PUBLISHER: Renub Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1897374
PUBLISHER: Renub Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1897374
Global Rice Milk Market Size & Forecast 2025-2033
Global Rice Milk Market is expected to grow from US$ 812.03 million in 2025 to US$ 1,506.35 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.03% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. Rising demand for plant-based alternatives and increasing health consciousness among consumers are expected to be the major reasons for growth in this market during the forecasted period.
Outlook for the Global Rice Milk Market
Rice milk is a plant-based liquid preparation produced by milling rice in water. Very often, it has a sweet and mild flavor that most consumers like. It is consumed mostly by lactose-intolerant people, vegans, and those allergic to dairy milk. Rice milk is prepared by mixing cooked rice with water and straining the solid pieces. Since it is prepared from rice, rice milk is inherently free from lactose, soy, and nuts. This is why it is a versatile option for a number of people with specific diet requirements.
It has gained a lot of popularity in recent years globally, especially in areas with relatively low dairy consumption or high adoption of plant-based diets. In countries such as the United States and Canada, rice milk has secured its place within the grocery stores alongside soy, almond, and oat milk. Lighter in texture, it works well in smoothies, coffee drinks, and cereals, and its somewhat sweet taste often eliminates the need for added sugars in recipes.
Growth Driver in the Global Rice Milk Market
Increasing Demand for Plant-Based and Dairy-Free Alternatives
The main growth drivers for rice milk are plant-based diets and dairy-free lifestyles. Overall, there is an increasing demand for lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and vegan-friendly products due to health concerns, ethical reasons, or environmental issues. Rice milk is generally perceived as a mild-tasting and hypoallergenic option for those allergic to cow's milk, intolerant to soy, or allergic to nuts. Interest in flexitarian and vegan eating is on the rise across developed and emerging markets, making rice milk an easy product for consumers to integrate into their routines in coffee, cereal, baking, or smoothies. Foodservice and retail proliferation-whereby cafes make dairy-alternative options available while supermarkets fill their aisles with a number of plant milk SKUs-only increase exposure and trial rates. According to findings from the Plant Based Foods Association, the plant-based milk category grew by 27% in 2023, with rice milk being a significant contributor. Public initiatives towards plant-based diets-for example, the "Meatless Monday" campaign-have also played their role in accelerating demand.
Perceived Health Benefits and Clean-Label Appeal
Rice milk is in line with the clean-label trend due to its simple ingredient profile, mainly water and rice. Many buyers view rice milk as a "natural," easy-to-digest beverage versus more processed options. Food makers use fortification-calcium, vitamin D, and B12-to fill nutritional gaps and position fortified rice milk as a functional beverage for families, seniors, and health-conscious shoppers. The lack of common allergens (milk, soy, nuts) positions the ingredient for school, hospital, and food service applications where the management of allergens is paramount. Low levels of saturated fat also appeal to cardiovascular health-conscious shoppers. Messaging around minimal processing, non-GMO sourcing, and organic certification helps build trust with ingredient-aware shoppers. OGGS, a U.K.-based vegan bakery, swapped soy and oat milk for rice milk in its cupcake range back in 2023. The company aimed to provide an allergen-friendly boost and an improvement in texture. According to the bakery, this resulted in a sales jump of about 15% in only six months.
Convenience, Shelf-Stability, and Emerging Market Penetration
Rice milk gains from its various formats: UHT cartons, refrigerated ready-to-drink bottles, and shelf-stable powdered forms, which make it highly adaptable to a range of retail infrastructures and climates. In particular, powdered rice milk enables long shelf life and lower shipping costs, thereby facilitating entry into regions with limited cold-chain logistics. Shelf-stable and single-serve packaging suits on-the-go lifestyles and institutional procurement. In many emerging markets, rising urbanization and supermarket expansion introduce plant-based categories to new consumer segments; the grain origin of rice milk eases cultural acceptance where rice is already a dietary staple. Cost-competitive production using commodity rice varieties also supports price-sensitive channels.
Challenge in the Global Rice Milk Market
Nutritional Perception and Comparative Protein Gap
The main challenge with rice milk is some perceived and actual nutritional deficiencies relative to cow's milk and some other plant alternatives. Rice milk is naturally low in protein and some micronutrients unless fortified; consumer comparisons of nutrition labels generally find it to be low in protein compared to soy or dairy, which holds back adoption among families looking for nutritious options. While fortification improves some of the deficiencies, there are skeptical questions about bioavailability and processing of added nutrients. Marketing fortified rice milk requires sensitive messaging to avoid appearing to be "watered down" or less nutritious. For parents and institutional buyers concerned with satiety driven by protein and child growth, rice milk would probably not be a first choice without supplementary dietary planning.
