Wheat Bran Market Size & Growth [2033]

Wheat Bran Market Overview

The Wheat Bran Market size was valued at USD 658.53 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 1063.5 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.47% from 2025 to 2033.

The global wheat bran market saw production of approximately 122 million tonnes in 2024, nearly matching the 123 million tonnes recorded in 2022, reflecting a persistent plateau since 2023. China led the world with 22 million tonnes—18 percent of total output—followed by India at 9.1 million tonnes (7.5 percent) and the United States with 7.8 million tonnes (6.4 percent). In 2024, wheat bran imports totaled about 8.7 million tonnes, marking a 0.5 percent decline from 2023, halting three consecutive years of growth. Turkey’s per‑capita consumption climbed by an average of 4.2 percent per year between 2013 and 2024.

Conversely, Russia saw a 1.6 percent per‑year decline, while the U.S. dropped by 0.1 percent annually. In 2023, wheat production totaled nearly 785 million tonnes, with China, India, and Russia accounting for 41 percent of output, and the U.S. ranking fourth. The International Grains Council placed global wheat at 789 million tonnes in 2023–24. These figures highlight the scale, regional concentration, and stabilizing consumption patterns in the global wheat bran market.

Key Findings

Driver: Rising per‑capita dietary fiber consumption in developing markets.

Top Country/Region: China leads with 22 million tonnes of wheat bran production.

Top Segment: Food‑grade wheat bran dominated with 49.64 percent of total bran usage in 2022.

Wheat Bran Market Trends

The wheat bran market has evolved with processing innovations and shifting consumer demand. In 2022, food-grade wheat bran comprised nearly 49.64 percent of total bran usage, driven by bakery and cereal incorporation. That same year, the food and beverage segment held approximately 48.01 percent of bran applications, reinforcing fiber’s central role in health‑focused foods. Technological advances have enabled the production of bran powders, flakes, and granules—types that together constituted an estimated USD 0.75 billion of the bran products market in 2024, with bran powder alone valued at USD 0.30 billion and flakes at USD 0.15 billion. In animal feed, feed‑grade bran usage surged, with poultry and swine sectors consuming significant volumes. Global bran imports reached 8.7 million tonnes in 2024, despite a 0.5 percent drop from the prior year, driven by quality and pricing fluctuations. The shift toward plant-based diets encouraged bakery producers to incorporate fiber-rich bran: in 2022 alone, North American bakeries reportedly added bran to over 60 percent of new functional‑food lines.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s per‑capita wheat bran intake rose at 4.2 percent annually between 2013 and 2024, compared with a 1.6 percent decline in Russia and 0.1 percent in the U.S., reflecting divergent regional trends. Innovations in arabinoxylan extraction have boosted value‐added use of wheat bran, which accumulates approximately 117 million tonnes annually. With Asia-Pacific accounting for 53.31 percent of the market share in 2020 (USD 9.90 billion market value that year), regional demand remains strong. Meanwhile, the U.S. bran‑based food and feed sectors reached USD 1.73 billion in 2020 market value. These patterns suggest a mature yet evolving market shaped by fiber awareness, extraction technologies, and tailored applications in food and feed sectors.

Wheat Bran Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Increasing demand for dietary fiber in processed foods

The global wheat bran market benefits from consumers seeking high-fiber diets, with daily fiber intake awareness increasing. For example, in 2022, food-grade bran represented nearly 49.64 percent of total bran usage across sectors. Regionally, Asia-Pacific held 53.31 percent of the market share in 2020, with USD 9.90 billion in market value attributed to fiber-enriched products. Turkey’s annual per‑capita consumption of wheat bran rose by 4.2 percent from 2013 to 2024. Within bakeries, food manufacturers integrated bran into over 60 percent of new product introductions in North America during 2022, reinforcing growth driven by fiber demand.

RESTRAINT

Fluctuating wheat production and pricing volatility

Global wheat bran supply depends on stable wheat production. From 2021–22 to 2023–24, wheat production dipped from 275.1 million tonnes to 269.2 million tonnes, with a further estimated 263.6 million tonnes in 2024–25. Price volatility followed, with exports from Russia swinging between 34 000 and 55 500 thousand tonnes per trade year. Such instability can restrict mills’ ability to maintain consistent bran volumes. Moreover, wheat bran imports fell from peaks to 8.7 million tonnes in 2024, signaling sensitivity to production and price disturbances.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion into nutraceuticals and cosmetics

Wheat bran’s nutritional properties create promising opportunities in dietary supplements and cosmetics. In 2024, wheat bran products across powders, flakes, granules, and oil contributed USD 0.75 billion to product market value, with powder accounting for USD 0.30 billion. Global bran product imports and usage expanded in health and wellness categories. Markets in North America and Asia-Pacific showed highest uptake, valued respectively at USD 0.20 billion and USD 0.25 billion for bran products in 2024. These segments remain under-exploited and primed for innovation.

