Colostrum Market

Market Overview

The global Colostrum market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.31% from USD 1,407.96 million to USD 1,891.63 million during the forecast period of 2019-2026.

Properly feeding infants and young children can increase their chances of survival. It can also enhance optimal growth and development, especially in the crucial period from birth to 2 years of age. Thus, colostrum is be used in infant food to provide better nourishment. 

Colostrum is a milky fluid released by humans, cows, and other mammals in late pregnancy and few days after giving birth. It is yellowish in color and has a sticky and thick appearance. It is extremely nutritious with a high content of carbohydrates and protein that promotes growth and provides immunity to the newborn. It also acts as a superfood for newborn as it forms a tough coating on the stomach and intestine to prevent germ attacks. Even though all mammals can produce colostrum, supplements are generally made of cow colostrum, also known as bovine. The colostrum market is segmented by source, type, grade, and application. It finds major use in dietary supplements, cosmetic industries, and infant formula. 

Market Dynamics

Ensuring adequate nutrition is one of the essential aspects of the development of the child. Early nutritional deficiency increases the prevalence of illness and infections, such as pneumonia. Mother’s milk is considered as the first line of defense for new-born, and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least six months of breastfeeding. However, poor breastfeeding is prevalent across the globe, which is subsequently increasing the incidences of infection among children.

Infant nutritional formulas are designed to meet all the nutritional requirements of a child and are an ideal alternative to breastfeeding. Colostrum aids in improving gut health, boosts immune function, and removes meconium in infants. Infant mortality, though declining, has remained a key concern to address for a long time, especially when the baby is either prematurely born or has low birth weight. 

Dairy Industry to Provide Necessary Impetus to the Market

In the past few years, the consumption pattern of the population has changed drastically, resulting in the emergence of medium, small, and micro-enterprises. In contemporary times, consumers across the globe are switching towards an active lifestyle. The rise in health and wellness applications and social media marketing is grabbing the attention of colostrum manufacturers on a lookout to expand their geographical footprint. In November 2019, PanTheryx signed an agreement with VitaDairy, a nutritional dairy company, to improve immunity of the children in Vietnam.

The dairy industry is a supplier’s market, where the demand exceeds the supply. The demand for dairy is growing at an average of 2.7% per year. As per the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the global milk output reached around 843 million tons in 2018, which is 2.2% increase compared to the previous year.However, the downscaling of small-scale farms and reduction in producer margins in China and Ukraine is restricting the market growth to some extent. 

Stringent Government Regulations to Hamper the Market Growth

Currently, companies manufacturing dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are facing several regulatory ambiguities. Colostrum manufacturers have started using the term ‘natural’ in the product. As per the FDA, the term ‘natural’ states that nothing artificial or synthetic has been added in the products (including additives and colors). Therefore, the need for mentioning the use of artificial additives and colors is likely to restrict the market growth. In 2018, the FDA introduced new rules regarding the format of the Nutrition Fact Panel, which states that the manufacturers have to analyze the ingredients and account for both naturally occurring sugars in fruits and dairy.

Use of colostrum might cause certain side-effects to lactose-intolerant customers, which might hamper the market growth to some extent.Additionally, the unavailability of substantial information regarding long-term consumption of bovine-colostrum is hampering the market growth. In 2012, China banned the use of bovine-colostrum in infant formula for the same reason. However, the advancements in science and technology are likely to bring standard results about the benefits of bovine based colostrum, which is expected to amplify the market growth in the coming years.

Segmental Analysis

The source of colostrum production is segmented into cow, buffalo, and bovine. Colostrum is the initial milk secreted by mammals after parturition. Generally, bovine colostrum contains a higher amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG) compared to human colostrum, which is why it is generally used in infant formula and other applications.

