Human Milk Bank Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Ownership (Hospital-Based, Non-Profit Organizations, Government, Private Organizations, Others), By End User (Premature Babies, Infants with Gastrointestinal Disorders, Infants with Metabolic Disorders, Others), By Region and Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Human Milk Bank Market, valued at USD 397.10 Million in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 7.10% to reach USD 599.29 Million by 2030. A human milk bank is a specialized service that collects, screens, processes, and distributes pasteurized human breast milk donated by nursing mothers to infants, primarily those who are premature or medically fragile and cannot receive their biological mother's milk. The market's growth is predominantly driven by the increasing prevalence of premature births and other neonatal health conditions that necessitate donor milk as a critical nutritional intervention to reduce risks such as necrotizing enterocolitis. Furthermore, rising awareness among healthcare professionals and parents regarding the immunological and developmental benefits of human milk, alongside supportive governmental and non-profit initiatives promoting donor milk access, significantly propel market expansion. According to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), its network of nonprofit milk banks dispensed a record 11 million ounces of pasteurized donor human milk in 2024, representing a 10% increase from the previous year.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the persistent imbalance between the escalating demand for donor human milk and the available supply, which is frequently exacerbated by difficulties in donor recruitment and retention. This supply-demand disparity, alongside issues like inconsistent regulatory frameworks and infrastructural limitations in various regions, particularly impacts the equitable provision of donor milk.

Key Market Drivers

The global human milk bank market is significantly influenced by the escalating incidence of premature births and other neonatal illnesses. Infants born preterm or with severe medical conditions often require donor human milk as a critical intervention when maternal milk is unavailable, mitigating health risks and supporting development. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, in March 2025, "Increases in Neonatal Intensive Care Admissions in the United States, 2016–2023", the percentage of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in the United States rose to 9.8% in 2023, indicating a substantial population needing specialized nutritional support. Concurrently, increasing awareness of donor human milk's profound benefits among healthcare professionals and parents drives greater adoption. This understanding emphasizes donor milk's immunological and developmental advantages. Consequently, demand for screened and pasteurized donor human milk products has increased. According to a Prolacta Bioscience news release on September 9, 2025, titled "NICU Awareness Month Milestone: 125,000 Preemies Helped by Prolacta Bioscience's 100% Breast Milk-Based Nutrition", their human milk-based fortifiers and formulas have now helped over 125,000 preterm and critically ill infants worldwide, underscoring enhanced utilization of these solutions.

These primary demand-side factors collectively propel market expansion. The establishment and growth of these essential services directly respond to the medical necessity for donor milk and the informed preference for human milk over formula in vulnerable infant populations. This expanding infrastructure is evident worldwide. Over 700 human milk banks globally exist, according to the research article "The global status of human milk banking", published in Maternal & Child Nutrition in February 2024, affirming their vital role in neonatal care.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The persistent imbalance between the escalating demand for donor human milk and its available supply represents a significant impediment to the growth of the Global Human Milk Bank Market. This disparity is frequently exacerbated by ongoing difficulties in recruiting and retaining suitable milk donors. Such supply constraints directly hamper the market’s ability to fully address the critical nutritional needs of premature and medically fragile infants, despite the increasing recognition of human milk's immunological and developmental benefits.

The consistent need for more donors highlights the core challenge in expanding donor milk access. For instance, according to Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas, an HMBANA member, 1,234 donor mothers were approved in 2023. This figure, while significant, underscores the continuous effort required in donor acquisition to meet the expanding demand for pasteurized donor human milk across various healthcare settings. The limited donor pool directly restricts the operational capacity of milk banks to process and distribute sufficient quantities of this essential medical resource, thereby curtailing overall market expansion.

Key Market Trends

Technological advancements in milk processing and safety are significantly reshaping the global human milk bank market by enhancing product quality and operational efficiency. Innovations focus on methods that preserve the nutritional and immunological integrity of donor human milk while ensuring microbiological safety. For example, research published by the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation in August 2024 highlighted that preterm infants may derive more nutritional benefits from human donor milk processed by high pressure, a non-thermal treatment, as it minimally alters the protein profile compared to conventional thermal pasteurization, allowing important milk components to survive digestion intact. These advancements improve the therapeutic value of donor milk, encouraging wider adoption in neonatal care units and driving demand for advanced processing equipment.

