Protein‑powder market surge
- Global protein‑powder sales are expected to rise from $26.2 billion in 2025 to $28.3 billion in 2026. (openpr.com) - Forecasters say the category could hit $45.1 billion by 2032 at roughly an 8.1% CAGR. (openpr.com) - The report links this expansion to interest in functional ingredients and improved plant‑based textures and solubility. (openpr.com)
Protein powder is moving from a gym niche toward a mass-market nutrition category, with one industry forecast putting global sales at $28.3 billion in 2026. (openpr.com) That same forecast says the market was about $26.2 billion in 2025 and could reach $45.1 billion by 2032, implying roughly 8.1% annual growth over the period. (openpr.com) Protein powder is a concentrated protein ingredient sold as a supplement or mixed into foods and drinks, and retail trackers say sports protein powder remains the largest sports-nutrition segment by value. (fda.gov) (euromonitor.com) Much of the current push is coming from plant-based formulas, where manufacturers are trying to make powders mix more smoothly in water, mask bitter flavors, and improve texture in shakes and ready-to-drink products. (futuremarketinsights.com) (sciencedirect.com) Those technical fixes matter because solubility — how well a powder dissolves — affects other traits consumers notice immediately, including grit, foam, mouthfeel, and consistency. (sciencedirect.com) (mdpi.com) Market researchers tracking adjacent categories are also projecting steady gains in plant protein ingredients and plant-based protein supplements through 2032, reinforcing the broader shift behind protein-powder launches. (databridgemarketresearch.com 1) (databridgemarketresearch.com 2) The customer base is wider than bodybuilders. Federal health agencies describe dietary supplements as a mainstream consumer category, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show supplement use is common among U.S. adults. (nutrition.gov) (cdc.gov) The category is also facing scrutiny over contaminants. Consumer Reports said in October 2025 that 23 protein powders and shakes it tested often contained concerning lead levels, and Clean Label Project said in January 2025 that 47% of tested products exceeded at least one federal or California safety threshold. (consumerreports.org) (cleanlabelproject.org) So the next phase of the protein-powder business looks like a two-track race: more growth from better-tasting, easier-mixing products, and more pressure on brands to prove what is actually in the tub. (openpr.com) (consumerreports.org)
