Protein Prices Are On The Rise

COPENHAGEN, DenmarkProtein prices overall are rising as the market gets tighter, according to CILNorth.

The international powder markets are continuing to rise and milk proteins, the biggest of the powder proteins, have the main effect on global protein prices. The market for milk proteins remains strong and is rising. Currently, the price for Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC 80) is higher than 7.00/kg (U.S. $9.27/kg) and is expected to further increase due to demand in Asia.

Increases in price, along with the threat of a lack of material in the future, is pushing large milk protein users in sports and infant nutrition to look for other options to replace preferred proteins. As a result, the market is seeing an increased use of vegetable proteins in the sports nutrition segments. Suppliers of vegetable proteins are working to overcome certain organoleptic and technical challenges of such proteins and companies are increasingly incorporating vegetable proteins into new consumer products effectively. The price of pea protein concentrate has increase 30% in the last months, reaching prices above 5.00/kg (U.S. $6.62). This rise is price is mainly due to the lack of material of European source. The price for rice protein has increased as well due to increased demand; infant food producers are even considering rice protein as a formulation possibility. The price of rice protein concentrates is starting at 5.50/kg (U.S. $7.28). The overall development has also impacted soy protein, which may be next to follow this trend.