APO RESEARCH · REPORT
Buttermilk
Originally, buttermilk referred to the liquid left over from churning butter from cultured or fermented cream. Traditionally, before cream could be skimmed from whole milk, the milk was left to sit for a period of time to allow the cream and milk to separate. During this time, naturally occurring lactic acid-producing bacteria in the milk fermented it. This facilitates the butter churning process, since fat from cream with a lower pH coalesces more readily than that of fresh cream. The acidic environment also helps prevent potentially harmful microorganisms from growing, increasing shelf-life. However, in establishments that used cream separators, the cream was hardly acidic at all.
Product & engineering
Understand the product.
Originally, buttermilk referred to the liquid left over from churning butter from cultured or fermented cream. Traditionally, before cream could be skimmed from whole milk, the milk was left to sit for a period of time to allow the cream and milk to separate. During this time, naturally occurring lactic acid-producing bacteria in the milk fermented it. This facilitates the butter churning process, since fat from cream with a lower pH coalesces more readily than that of fresh cream. The acidic environment also helps prevent potentially harmful microorganisms from growing, increasing shelf-life. However, in establishments that used cream separators, the cream was hardly acidic at all.
Commercially available cultured buttermilk is milk that has been pasteurized and homogenized (with 1% or 2% fat), and then inoculated with a culture of Lactococcus lactis (formerly known as Streptococcus lactis) plus Leuconostoc citrovorum to simulate the naturally occurring bacteria in the old-fashioned product. Some dairies add colored flecks of butter to cultured buttermilk to simulate residual flecks of butter that can be left over from the churning process of traditional buttermilk. Condensed buttermilk and dried buttermilk have increased in importance in the food industry. Condensed buttermilk and dried buttermilk have increased in importance in the food industry. Buttermilk solids are used in ice cream manufacturing, as well as being added to pancake mixes. Adding specific strains of bacteria to pasteurized milk allows more consistent production.
Selected research
Industry Research
Buttermilk Industry Research Report 2026
Market perspective
Originally, buttermilk referred to the liquid left over from churning butter from cultured or fermented cream. Traditionally, before cream could be skimmed from whole milk, the milk was left to sit for a period of time to allow the cream and milk to separate. During this time, naturally occurring lactic acid-producing bacteria in the milk fermented it. This facilitates the butter churning process, since fat from cream with a lower pH coalesces more readily than that of fresh cream. The acidic environment also helps prevent potentially harmful microorganisms from growing, increasing shelf-life. However, in establishments that used cream separators, the cream was hardly acidic at all.
Commercially available cultured buttermilk is milk that has been pasteurized and homogenized (with 1% or 2% fat), and then inoculated with a culture of Lactococcus lactis (formerly known as Streptococcus lactis) plus Leuconostoc citrovorum to simulate the naturally occurring bacteria in the old-fashioned product. Some dairies add colored flecks of butter to cultured buttermilk to simulate residual flecks of butter that can be left over from the churning process of traditional buttermilk. Condensed buttermilk and dried buttermilk have increased in importance in the food industry. Condensed buttermilk and dried buttermilk have increased in importance in the food industry. Buttermilk solids are used in ice cream manufacturing, as well as being added to pancake mixes. Adding specific strains of bacteria to pasteurized milk allows more consistent production.
Global Buttermilk main players are Arla Foods, DairyAmerica, Sodiaal Group, Fonterra, etc. Global top four manufacturers hold a share over 20%. Europe is the largest market, with a share nearly 50%.
Read the full market overview
Report Scope
This report quantifies the global Buttermilk market in terms of revenue (US$ million) and, where applicable, sales volume (K MT), using 2025 as the base year and providing annual historical and forecast data for 2021–2032.
It standardizes definitions of Types and Applications, harmonizes vendor attribution, and presents comparable time series by company, Type, Application, and region/country, including indicative price bands (US$/K MT) and concentration ratios (CR5/CR10).
