PDF Cover

Rice Protein Market

The market for Rice Protein was estimated at $237 million in 2025; it is anticipated to increase to $355 million by 2030, with projections indicating growth to around $531 million by 2035.

Report ID:DS1901139
Author:Debadatta Patel - Senior Consultant
Published Date:
Datatree
Food & Beverage
Packaged & Processed F&B
Rice Protein
Share
Report Summary
Market Data
Methodology
Table of Contents

Global Rice Protein Market Outlook

Revenue, 2025

$237M

Forecast, 2035

$531M

CAGR, 2026 - 2035

8.4%

The Rice Protein industry revenue is expected to be around $237.2 million in 2026 and expected to showcase growth with 8.4% CAGR between 2026 and 2035. Building on this momentum, Rice Protein has solidified its position as a strategic ingredient across global Food & Beverages and Nutritional Supplements value chains, underpinned by a pronounced shift toward clean-label, allergen-free, and plant-based protein solutions. In this market, Food & Beverages and Nutritional Supplements together account for 77.7% of total demand, underscoring the central role of Rice Protein in fortified drinks, functional bars, and sports nutrition formulations. Rice Protein isolates dominated industry revenue, generating $108.4 million in sales in 2025 as formulators increasingly favor high-purity, neutral-flavor ingredients that integrate efficiently into complex matrices. The market is further supported by a growing preference for sustainable, non-GMO raw materials, stricter scrutiny of animal-derived proteins, and the expanding influence of vegan protein lifestyles across both developed and emerging economies.

Rice Protein is typically produced from brown or white rice through enzymatic or mechanical processing, yielding a hypoallergenic, easily digestible ingredient with a favorable amino acid profile and low allergen risk. Its key features include being naturally free from common allergens, supporting gluten-free protein formulations, and offering non-GMO, cholesterol-free positioning that strongly appeals to health-conscious and vegan protein consumers. Major applications span Food & Beverages, including bakery, snacks, ready-to-drink shakes, and dairy alternatives, as well as Nutritional Supplements such as meal-replacement powders and sports nutrition blends. Recent trends driving demand include the development of highly soluble rice protein isolates and concentrates, organic and flavored variants tailored for clean-label brands, and advanced texturization techniques that improve mouthfeel in meat analogues and protein-enriched snacks. As manufacturers intensify research and development around improved functional performance and sustainable sourcing, Rice Protein is set to remain a core component of next-generation fortified nutrition portfolios.

Rice Protein market outlook with forecast trends, drivers, opportunities, supply chain, and competition 2025-2035
Rice Protein Market Outlook

Market Key Insights

  • The Rice Protein market is projected to grow from $237.2 million in 2025 to $531 million in 2035. This represents a CAGR of 8.4%, reflecting rising demand across Food & Beverages, Nutritional Supplements, and Animal Feed.

  • Axiom Foods Inc., AIDP Inc., and RiceBran Technologies are among the leading players in this market, shaping its competitive landscape.

  • U.S. and China are the top markets within the Rice Protein market and are expected to observe the growth CAGR of 6.1% to 8.8% between 2025 and 2030.

  • Emerging markets including Brazil, Nigeria and Indonesia are expected to observe highest growth with CAGR ranging between 8.1% to 10.5%.

  • Transition like Evolution in Health Awareness is expected to add $30 million to the Rice Protein market growth by 2030.

  • The Rice Protein market is set to add $294 million between 2025 and 2035, with manufacturer targeting Nutritional Supplements & Animal Feed Application projected to gain a larger market share.

  • With

    rising health consciousness, and

    Technological Advancements in Protein Extraction, Rice Protein market to expand 124% between 2025 and 2035.

rice protein market size with pie charts of major and emerging country share, CAGR, trends for 2025 and 2032
Rice Protein - Country Share Analysis

Opportunities in the Rice Protein

In North America, performance-focused consumers are also upgrading from generic plant-based protein to specialized Rice Protein solutions tailored for sports nutrition. Rice protein isolates already generate about $108.40 million globally in 2025 and are projected to reach $165.27 million by 2030, while hydrolysates will expand from $31.79 million to $50.27 million at 9.6% CAGR, outpacing other types. Untapped potential lies in low-carb, instantized vegan protein powder formulations and branded collaborations with gyms, esports teams, and endurance events demanding clinically backed recovery and muscle-support claims.