CHALLENGE

Regulatory inconsistencies across regions

Diverging food and feed regulations pose challenges. In animal feed, standards differ: EU, U.S., and China mandate maximum fiber or impurity levels. In 2024, 8.7 million tonnes of bran were traded, but market access varied: some exporters faced 13.3 percent drop in import volumes due to regulatory compliance issues. Moreover, pharmaceutical-grade bran requires testing—processes adding time and cost—which can inhibit entry into supplement and therapeutic markets.

Wheat Bran Market Segmentation

The wheat bran market is segmented by type—Organic Wheat Bran and Conventional Wheat Bran—and by application: Food & Beverages, Animal Feed, Bakery, Dietary Supplements, and Cosmetics. In 2022, food-grade bran represented 49.64 percent of total bran usage; feed-grade closely followed. Bran powders, flakes, granules, and oil contributed a combined USD 0.75 billion market value in 2024, while animal feed and bakery sectors consumed major volumes. This segmentation enables diverse value chains and targeted market growth strategies based on consumer behavior and regulatory frameworks.

By Type

Organic Wheat Bran: Global production of rough 122 million tonnes yearly includes an estimated 15 percent organic share. At about 18.3 million tonnes organic bran annually, this segment reflects increasing consumer demand in North America and Europe, where organic grocery sales grew over 10 percent in 2023. Organic bran commands a premium price—20–30 percent over conventional—while volumes rose 5 percent YOY in certified markets.
Conventional Wheat Bran: Making up ~85 percent of the production base—approximately 103.7 million tonnes in 2024—conventional bran remains dominant. The mainstream feed, industrial milling, and bakery sectors primarily use this variant. Its widespread availability, lower cost, and alignment with large-scale animal feed and bulk baking needs ensure that conventional bran retains leading volume share.

By Application

Food & Beverages: In 2022, food-grade bran constituted 49.64 percent of usage, with nearly 48.01 percent applied in bakery and cereal production. Over 60 percent of new bakery products in North America that year included bran. In APAC, in 2020, bran in food applications was valued at USD 9.90 billion across cereals and health‑food lines.
Animal Feed: Feed-grade wheat bran remains vital, especially in poultry and swine diets. Global volumes in feed-grade bran likely account for about 35 percent of total bran output. Imported quantities of 8.7 million tonnes in 2024 supported feed mills in regions like APAC and Latin America, though imports dipped 0.5 percent YOY.
Bakery: Bran used in baked goods comprised ~48 percent of food applications in 2022. North American and European bakeries added bran to more than 60 percent of functional‑food product launches in 2022, indicating strong uptake.
Dietary Supplements: Bran’s arabinoxylan fiber finds use in supplements. In 2024, wheat bran products in nutraceuticals contributed around USD 0.05 billion–USD 0.10 billion, with growing R&D supporting new forms like encapsulated powders.
Cosmetics: Wheat bran oil segment had a market value of USD 0.10 billion in 2024. With minimal current penetration in cosmetic applications, this subsegment is small but rising as brands explore natural antioxidant ingredients.

Wheat Bran Market Regional Outlook

Global performance shows Asia-Pacific dominance in both production and consumption. North America and Europe exhibit mature, stable demand with momentum in functional foods and supplements. Middle East & Africa trails in both production and uptake but reveals emerging potential, supported by rising health awareness and imports.

North America

In 2020, wheat bran applications in the U.S. reached USD 1.73 billion in food and feed uses. Bakers introduced bran to over 60 percent of new functional‑food lines in 2022. Despite a slight 0.1 percent annual decline in per‑capita consumption, U.S. feed imports remained healthy, supporting feed-grade demand. Overall bran volumes processed by North American mills stayed stable around 7 million tonnes in 2021–2023.

Europe

produced approximately 135 million tonnes of wheat in 2023 and 2024, with wheat bran accounting for roughly 10 percent of milling output—13.5 million tonnes annually. Food-grade bran’s share stood at nearly 49.64 percent in 2022. Bakery products with added bran made up over 55 percent of new launches in major EU markets. Germany, France, and UK accounted for 60 percent of bran consumption in the EU.

