The wheat bran market is forecasted to rise at a 4.41% CAGR, reaching USD 29.496 billion in 2031 from USD 22.763 billion in 2025.
Wheat bran is an outer hard layer that becomes a byproduct while processing the wheat. Rising knowledge and awareness of fiber-rich food and its associated health benefits are expected to propel the wheat bran market growth. Moreover, the wider application of wheat bran in livestock feed, baking products, the cosmetic industry, and the rising demand for gluten-free products is further expected to bolster the wheat bran market.
Associated Health Benefits of Wheat Bran
There are various health benefits associated with wheat bran. It is a good source of fiber, antioxidants, plant compounds, and minerals. It is a low-calorie product with just 63 calories in half a cup (29 grams) of wheat bran. It reduces digestive symptoms such as bloating, and discomfort. Moreover, it promotes bowel health by increasing gut bacteria as it is rich in prebiotics. Various studies have shown that it reduces the risk of colon cancer in both humans and mice. All these benefits coupled with the increased awareness among humans are contemplated to aid the wheat bran market growth.
Wider Application
The wheat bran is utilized in various industries and the recent research and technological developments have diversified the application of wheat bran. Wheat bran is now used in the cosmetics industry due to its skin-softening and exfoliating property. Various cosmetic products such as Otentika Otentika exfoliating soap bar, and mlis spa remedease containing wheat bran are available in the market. Moreover, wheat bran is used in pharmaceuticals to cure bowel disorders and other major health issues for which there is no proven remedy. The diversified application of wheat bran is contemplated to aid the growth of the wheat bran market.
Growing Demand in Livestock Feed
Wheat bran is included in heavy animal feed to make it light and provide a proper amount of protein and amino acids. Wheat bran is generally fed to horses, cows, sheep, and swine. There are various animal feed products available in the market with fiber-rich wheat bran such as wheat bran animal feed by BS Group, and Garudan Mach wheat bran for poultry and cattle. According to the International Feed Industry Federation, around USD$ 400 billion is generated worldwide by commercial feed manufacturing, and animal protein production will double by 2050. The growing animal feed industry and protein richness in wheat bran is anticipated to bolster the wheat bran market size.
Increasing Demand for Fibre-Rich Products
The increased awareness about the health and benefits of fibre in the diet is expected to boost the wheat bran market demand. Wheat bran is a highly fiber-rich by-product that prevents heart disease and cholesterol levels. The rising heart diseases and global deaths by heart disease are pushing the demand for fiber-rich wheat bran. According to the World Health Organization, 32% of global deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease in 2019. The cases of cardiovascular disease are expected to exceed 23 million by 2030 as per the American Heart Association. Moreover, the improved lifestyle and health consciousness are anticipated to impact positively the wheat bran market size.
Rising Wheat Production
The worldwide production of wheat is rising owing to the higher consumption demands and growing population. Wheat is ranked second in terms of production volume worldwide for instance, in 2020 the global production of wheat was 760 million tonnes with China, India, and Russia leading the list. Moreover, wheat production is expected to see a growth of around 17% by 2030 as per the NASA reports. The increased production of wheat will result in increased availability of wheat bran as it is a byproduct that comes during the processing of wheat thereby propelling the wheat bran market size.
Opportunities in the Wheat Bran Market
Considering the mentioned factors, the wheat bran market is expected to grow throughout the forecast period. The wider application coupled with innovation and research studies in the wheat bran sector provides an opportunity to enter the market with diversified products. The rising wheat production in the coming years coupled with high market demand is anticipated to provide a good opportunity. Moreover, the rising temperature and climate change effect will not harm wheat production much unlike other crops as per the reports of NASA.
Asia-Pacific is the largest market
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to contribute a significant share of the wheat bran market during the forecast period. China and India are the top two countries producing wheat and the consumption of wheat is also higher in this region making it dominant in the wheat bran market. Moreover, the huge livestock population further contributes to the wheat bran market. For instance, India has the highest number of cow population in the world. The improved lifestyle ad health awareness among the people of the region with a great number of people suffering from cardiovascular disease is further expected to drive the wheat bran market in the region.
In May 2023, Kellog Japan entered into a partnership with Kirin Holdings to launch a new product in Kellog’s all-bran portfolio. The new product can be served as a daily meal and contains a mixture of L. lactis strain plasma and fermented dietary fiber arabinoxylan derived from wheat bran.
In January 2023, Puratos launched a new wheat bran ingredient to boost and improve the gut health benefits of bread and the prebiotic benefits of food. The ingredient is launched regarding the new research conducted by the University of Bolzano which reveals that hydrolyzed AXOS fermented by lactic acid increases the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids.
Global Wheat Bran Market is analyzed into the following segments:
By Type
Hard Wheat Bran
Soft Wheat Bran
By Distribution Channel
Online
Offline
Supermarket/Hypermarket
Specialty Stores
By Application
Food & Beverage
Personal Care & Cosmetics
Animal Feed
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
UAE
Israel
Others
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
South Korea
Indonesia
Thailand
Others