The cow segment is estimated to hold high shares in the colostrum market due to shifting preference of customers to cow milk than other milk sources. On average, 1kg of IgG can be extracted from each cow immediately after calving. Today, many pharmaceutical and nutraceutical colostrum manufacturers are using buffalo or cow colostrum as it is easily available and highly preferred by a majority of consumers, thereby increasing the herding of cows and buffalos. For instance, the global bovine import was valued at USD 8,230 million in 2017, which is an increase of around USD 410 million as compared to 2016. Similarly, the live goat trade was accounted for USD 189 million in 2017.

Based on product, the colostrum market is bifurcated into whole colostrum and skimmed colostrum. Globally, the technological advancements have revolutionized the technique of marketing. Today, manufacturers are focusing on creative advertising and attractive packaging to increase their brand recognition. Growing popularity of liquid juices with high nutritional content is driving the demand for the whole colostrum. For instance, the total export of non-alcoholic beverages was around USD 8,250 million in 2017, which is further offering lucrative opportunities in the health drink segment. For the record, whole colostrum is obtained in powder form after the calving period, i.e., 48 hours.

By application, the market is segmented into dietary supplements, animal feed, cosmetics, infant formula, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

The global cosmetics market is witnessing a gradual shift towards novel ingredients as they cause minimum side effects and are highly efficient. In cosmetics, colostrum is used for treating acne and skin burn injuries as it contains Epithelial Growth factor (EGF) that aids in repairing and regenerating the skin. Recently, Immpure, a cosmetic company, tested its Immpure colostrum-based skin repair cream on patients with neurodermatitis, acne vulgaris, and psoriasis. Globally, acne is one of the most common skin conditions faced by a huge population. For instance, around 50.9% of women and 42.5% of men experience acne during their twenties, the World Health Organization (WHO).

Regional Analysis

Colostrum Market in Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing colostrum market. The regional market was valued at USD 274.19 in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 421.93 million by 2026 at a CAGR of 6.35%. 

New Zealand holds one of the highest shares in the colostrum market. The country is backed with the presence of some of the major industrial players such as Fonterra CorporativeGroup and Good Health New Zealand. It is one of the major exporters of dairy products for a large number of countries in the region, which is compelling the cattle farmers to provide colostrum-based animal feed to the cattle. As per the European Dairy Association (EDA), in 2014, the New Zealand dairy exported around 17.7 million tons of milk, which is equivalent to 88% of the total milk production in the country.

In Japan, the colostrum market is driven by the use of colostrum in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. As per the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association (JCIA), the annual cosmetic expenditure of a household in Japan is around USD 343.8(excluding Tokyo). Similarly, as per the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), in 2016, Japan had the third-largest pharmaceutical industry in the world, valuing at USD 80,149 million.

Colostrum Market in Africa

Africa is expected to witness sluggish growth during the forecast period. The colostrum market is majorly driven by increasing demand for colostrum products in households for providing essential nutrients to the infants. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), in sub-Saharan Africa, around 1.16 million babies die in the first month every year, making it one of the regions with the highest infant mortality. To attend to the dire situation, several organizations and associations are taking initiatives to provide better health essential packages and facilities to pregnant women in the region. As per the African Development Bank Group (AfDB group), the proportion of underweight children decreased from 34% in 1990 to 24% in 2012. Moreover, the increasing investment in the agribusiness and animal husbandry sector in sub-Saharan Africa is surging the market growth.

Colostrum Market Segmentation

By Source

• Cow
• Buffalo
• Bovine

By Grade

• less than 15% IgG
• 15%–40% IgG
• more than 40% IgG

By Product

• Whole colostrum
• Skimmed colostrum

By Nature

• Conventional
• Organic

By Application

• Dietary supplements
• Animal feed
• Cosmetics
• Infant formula
• Pharmaceuticals
• Nutraceuticals

By Region

North America

• The U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico

Europe

• Germany
• France
• Italy
• The U.K.
• Spain
• Russia
• Poland
• The Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Australia
• Vietnam
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• The Rest of APAC

Central and South America and the Caribbean

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Rest of Central and South America and the Caribbean

The Middle East and Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• The UAE
• Iran
• Kuwait
• Tanzania
• South Africa
• The Rest of MEA