South Korea Lactose Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Monohydrate, Anhydrous, Galactose, Lactulose, and Tagatose), By Application (Food, Feed, Pharmaceuticals, and Infant), and South Korea Lactose Market Insights, Industry Trend, Forecasts To 2035

South Korea Lactose Market Insights Forecasts to 2035

• The South Korea Lactose Market size is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of around 6.3% from 2025 to 2035
• The South Korea Lactose Market size is Expected to hold a significant Share by 2035

According to a research report published by Spherical Insights & Consulting, The South Korea Lactose Market Size is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2025 to 2035. The market is driven by rising demand for infant formula and growing applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, the expanding food and beverage sector fuels lactose usage as a functional ingredient.

Market Overview

The South Korean lactose market is witnessing steady growth driven mostly by expanding demand from the pharmaceutical and infant nutrition industries. Lactose, a naturally occurring sugar in milk, is used extensively as a filler or stabilizer in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical use. In South Korea, the growing population of elderly and healthcare consciousness has fed a boom in the consumption of functional foods and dietary supplements, again fueling demand for lactose. Infant formula is especially a major consumer of lactose because of its critical function to replicate the chemical composition of milk. The pharmaceutical industry's utilization of lactose as an excipient in tablets and capsules also drives market growth. But with lactose intolerance issues among a segment of the population, there has been renewed pressure for innovation in lactose-free foods. But the overall situation is optimistic, with continued R&D and overseas trade continuing to grow the market size in South Korea's changing health and nutritional landscape.

Report Coverage

This research report categorizes the market for the South Korea lactose market based on various segments and regions and forecasts revenue growth and analyzes trends in each submarket. The report analyses the key growth drivers, opportunities, and challenges influencing the South Korea lactose market. Recent market developments and competitive strategies such as expansion, product launch, and development, partnership, merger, and acquisition have been included to draw the competitive landscape in the market. The report strategically identifies and profiles the key market players and analyses their core competencies in each sub-segment of the South Korea lactose market.

Driving Factors

South Korea lactose market is driven by increasing demand for infant formula where lactose is an essential carbohydrate that can replicate human milk. Demand also grows in pharmaceutical industry as lactose is largely used as an excipient for tablets and capsules. Market growth also gets spurred by the expanding market for dietary supplements and functional food on the back of escalating health consciousness among consumers. South Korea's aging population and focus on nutrition are also driving lactose use in medicine and nutritional products.

Restraining Factors

South Korea's lactose market is constrained by increasing awareness of lactose intolerance and compels purchasers to take lactose-free items. Regulation fees can be higher with regulatory issues and stringent quality requirements for foodstuffs and drugs. Price variability in raw milk across the world and reliance on imports could influence profitability as well as stability of supply. Lastly, market expansion is constrained by competition from sweeteners and extenders.

Market Segmentation

The South Korea Lactose Market share is classified into type and application.

• The monohydrate segment held the largest share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The South Korea lactose market is segmented by type into monohydrate, anhydrous, galactose, lactulose, and tagatose. Among these, the monohydrate segment held the largest share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The growth observed in segments can be ascribed to lactose monohydrate, which serves as a pharmaceutical excipient commonly utilized in the formulation of tablets and capsules.

• The food segment dominated the market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The South Korea lactose market is segmented by application into food, feed, pharmaceuticals, and infant. Among these, the food segment dominated the market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The expansion can be contributed to the increasing need for standardization of dairy foods by the food market. With increasing numbers of individuals taking lactose-containing foods such as milk, cheese, and butter in their diets, the demand for the products increases in the forecast period.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the South Korea lactose market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

Key Companies

• Fonterra Co-operative Group
• Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S
• Kerry Group plc
• FrieslandCampina
• DFE Pharma
• Glanbia PLC
• Saputo Inc
• Armor Proteines
• Others

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at South Korea, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Spherical Insights has segmented the South Korea lactose market based on the below-mentioned segments:

South Korea Lactose Market, By Type

• Monohydrate
• Anhydrous
• Galactose
• Lactulose
• Tagatose

South Korea Lactose Market, By Application

• Food
• Feed
• Pharmaceuticals
• Infant