Growth Opportunities in North America and Europe

In North America, Nutritional Supplements dominate Rice Protein demand, driven by rapid expansion of sports nutrition, weight management, and plant-based protein segments, where vegan protein and hypoallergenic protein claims are critical purchase drivers. Top opportunities include premium rice protein isolate for ready-to-drink shakes, smoothies, and performance powders, as well as textured rice protein for high-protein bars and hybrid plant-based formulations targeting clean label and gluten-free protein positioning. Competition is intensifying among regional specialty ingredient suppliers and contract manufacturers that are pivoting from soy and whey toward organic rice protein, while also facing pressure from emerging pea and blended plant proteins that compete on price and functionality. Key growth drivers include rising lactose intolerance awareness, a strong fitness culture, and retailer preference for non-GMO, allergen-free, and sustainably sourced ingredients, creating room for differentiated claims around traceable supply chains, low-heavy-metal specifications, and tailored rice protein concentrate grades optimized for taste and dispersibility in functional foods and beverages. Strategic focus should prioritize deep collaboration with sports nutrition brands, private-label lines, and foodservice innovators, offering application support and customized protein systems for beverages, bakery, and dairy alternatives, while exploring entry into specialty Animal Feed niches such as premium pet nutrition that value digestible and hypoallergenic plant proteins.
In Europe, Food & Beverages represent the most influential application for Rice Protein, underpinned by stringent regulatory standards and strong consumer demand for organic, clean label, and ethically sourced plant-based protein solutions in bakery, dairy alternatives, and meat analogues. The top opportunities lie in positioning organic rice protein and rice protein concentrate as core ingredients in high-protein bakery, cereals, and fermented drinks, alongside textured rice protein for meat-free and flexitarian products that must deliver both nutrition and texture while remaining allergen-friendly. Competition is shaped by established European ingredient groups and agile regional specialists in vegan protein that leverage sustainability narratives, with Rice Protein competing against oat, fava bean, and pea protein on taste, functionality, and ecolabel performance rather than price alone. Primary drivers include accelerated adoption of vegan and flexitarian diets, retailer-led reformulation toward gluten-free protein and low-allergen recipes, and institutional emphasis on carbon footprint reduction across the food chain, which collectively favour Rice Protein’s mild allergen profile and favourable environmental perception. Strategic priorities should include investment in certified-organic and identity-preserved sourcing, development of rice protein isolate systems compatible with high-acid and UHT beverage matrices, and targeted expansion into specialized Nutritional Supplements and medical or senior nutrition segments where hypoallergenic protein and digestive tolerance are decisive, while selectively addressing Animal Feed in premium livestock and pet segments that prioritize sustainability credentials.

Market Dynamics and Supply Chain

01

Driver: Rising Global Adoption of Plant-Based Diets and Increasing Demand for Hypoallergenic Protein Alternatives

One of the main drivers of the rice protein market is also the rapid global shift toward plant-based diets coupled with heightened demand for hypoallergenic protein sources. Consumers are also increasingly adopting vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian lifestyles for health, environmental, and ethical reasons, which directly boosts rice protein consumption in food, beverages, and supplements. Rice protein’s clean-label profile and suitability for plant-based formulations make it a preferred alternative to animal-derived and common allergenic proteins such as dairy and soy. Additionally, rising awareness of lactose intolerance and food allergies has also pushed consumers toward rice protein, which is also naturally hypoallergenic, easily digestible, and free from common allergens. This trend is also especially visible in developed markets like North America and Europe, where demand for plant-based, allergen-free options continues to rise, encouraging manufacturers to innovate and expand rice protein offerings across product categories.
Technological progress in rice protein extraction and formulation is also another key market driver, enhancing its functional properties and broadening application potential. Innovations in processing technologies have also improved rice protein’s solubility, taste, texture, and bioavailability, enabling its use in a wider range of products from ready-to-mix beverages to high-performance sports nutrition formulas. These advancements help overcome historical limitations related to grittiness and functionality, making rice protein more competitive with established proteins like whey and soy proteins. Producers investing in R&D and advanced processing methods are also delivering high-purity isolates and tailored formulations that meet specific nutritional and sensory demands, driving adoption in both mainstream and premium product segments.
02