The outputs are intended to support strategy development, budgeting, and performance benchmarking for brand owners, manufacturers, retailers, channel partners, and investors; data are structured with consistent units and fields to facilitate integration into internal FP&A and BI systems.
Key Companies & Market Share Insights
This section profiles leading manufacturers, combining 2021–2025 results with a 2026–2032 outlook. It reports revenue, market share, price bands, product and application mix, regional and channel mix, and key developments (M&A, capacity additions, certifications). It also provides global revenue, average price, and—where applicable—sales volume by manufacturer, and calculates CR5/CR10 and rank changes to support comparative benchmarking.
Buttermilk Market by Company
Amul
Arla Foods
DairyAmerica
Sodiaal Group
Fonterra
Dairy Farmers of America
Glanbia
Valley Milk
Associated Milk Producers
Arion Dairy Products
Innova Food Ingredients
Sterling Agro Industries
Grain Millers
Agri-Mark
Land O'Lakes
Buttermilk Segment by Type
Liquid Buttermilk
Buttermilk Powder
Buttermilk Segment by Application
Confectionery
Ice Cream
Bakery
Dairy-based Sauces
Buttermilk Segment by Region
North America
United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe
Germany
France
U.K.
Italy
Russia
Spain
Netherlands
Switzerland
Sweden
Poland
Asia-Pacific
China
Japan
South Korea
India
Australia
Taiwan
Southeast Asia
South America
Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Middle East & Africa
Egypt
South Africa
Israel
Türkiye
GCC Countries
Key Drivers & Barriers
High-impact rendering factors and drivers have been studied in this report to aid the readers to understand the general development. Moreover, the report includes restraints and challenges that may act as stumbling blocks on the way of the players. This will assist the users to be attentive and make informed decisions related to business. Specialists have also laid their focus on the upcoming business prospects.
Reasons to Buy This Report
1. This report will help the readers to understand the competition within the industries and strategies for the competitive environment to enhance the potential profit. The report also focuses on the competitive landscape of the global Buttermilk market, and introduces in detail the market share, industry ranking, competitor ecosystem, market performance, new product development, operation situation, expansion, and acquisition. etc. of the main players, which helps the readers to identify the main competitors and deeply understand the competition pattern of the market.
2. This report will help stakeholders to understand the global industry status and trends of Buttermilk and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.
3. This report will help stakeholders to understand competitors better and gain more insights to strengthen their position in their businesses. The competitive landscape section includes the market share and rank (in volume and value), competitor ecosystem, new product development, expansion, and acquisition.
4. This report stays updated with novel technology integration, features, and the latest developments in the market
5. This report helps stakeholders to gain insights into which regions to target globally
6. This report helps stakeholders to gain insights into the end-user perception concerning the adoption of Buttermilk.
7. This report helps stakeholders to identify some of the key players in the market and understand their valuable contribution.
Chapter Outline
Chapter 1: Research objectives, research methods, data sources, data cross-validation;
Chapter 2: Introduces the report scope of the report, executive summary of different market segments (by region, product type, application, etc.), including the market size of each market segment, future development potential, and so on. It offers a high-level view of the current state of the market and its likely evolution in the short to mid-term, and long term.
Chapter 3: Detailed analysis of Buttermilk manufacturers competitive landscape, price, production and value market share, latest development plan, merger, and acquisition information, etc.
Chapter 4: Provides profiles of key players, introducing the basic situation of the main companies in the market in detail, including product production/output, value, price, gross margin, product introduction, recent development, etc.
Chapter 5: Production/output, value of Buttermilk by region/country. It provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region in the next six years.
Chapter 6: Consumption of Buttermilk in regional level and country level. It provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region and its main countries and introduces the market development, future development prospects, market space, and production of each country in the world.
Chapter 7: Provides the analysis of various market segments by type, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different market segments.
Chapter 8: Provides the analysis of various market segments by application, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different downstream markets.
Chapter 9: Analysis of industrial chain, including the upstream and downstream of the industry.
Chapter 10: Introduces the market dynamics, latest developments of the market, the driving factors and restrictive factors of the market, the challenges and risks faced by manufacturers in the industry, and the analysis of relevant policies in the industry.