Asia-Pacific

produced over 117.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2024 (India: 117.5 Mt; China: 142 Mt). In 2020, APAC held 53.31 percent of total wheat bran market share, valued at USD 9.90 billion. Imports of 8.7 million tonnes in 2024 supported feed and food sectors. Turkey’s 4.2 percent annual per‑capita consumption increase highlights regional growth. China’s 22 million‑tonne output drives both domestic expansion and export activity.

Middle East & Africa

wheat output totaled 263 million tonnes in 2024–25 across all cereals; wheat bran represents an estimated 10 percent conversion rate, or ~26 million tonnes. Imports of 8.7 million tonnes reflect MEA participation in global trade. While fiber-rich food development lags behind other regions, governmental health initiatives are prompting slow increases in bran application in bakery and supplement sectors.

List of Top Wheat Bran Companies

Star of the West Milling (USA)
Hindustan Animal Feeds (India)
Astra Alliance (USA)
Wilmar International (Singapore)
Siemer Milling Company (USA)
Jordans (UK)
Feedlance (USA)
Vai Ghai Agro Products Limited (India)

Star of the West Milling (USA) – Produces over 1.2 million tonnes of bran annually, with 18 percent market share in North American milling output.

Hindustan Animal Feeds (India) – Processes approximately 0.8 million tonnes of wheat bran yearly, handling nearly 9 percent of India’s bran production.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment in wheat bran supply chains is centered on processing capacity, value-added products, and emerging regional infrastructure. In North America, major investments exceed USD 100 million annually to upgrade mills, boosting bran extraction yields from 10 percent to 12 percent—equating to an additional 200 000 tonnes of bran from the current 7 million‑tonne output. In Asia-Pacific, two new bran‑dedicated plants opened in 2024: one near Delhi processing 200 000 tpa and one in Shanghai processing 250 000 tpa. These investments are designed to meet expanding demand, with local per‑capita consumption rising 4.2 percent annually in Turkey as an indicator for broader regional uptake. Investors show heightened interest in organic bran facilities: premium organic bran now sells at 20–30 percent above conventional rates, and global organic supply (≈18.3 million tonnes) attracts sustainable‑investment capital. Joint ventures—such as mills in India co‑building value chains with feed and dairy firms—are reacting to domestic feed‑grade demand; India’s bran production is estimated at 9.1 million tonnes, with approximately 35 percent used in animal feed.

North American firms are expanding R&D funding for nutraceutical uses, tapping into wheat bran’s arabinoxylan fiber; 2024 saw USD 20 million allocated toward extraction‑technology development. Cosmetic applications are also drawing investment: wheat bran oil revenue in 2024 at USD 0.10 billion signals growing interest in natural-actives sectors. Trade‑logistics investment occurs within Europe—schemes value over EUR 30 million in bulk bran transport systems aimed at standardizing feed‑grade export quality. However, market resilience is tempered by regulatory, environmental, and pricing pressures. Fluctuating global wheat output—from 275.1 Mt in 2021–22 to 263.6 Mt in 2024–25—raises raw‑material risk for investors. Feed‑grade tradability is affected by varying import standards, as evidenced by an 8.7 Mt import volume in 2024 that dropped 0.5 percent amid stricter controls. Organic certification costs and compliance add 15 percent to processing expenses. Still, with Asia‑Pacific holding 53.31 percent market share in 2020, and supplemented by ongoing bakery and dietary‑supplement routes, investment yields remain viable. Investors may focus on capacity expansions, processing innovation (e.g., arabinoxylan extraction), and regional market integration to capitalize on steady production baselines and growing preference for fiber-rich ingredients.

New Product Development

In 2024, manufacturers accelerated development across bran powder, flakes, granules, and oil segments. Bran powder led with USD 0.30 billion in market value, followed by flakes at USD 0.15 billion and granules at USD 0.20 billion. This portfolio expansion reflects formulation versatility—from mixable supplement powders to bakery‑grade bran inclusions. R&D investments totaling over USD 25 million funded high‑purity arabinoxylan extraction, with 2024 output hitting ~5 000 tonnes of isolated fiber. Innovations included encapsulated bran oil capsules—yielding USD 0.02 billion in supplement sales—and spray‑dried bran oil for skincare, which contributed an additional USD 0.01 billion to cosmetics channels. In functional foods, bran blends featuring prebiotic blends and vitamin fortification entered over 120 new products globally in 2023–24, accounting for 15 percent of new launch growth in bakery and cereal aisles. Pilot production trials in North America processed 12 percent moisture‑controlled bran to improve shelf life. European food processors implemented enzymatic treatments to reduce phytic acid by 30 percent, enhancing mineral bioavailability in bran‑enriched breads.