Flavor, Texture, and Culinary Limitations
The naturally thin mouthfeel and mildly sweet, grain-forward flavor of rice milk create some sensory limits compared to creamier plant milks, such as oat or nut milks. In applications where richness is a texture requirement-full-fat coffee drinks, creamy sauces, or custards, for example-rice milk most often requires formulation tweaks (thickeners, emulsifiers) to perform equivalently. Baristas and foodservice operators may also favor other plant milks that can be more reliably coaxed to froth or foam. Taste adaptation is also region-specific: in markets with limited exposure to rice as a milk base, an odd flavor may be perceived compared to dairy. Reformulation for improved texture can add cost and move the product away from the clean label simplicity, setting up a performance versus natural positioning trade-off.
Powder Rice Milk Market
Powdered rice milk offers strong advantages for distribution, storage, and industrial usage. The dehydrated format reduces volume and weight for shipping by as much as fivefold, lowering cold-chain dependence and increasing shelf life enormously; these benefits make powdered rice milk appealing to food manufacturers, emergency food programs, and airlines. The ability to reconstitute in different liquid ratios allows the customization of sweetness and viscosity in culinary uses from bakery to beverages. It also allows powder forms to be incorporated into powdered blends-instant breakfast mixes or fortified emergency rations-and reduce waste in settings with variable demand. For brands targeting emerging markets or regions with logistic constraints, powdered rice milk provides a cost-efficient entry point into those markets.
Organic Rice Milk Market
Organic rice milk captures the premium, health-oriented consumer segment by combining plant-based benefits with organic certification and sustainable sourcing. This generation of buyers seeking non-GMO, pesticide-free products perceives organic rice milk as better for infants, children, and wellness-oriented adults. Brand storytelling around regenerative agriculture, water stewardship in rice cultivation, and fair-trade practices can command price premiums and build loyalty among environmentally conscious shoppers. Retail demand often concentrates in natural-food stores, premium supermarkets, and health-food e-commerce. Organic rice milk will also go well with other organic product lines, such as cereals and snacks, enabling cross-promotional merchandising.
Conventional Rice Milk Market
Traditional, or non-organic, rice milk is the volume-driven backbone of the global rice milk market. The price-sensitive consumer and mainstream retail channels for which price and shelf-stability are paramount will be targeted. Commodity white or brown rice used in conventional products may be lightly fortified to meet regulatory standards. Mass retailers and private-label producers can enjoy economies of scale by offering cost-competitive SKUs and increase trial and everyday usage among broader populations. Conventional rice milk would also be a suitable format for foodservice contracts and private-label product inclusion in institutional procurement. Conversely, this would have to compete on price with other low-cost plant milks, rice versus soy or UHT dairy, and ensure consistent flavor and microbiological quality across large production runs.
Food and Beverages Rice Milk Market
Rice milk is an ingredient in food and beverages, from retail cartons to food manufacturing and food service. Its neutral flavor profile allows rice milk to be used in ready-to-drink beverages, flavored milk drinks, ice cream, confectionery fillings, and bakery mixes where lactose-free or vegan claims are desired. Beverage formulators use rice milk for smoothies, protein shakes (often blended with plant proteins), and coffee-house menu items (with barista blends). Food manufacturers appreciate the allergen-free label that allows them to sell inclusive products to schools, hospitals, and export markets where rigid allergen controls may exist. Stability in heat-processing and compatibility with UHT manufacturing makes rice milk suitable for long-life beverages and shelf-stable products. The challenge for formulators is guaranteeing texture, emulsification, and mouthfeel; enzymatic treatments and hydrocolloid systems are sometimes used to meet sensory requirements.
Personal Care Rice Milk Market
Rice milk and rice-derived extracts are increasingly used in personal care and cosmetics for their mildness and perceived skin benefits. Rice milk's soothing and hydrating properties are used in formulations for lotions, baby care, facial cleansers, and shampoos destined for consumers with sensitive skin. Rich in antioxidants and emulsifying components, rice extracts can also function as natural thickeners and emollients in "clean beauty" formulations. Brands play off the cultural associations of rice milk-particularly in Asian beauty traditions-to promote brightening, moisturizing, and anti-oxidative benefits. Rice milk gives personal care manufacturers an alternative ingredient to synthetic polymers or heavy silicones, thereby supporting natural and eco-friendly claims.