Restraint: High Production Costs and Functional Limitations Reducing Competitive Edge in Protein Markets

Rice protein faces significant market restraints due to its relatively high production costs and inherent functional limitations. The extraction and purification processes for rice protein are energy-intensive and more expensive compared with many alternative proteins, making products less attractive to price-sensitive manufacturers and consumers and limiting revenue growth in mainstream segments. Additionally, rice protein often exhibits lower solubility and a grainy texture or taste compared with soy, pea, or whey proteins, which can deter use in certain food and beverage formulations and reduce repeat demand. These challenges force manufacturers to invest in advanced processing or blend rice protein with other proteins to improve functional profiles, increasing formulation complexity and cost, and narrowing profit margins in competitive markets.
03

Opportunity: Healthy functional foods for aging populations in Asia using rice protein and Clean-label dairy alternative beverages in Europe adopting rice protein concentrates

In Asia, rapidly aging populations and rising lifestyle diseases are accelerating demand for easily digestible, hypoallergenic Rice Protein in medical nutrition and senior-focused convenience foods. Rice protein hydrolysates, growing globally from $31.79 million in 2025 to $50.27 million by 2030, will outperform other formats, while the diversified Others segment such as (fermented rice protein, spray-dried rice protein blends) climbs from $23.01 million to $34.24 million. Manufacturers can capture untapped value through amino-acid-optimized clinical beverages, fortified porridges, and ready meals co-developed with hospitals, pharmacy chains, and government-backed elderly nutrition programs.
Europe’s rapidly maturing dairy alternatives sector is seeking allergen-free, stable proteins that maintain creamy textures in beverages, yogurts, and frozen desserts. Rice Protein concentrates, forecast to grow globally from $74.01 million in 2025 to $105.27 million by 2030, are poised to benefit most as brands diversify beyond soy and almond. Innovation opportunities include finely milled concentrates optimized for barista foaming, sugar-reduced refrigerated drinks, children’s fortified milks, and gut-friendly functional foods ranges, supported by co-development partnerships between beverage manufacturers, flavor houses, and private-label retailers.
04

Challenge: Incomplete Amino Acid Profile and Intense Competition Affecting Adoption and Market Expansion

Another key restraint is rice protein’s incomplete amino acid profile, notably its lower lysine content, which restricts its perception as a standalone, complete protein source and affects demand among nutrition-focused consumers and formulators. To address this, producers often blend rice protein with complementary sources, adding to formulation costs and complicating product development. At the same time, fierce competition from well-established plant proteins such as pea, soy, and emerging proteins like hemp or oat each with distinct functional benefits or cost advantages limits rice protein’s share in new product launches and mainstream adoption, dampening overall market expansion and revenue potential.