Animal feed producers launched pelleted feed blocks containing 10–15 percent bran, tested across 50 commercial poultry farms in India—yielding a 5 percent feed‑conversion improvement. In cosmetics, a new line of bran-oil shampoos and conditioners launched in Southeast Asia, with formulations claiming 1.5 percent bran oil in rinse‑off categories. Supply-chain tracking was enhanced via blockchain pilots in Canada, tracing bran from farm to mill—aiming to certify 100 000 tonnes of bran by 2025. Product sorting equipment capable of separating bran into coarse, fine, and ultrafine grades improved yield by 7 percent. Innovations also included bran‑fortified snacks: companies launched bran chips (5 g fiber per 30 g serving) and granola bars featuring 20 percent bran content; these accounted for 8 percent of new high‑fiber snack entries in the U.S. in 2024. Academic‑industry partnerships produced high‑protein bran composites—with 20 percent protein content—tested in 40 schools for breakfast cereals in 2023. Sustainability innovations include bran pelletization for biomass energy; Germany processed 100 000 tonnes of bran pellets for heating systems in late 2023. Overall, new product development in wheat bran is characterized by nutrient enhancement, format diversification, technological refinement, and sustainability integration.

Five Recent Developments

Kellogg’s introduced a whole‑wheat bran cereal in 2023 containing at least 5 grams of fiber per serving.
India’s Hindustan Animal Feeds commissioned a 200 000 tpa bran processing plant in 2024, increasing national bran output by ~2 percent.
Canadian telemetry and blockchain tracking pilot traced 100 000 tonnes of bran from farm to retail in 2023.
European millers adopted enzymatic phytic‑acid reduction processes, lowering phytic levels by 30 percent in bran used for bakery products in 2024.
South‑East Asian cosmetic manufacturers launched a bran‑oil shampoo line in 2024, with formulations containing 1.5 percent bran oil.

Report Coverage of Wheat Bran Market

The wheat bran market report provides an in-depth analysis of the global industry landscape, covering all critical aspects that define its current structure, growth patterns, and strategic opportunities. It examines the worldwide production base, highlighting a total wheat bran output of approximately 122 million tonnes in 2024. Key contributors such as China (22 million tonnes), India (9.1 million tonnes), and the United States (7.8 million tonnes) dominate the global supply chain. The report explores the international trade flow, detailing 2024 import volumes of 8.7 million tonnes and the fluctuation in year-over-year demand due to price and production variations. It provides a comprehensive segmentation analysis by type and application. Organic wheat bran accounts for 15 percent of total global output, or roughly 18.3 million tonnes, while conventional bran dominates with 85 percent share, equating to around 103.7 million tonnes. Application segmentation shows food-grade bran comprising 49.64 percent of total usage in 2022, with major consumption in bakery and functional foods, while feed-grade bran holds significant demand in the animal nutrition sector. The report thoroughly evaluates regional market performance, spotlighting Asia-Pacific’s 53.31 percent market share in 2020 (valued at USD 9.90 billion), North America’s consistent output of 7 million tonnes, and Europe’s wheat bran generation of 13.5 million tonnes derived from 135 million tonnes of wheat production.

Middle East & Africa is identified as an emerging region, holding a potential 26 million tonnes of bran output based on its total cereal production. Market dynamics are explored in depth, with the rising demand for dietary fiber in food and beverages serving as a primary growth driver. The report also highlights market restraints such as pricing volatility and regulatory inconsistencies, alongside opportunities in nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and biomass energy. Key challenges include certification costs for organic processing and fluctuating raw wheat availability. Competitive analysis identifies top players, including Star of the West Milling, with an annual output of 1.2 million tonnes, and Hindustan Animal Feeds, processing around 0.8 million tonnes. Investment insights focus on capacity expansion in North America and Asia-Pacific, R&D funding of USD 20 million into fiber extraction, and logistics upgrades in Europe. Furthermore, the report details new product development valued at USD 0.75 billion in 2024, covering powders, flakes, granules, and oils. Finally, it outlines five key industry developments from 2023–2024 that underscore innovation, traceability, and new product launches in both food and non-food segments.