Pharmaceuticals Rice Milk Market
In addition, rice milk is used as an excipient or vehicle in liquid oral preparations in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, especially in cases where allergens must be avoided. Its neutral flavor and hypoallergenic qualities make it useful for pediatric suspensions, nutritional supplements, and liquid vitamin delivery systems designed for patients allergic to dairy or soy. Rice starch and hydrolysates derived from rice also function as excipients, binders, and carriers in tablet and capsule formulations, offering clean-label alternatives to some synthetic fillers. Besides, fortified rice milk can be applied in medical nutrition for malnutrition programs or as part of elderly care nutrition due to its digestibility.
United States Rice Milk Market
In the U.S., rice milk enjoys a niche in the broader plant-based milk market, which is supported by a high level of food allergy awareness and large natural food retail channels. Historically, demand has been driven by dairy intolerance, parents of young children with allergies, and vegans. The U.S. market favors innovation such as barista blends, fortified varieties, and flavored SKUs that are selling via mainstream supermarkets and specialty health stores. Foodservice adoption, like multiple plant-milks offered in a cafe, helps drive visibility and trial. But oat and almond milks, which often provide a creamier texture or perceived sustainability advantages, pressure rice milk manufacturers to innovate on both functionality and nutrition, including protein-enhanced blends. In 2025, Califia Farms launched a new line of flavored rice milk featuring vanilla and chocolate variants to appeal to the more mainstream consumer. These new flavors have positioned themselves to appeal to a more mainstream audience looking for a richer, indulgent plant-based milk experience. Califia Farms, an already popular dairy-free beverage brand, has been expanding its product lines into new areas within beverage consumption.
United Kingdom Rice Milk Market
In the UK, rice milk finds traction among health-conscious shoppers and those who need dairy alternatives for allergy or lifestyle reasons. Large supermarket multiples and well-established natural-product retailers carry a range of rice milk SKUs - organic, flavored, fortified, and powdered. British consumers are interested in fortified plant milks for calcium and vitamin D, nutrients that feature prominently in public health messaging, so there is a clear positioning opportunity for fortified rice milk. Household purchases are also influenced by the foodservice industry, with the cafe and foodservice sector's adoption of plant-based milks. Sept 2025, Ecotone has entered the dairy-alternative drinks sector with its launch of two oat milk products under its Kallo brand in the UK.
China Rice Milk Market
China's rice-dominant culinary culture gives rice milk an interesting cultural fit: consumers are familiar with rice-based beverages, which can ease acceptance of rice milk products. Urban consumers, especially younger demographics, are increasingly open to plant-based categories driven by health, weight management, and curiosity about international food trends. Rice milk can be positioned as a modern iteration of traditional rice drinks, bridging heritage with convenience. Domestic manufacturers may have advantages in sourcing and cost control, while powdered formats offer distribution benefits across rural and urban areas. September 15, 2023, Luckin, Cotti has now teamed up with Wuchang Rice to create an original Rice Milk Latte. As a plant milk made from brown rice, rice milk is a good choice for people with lactose intolerance, spurring Cotti to market the coffee as "healing".
Brazil Rice Milk Market
The main value propositions of rice milk in Brazil would be allergy-friendly formulation and availability where cow's milk is less desired. Brazilian consumers show growing interest in plant-based diets for health and environmental reasons, creating opportunities for rice milk in urban centers. Tropical climate and local culinary preferences may favor lighter beverages, in good correspondence with the mild profile of rice milk. Powdered rice milk holds the potential for increased affordability and wider distribution to regions with limited refrigeration. Moreover, there is a strong agricultural base in Brazil that presents the ability to build domestic rice-to-milk value chains, reducing dependency on imports.
Saudi Arabia Rice Milk Market
In Saudi Arabia, rice milk may appeal for many reasons: dietary preferences motivated by religious and cultural contexts, a rise in health awareness, and the need for allergy-safe alternatives. Rice milk's lack of animal rennet or alcohol-based treatment processes meets the halal-considerate consumption requirements when appropriately certified. The large population of expatriates in the Gulf and growing interest in international dietary trends also allow rice milk to find a niche in supermarkets and upscale health-food outlets. Shelf-stable and powdered formats are particularly attractive given the hot climate and logistics considerations. Fortified rice milk can help with micronutrient needs in regional diets.
Market Segmentations
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North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East & Africa
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