care

  • Sports & Nutrition

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Russia

    • Ukraine

    • France

    • Germany

    • Poland

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Turkey

    • Egypt