Supply Chain Landscape

1

Rice Protein Sourcing

RiceBran TechnologiesShafi Gluco Chem Ltd
2

Rice Protein Isolates

Axiom Foods Inc.Shaanxi Fuheng Biotechnology Co. Ltd
3

Vegan Protein Distribution

AIDP Inc.Axiom Foods Inc
4

End-use Applications

Sports nutritionFunctional foodsDietary supplements
Rice Protein - Supply Chain

Use Cases of Rice Protein in Food & Beverages & Animal Feed

Food & Beverages : In the food and beverage sector, rice protein particularly rice protein isolates with high purity and neutral taste is widely used to fortify plant-based milks, protein bars, ready-to-drink beverages, baked goods, and meat alternatives, making products more nutritious without triggering common allergens like dairy or soy. Its smooth texture and good solubility help maintain sensory quality while meeting clean-label and vegan demands. Major ingredient suppliers such as Axiom Foods, RiceBran Technologies, Kerry Group, and BENEO are strong players here, offering versatile rice protein solutions and extensive distribution networks that help food manufacturers innovate with plant-based offerings and capture health-conscious consumers.
Nutritional Supplements : Rice protein plays a vital role in the nutritional supplements market, especially in plant-based protein powders, shakes, and sports nutrition formulas. Brown rice-derived isolates are commonly used due to their balanced amino acid profile and hypoallergenic nature, which attract athletes, vegans, and individuals with dietary restrictions. The increasingly health-aware consumer base seeks easily digestible proteins that support muscle recovery and general wellness without dairy or soy allergens. Key companies such as Axiom Foods, Kerry Group, and Gulshan Polyols are recognized for advancing rice protein formulations with enhanced functional properties and clean-label positioning. Their strategic focus on product innovation and quality has strengthened their market positions in both mainstream and premium supplement segments.
Animal Feed : In animal feed applications, rice protein and rice protein concentrates are emerging as sustainable, plant-based alternatives to traditional feed proteins. This form of rice protein supports balanced nutrition, improved digestibility, and hypoallergenic feed formulations for livestock and companion animals, contributing to animal growth, immune health, and overall wellbeing. Although this segment is smaller than human food and supplements, its growth is supported by demand for sustainable feed ingredients and reduced reliance on animal-derived proteins. Producers like Bioway Organic Group, Prinova Group, and various regional suppliers are extending rice protein use into feed markets, leveraging its nutritional benefits and aligning with sustainability trends in animal nutrition.

Recent Developments

Recent developments in rice protein show strong alignment with plant-based protein demand and sustainability trends. Manufacturers are improving functional ingredients through advanced extraction to boost solubility and taste, enhancing use in sports nutrition, vegan foods, and clean label beverages. Sustainability practices like waste-minimizing production and eco-friendly sourcing are strengthening brand appeal among health- and environment-conscious consumers. Growing market growth is also driven by allergen-free positioning and collaborations with food formulators to expand applications in high-growth segments.

January 2025 : Axiom Foods launched Oryzatein 2.0 rice protein, a white, grit-free, extra low-heavy metal plant protein isolate designed for sensitive applications such as infant nutrition and dairy alternatives, expanding its product portfolio and functionality in plant-based segments.
November 2024 : Burcon NutraScience Corporation entered a strategic alliance with an investor group to acquire a commercial protein production plant in Illinois, ensuring continued production of RIBUS’s rice protein and functional ingredients under a co-packing arrangement and expanding capacity for plant protein ingredients.

Impact of Industry Transitions on the Rice Protein Market

As a core segment of the Packaged & Processed F&B industry, the Rice Protein market develops in line with broader industry shifts. Over recent years, transitions such as Evolution in Health Awareness and Sustainable Production Practices have redefined priorities across the Packaged & Processed F&B sector, influencing how the Rice Protein market evolves in terms of demand, applications and competitive dynamics. These transitions highlight the structural changes shaping long-term growth opportunities.
01

Evolution in Health Awareness

Accelerating health awareness is reshaping the Rice Protein market from a niche vegan ingredient to a mainstream plant-based protein solution with measurable financial upside. Driven by consumer shift toward clean-label, allergen-free and sustainable nutrition, Rice Protein adoption in health supplements, protein bars, and wider product applications is expanding, and this transition alone is projected to contribute an additional $30 million to Rice Protein market growth by 2030. As brands reposition portfolios toward vegan nutrition and sports nutrition, Rice Protein is increasingly specified as a core protein source in new product development, strengthening its role versus other plant-based protein options. This momentum is also influencing pharmaceutical and fitness sectors, where demand for reliable, hypoallergenic vegan protein supports premium pricing and underpins long-term volume growth.
02

Sustainable Production Practices

Sustainable production practices are becoming a defining transition in the rice protein industry, reshaping both manufacturing approaches and downstream value chains. Producers are increasingly adopting energy efficient extraction technologies, water recycling systems, and low chemical processing methods to reduce emissions and operating costs. The use of rice bran and broken rice byproducts as protein sources is also minimizing agricultural waste, directly supporting circular economy models. These transitions positively impact associated industries such as food and beverages, where brands can position rice protein products as clean label and low carbon alternatives, strengthening premium pricing. In animal feed, sustainable sourcing improves traceability and compliance with environmental standards, while in nutraceuticals, ecofriendly production enhances brand credibility among environmentally conscious consumers, supporting long term demand stability.