The rice milk market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.04% during the forecast period to reach a market size of US$731.197 million by 2027, increasing from US$274.162 million in 2020. Rice milk is grain milk made by processing rice and is recommended for people who are lactose intolerant and vegan.

The Rice milk market is particularly targeted toward the lactose-free population. It is one of the best alternatives to dairy milk and contains most carbohydrates compared to almond and soy milk which is considered one of the key drivers for the growth of the market during the forecast period. In addition, increasing dairy alternative food demand and raising awareness of the benefits of rice milk are expected to drive the global rice milk market. However, the availability of competitive products like almond and coconut milk and low market penetration of the product may result in restraint for the rice milk market in the coming years. The North American region holds a significant market share owing to the presence of a high percentage of lactose intolerant population in the region coupled with the emerging trend of the preferences for vegan food.

Market Drivers

• Growing vegan and lactose-free population
• Expanding non-dairy milk industry

Market Restraints

• High cost involved
• Lack of product awareness
• Availability of substitutes

Owing to the profusion of gastronomic pursuits around the world that has resulted in food and beverage innovation, the rice milk market is poised to witness exponential growth. Further, increasing health concerns have resulted in marked shifts in dietary patterns among global consumers. They are moving away from milk derived from animals and are increasingly orienting themselves toward plant-based milk products, which encompasses rice milk among others. Additionally, the consumers of the APAC region are more lactose intolerant than in other parts. This too has necessitated the adoption of rice milk, whether in powder or liquid form, consumed directly or indirectly, as a healthy alternative to dairy-based products.

Another factor that would lead to an uptick in the rice milk market is the growing environmental concern pertaining to bovine milk production.  The estimated global variation pertaining to 1 liter of milk production with regards to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is between 2 to 4 kgs of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq). With regards to terrestrial acidification, 1 liter of milk production amounts to more than 30 grams of sulfur dioxide equivalents (g SO2eq) and leads to eutrophication to the tune of 20 grams of phosphate (g SO2eq). Besides the health concerns, consumers today are aware of the environmental impact of dairy products and are proactively adopting plant-based alternatives to milk like rice milk. Apart from actively communicating environmental credentials, players in the market are increasingly partaking in the plant-based foods sector.

Moreover, the abundance of raw materials in the APAC region is estimated to further propel the growth of the market. Further, due to the emerging preference for functional beverages, a greater number of players are emerging as well as diversifying into the plant-based milk category. This would lead to significant growth in the rice milk market. The established and ever-expanding distribution networks are projected to further catalyze the growth of the rice milk market.

The rice milk market faces competition from a growing number of substitutes since plant-based alternatives have become a staple in every household across several markets and are not restricted to the diets of vegans, only. Besides, rice milk there appears to be a profusion of other plan-based products. For example, the market share of almond milk in the US had been 64%. In the UK, sales of almond milk were to the tune of US$106.9 million, the highest among all categories of plant-based products. Further, with regards to presence across all other markets, oat milk surpasses all other plant-based milk. In the UK, oat milk sales shot up by 66,7% between 2016 and 2017. Moreover, consumers’ aspirations for variety, novelty, and the willingness to experiment are a few key reasons that are propelling the emergence of plant-based drinks other than rice milk. In 2019, Chobani, the widely recognized American yogurt brand announced that it would start selling oat-based drinks. Other players in the oat milk segment are Danone’s Silk, Oatly and Planet Oat. As a response to the growth of 11.5%, Sainsbury’s doubled its range of non-dairy milk across 300 stores in the UK. Furthermore, the plant-based market is not saturated, allowing for more alternatives to rice milk. After 92 years in the dairy industry, Elmhurst switched to producing a variety of plant-based milk from almonds, cashew, hazelnut, oat, and walnut. Mighty plant-based milk raised £8 million in new capital in December 2021 as the fast-growing UK alt dairy brand looks to invest in international expansion. Mighty has also unveiled its new cutting-edge fermentation technology, which it hopes will help it lead the next generation of plant-based milk. NotCo raised $85 million in its recent Series C investment round in 2020.

Available Rice Milk Substitutes

The growing popularity of vegan diets is a significant factor in the rapid adoption of non-dairy milk alternatives. This presents a significant opportunity for rice milk even beyond the forecast periods. Rice milk is one such option. Consumers are increasingly shifting away from bovine milk and toward rice milk, owing to milk protein allergies, lactose intolerance, cultural influences, and so on. One out of every two European and American consumers prefers to consume plant-based milk separately or alongside cow's milk, whereas in LATAM and APAC, two-thirds of total consumers share the aforementioned preference. This has enabled beverage processors and marketers to capitalize on the growing consumer preference for rice milk and increase their portfolio of lactose-free milk brands. Further, countries, where consumers are mostly lactose-tolerant, are turning towards rice milk, as well. 

On the basis of source, the rice milk market has been segmented into organic and inorganic. On the basis of form, the segment has been divided into powdered rice milk and liquid rice milk. All two forms are projected to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to their increasing demand in the food and beverage sector. On the basis of application, the market has been divided into food and bakery & confectionery, beverages, snacks, and others.

The major players profiled in the Rice milk market are Danone (Alpro), Vitasoy Australia Products Pty Ltd, Fine Japan Co. Ltd, The Bridge bio, Pacific Foods, SunOpta, Campbell, The Hain Celestial Group, Inc, and Pureharvest Pty Ltd among others.

Recent developments and expansion

• Nestlé introduced a plant-based KitKat V made with rice milk in February 2021. KitKat V is vegan and made with responsibly sourced cocoa. This innovation aided the company in targeting the vegan sector, and as of 2022, they are looking to launch the product in additional countries.
• Crave, a vegan brand launched a new rice milk chocolate series in February 2021. Its core mission is to serve flavorful food that "puts the funk in free from," and its bar series has grown in response to industry growth
• In August 2019, Vinamilk, a popular dairy company based in Vietnam, launched a plant-based drink with rice as the main ingredient. The new Vinamilk Zori is a roasted rice milk with less sugar that contains 49% rice extract, water, sugar, and other ingredients. Vinamilk Zori contains less sugar and less fat. The drink is said to be beneficial to the body and skin.

Covid-19 impact on Rice Milk Market:

The spread of COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the global economy. The majority of trade channels were harmed as a result of government-imposed strict regulations and various lockdowns imposed across nations. During the pandemic, however, the food and beverage industry has seen an increase in demand for nutritional food products with longer shelf lives. As a result of its use in a variety of nutritional beverages and products, COVID-19's impact on the global rice milk market was moderate.

Rice Milk Market Scope:

Segmentation

The Rice milk market has been analyzed through the following segments:

• By Source
  • Organic
  • Conventional
• By Form
  • Powder rice milk
  • Fluid rice milk
• By Application
  • Beverages
  • Bakery & Confectionery
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • United Kingdom
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • India
    • Others