India protein market hits $1.6B
- Fortune India reported on April 26 that India’s protein market is valued at more than $1.6 billion, as food companies including Amul, ITC and Parag Milk push protein into daily staples. - Mordor Intelligence pegs the market at $1.62 billion in 2026 and projects $2.22 billion by 2031, with food and beverages accounting for 61.63% of demand in 2025. - The push comes as urban India’s median protein intake is 37 grams versus a 60-gram recommendation, widening room for mass-market products. (fortuneindia.com)
India’s protein market is now being pitched as a mass-food business, not just a gym-supplement niche. (fortuneindia.com) Fortune India reported on April 26 that the market is valued at over $1.6 billion, with Amul, ITC and Parag Milk Foods expanding protein products into everyday eating. (fortuneindia.com) Mordor Intelligence estimates India’s protein market at $1.62 billion in 2026 and projects it will reach $2.22 billion by 2031, growing at a 6.54% compound annual rate. (mordorintelligence.com) That forecast is broader than sports nutrition alone. Mordor says food and beverages made up 61.63% of demand in 2025, ahead of dietary supplements and sports nutrition. (mordorintelligence.com) The consumer gap is one reason companies see room to grow. Fortune India cited Indian Council of Medical Research guidance of about 60 grams of protein a day for an average adult, versus median urban intake of 37 grams. (fortuneindia.com) Amul is using dairy scale to chase that gap. Managing director Jayen Mehta told Fortune India the cooperative processes about 350 lakh litres of milk a day and has built roughly 20 protein stock-keeping units, including buttermilk with 15 grams of protein for ₹25. (fortuneindia.com) ITC is widening the category beyond powders and shakes sold to fitness users. The company said on April 20 that it is adding protein products across Aashirvaad, Right Shift, Yoga Bar and Sunfeast, including high-protein atta, bars, snacks, oats and ready-to-drink beverages. (indianretailer.com) Mordor says animal protein held 58.43% of the market in 2025, while microbial protein is forecast to post the fastest growth through 2031. It also says dairy supply gives India abundant whey and casein streams for food makers. (mordorintelligence.com) A separate India Brand Equity Foundation post from October 2025 described the same shift through supplements, citing rising demand from professionals and seniors as well as metro and tier-2 city buyers. (ibef.org) The market story is no longer just about protein tubs in gyms. It is increasingly about whether Indian food companies can turn a daily nutrition shortfall into repeat purchases of milk drinks, atta, bars and snacks. (fortuneindia.com) (mordorintelligence.com)