The geographical expansion into emerging markets represents another pivotal trend, addressing unmet needs in regions with high infant mortality rates and limited access to donor human milk. This expansion often involves establishing new milk banking facilities and developing local infrastructure to support collection and distribution. For instance, according to a review in MDPI, as of 2025, formal human milk banking in Africa remains limited to eight countries, with South Africa operating over 20 milk banks, underscoring the nascent but growing presence in these vital regions. An IFPRI study in April 2024 demonstrated the impact of such expansion, reporting that a human milk bank and lactation support program in Nairobi, Kenya, led to a 54% increase in the proportion of newborns exclusively fed human milk during their hospital stay. This growth is crucial for making donor human milk accessible to vulnerable infant populations globally.

Segmental Insights

The Hospital-Based segment is experiencing rapid growth in the Global Human Milk Bank Market due to the critical medical necessity of donor human milk for vulnerable infants, particularly premature and critically ill newborns. Medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization endorse pasteurized donor human milk as the optimal nutritional alternative when a mother’s own milk is unavailable, significantly reducing risks like necrotizing enterocolitis and infections. Hospitals benefit from direct access to donors and leverage existing infrastructure and medical expertise, ensuring adherence to stringent quality and safety protocols established by bodies like the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. This integration within established healthcare systems, coupled with increasing awareness and governmental support, drives the segment's expansion.

Regional Insights

North America holds a leading position in the global human milk bank market, primarily driven by its robust healthcare infrastructure and a strong commitment to infant health. The region features advanced medical facilities and a well-developed network of human milk banks, supporting efficient donor milk collection, processing, and distribution. This dominance is further strengthened by a favorable regulatory landscape, exemplified by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), which accredits nonprofit milk banks and establishes stringent safety and quality standards. US milk banks are also regulated by the FDA as food manufacturers, ensuring rigorous oversight. This comprehensive framework, alongside widespread awareness of donor human milk benefits for vulnerable infants, underpins North America's continued market leadership.

Recent Developments

• In February 2025, Prolacta Bioscience received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Surgifort® human milk fortifier. This product is the first human milk-based nutritional fortifier specifically indicated for term infants, defined as those over 37 weeks gestational age, who are recovering from corrective surgery for gastroschisis. Surgifort fortifier is designed to provide optimal protein and calorie intake, extending the benefits of human milk-based nutrition beyond premature infants to this vulnerable surgical population. The approval marks a significant advancement in specialized infant nutrition.

• In January 2025, Medela established a strategic partnership with the Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (Milk Bank WGL) in the United States. Concurrently, Medela launched the new Medela Human Milk Research Lab, a dedicated facility designed to advance research, testing, and innovation in human milk science. This collaboration focuses on addressing existing knowledge gaps regarding the composition of human donor milk, its antibodies, and potential fortification strategies, aiming to improve access to life-saving donor human milk for hospitals and families.

• In August 2024, Synaura Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, achieved a significant milestone by receiving Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) certification from the U.S. FDA for its 2'-FL (2'-Fucosyllactose) human milk oligosaccharide. This made Synaura the first Chinese HMO company to obtain such approval. This certification for a key HMO ingredient underscores advancements in the development and industrialization of human milk components for nutritional products.

• In June 2024, companies such as Chr. Hansen, Inbiose, and BASF were noted for scaling advanced precision fermentation platforms, building on a breakthrough demonstrating that transgenic plants could be utilized for producing human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). This innovation offers a sustainable and cost-effective method for large-scale HMO production. Such advancements in biosynthetic HMOs are crucial for enhancing infant nutrition products by replicating beneficial components naturally found in human milk.

Key Market Players

• Prolacta Bioscience, Inc.
• Milk Matters Milk Bank (Mowbray Maternity Hospital)
• KK Human Milk Bank
• Perron Rotary Express Milk Bank (PREM Bank)
• Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital
• Mothers Milk Bank Pty Ltd
• Mercy Health Breastmilk Bank
• Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) Milk bank
• Yashoda Human Milk Bank
• Amravati by Rotary Club Of Amravati Midtown

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Human Milk Bank Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Human Milk Bank Market, By Ownership:

o   Hospital-Based

o   Non-Profit Organizations

o   Government

o   Private Organizations

o   Others

• Human Milk Bank Market, By End User:

o   Premature Babies

o   Infants with Gastrointestinal Disorders

o   Infants with Metabolic Disorders

o   Others

• Human Milk Bank Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Human Milk Bank Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Human Milk Bank Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Global Human Milk Bank Market is an upcoming report to be released soon. If you wish an early delivery of this report or want to confirm the date of release, please contact us at [email protected]