Chapter 11: The main points and conclusions of the report.
More report detail
Tables and figures
Scope & coverage.
Types
- Liquid Buttermilk
- Buttermilk Powder
Applications
- Confectionery
- Ice Cream
- Bakery
- Dairy-based Sauces
Companies covered
- Amul
- Arla Foods
- DairyAmerica
- Sodiaal Group
- Fonterra
- Dairy Farmers of America
- Glanbia
- Valley Milk
- Associated Milk Producers
- Arion Dairy Products
- Innova Food Ingredients
- Sterling Agro Industries
- Grain Millers
- Agri-Mark
- Land O'Lakes
Inside the report.
1 Preface
- 1.1 Scope of Report
- 1.2 Reasons for Doing This Study
- 1.3 Research Methodology
- 1.4 Research Process
- 1.5 Data Source
- 1.5.1 Secondary Sources
- 1.5.2 Primary Sources
2 Market Overview
- 2.1 Product Definition
- 2.2 Global Market Growth Prospects
- 2.2.1 Global Buttermilk Market Size (2021-2032)
- 2.2.2 Global Buttermilk Sales (2021-2032)
- 2.2.3 Global Buttermilk Market Average Price (2021-2032)
- 2.3 Buttermilk by Type
- 2.3.1 Market Value Comparison by Type (2021 VS 2025 VS 2032) & (US$ Million)
- 2.3.2 Liquid Buttermilk
- 2.3.3 Buttermilk Powder
- 2.4 Buttermilk by Application
- 2.4.1 Market Value Comparison by Application (2021 VS 2025 VS 2032)
- 2.4.2 Confectionery
- 2.4.3 Ice Cream
- 2.4.4 Bakery
- 2.4.5 Dairy-based Sauces
3 Market Competitive Landscape by Manufacturers
- 3.1 Global Buttermilk Market Competitive Situation by Manufacturers (2021 Versus 2025)
- 3.2 Global Buttermilk Sales (K MT) of Manufacturers (2021-2026)
- 3.3 Global Buttermilk Revenue of Manufacturers (2021-2026)
- 3.4 Global Buttermilk Average Price by Manufacturers (2021-2026)
- 3.5 Global Buttermilk Industry Ranking, 2024 VS 2025 VS 2026
- 3.6 Global Manufacturers of Buttermilk, Manufacturing Sites & Headquarters
- 3.7 Global Manufacturers of Buttermilk, Product Type & Application
- 3.8 Global Manufacturers of Buttermilk, Established Date
- 3.9 Global Buttermilk Market CR5 and HHI
- 3.10 Global Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisition
4 Manufacturers Profiled
- 4.1 Amul
- 4.1.1 Amul Company Information
- 4.1.2 Amul Business Overview
- 4.1.3 Amul Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.1.4 Amul Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.1.5 Amul Recent Developments
- 4.2 Arla Foods
- 4.2.1 Arla Foods Company Information
- 4.2.2 Arla Foods Business Overview
- 4.2.3 Arla Foods Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.2.4 Arla Foods Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.2.5 Arla Foods Recent Developments
- 4.3 DairyAmerica
- 4.3.1 DairyAmerica Company Information
- 4.3.2 DairyAmerica Business Overview
- 4.3.3 DairyAmerica Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.3.4 DairyAmerica Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.3.5 DairyAmerica Recent Developments
- 4.4 Sodiaal Group
- 4.4.1 Sodiaal Group Company Information
- 4.4.2 Sodiaal Group Business Overview
- 4.4.3 Sodiaal Group Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.4.4 Sodiaal Group Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.4.5 Sodiaal Group Recent Developments
- 4.5 Fonterra
- 4.5.1 Fonterra Company Information
- 4.5.2 Fonterra Business Overview
- 4.5.3 Fonterra Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.5.4 Fonterra Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.5.5 Fonterra Recent Developments
- 4.6 Dairy Farmers of America
- 4.6.1 Dairy Farmers of America Company Information
- 4.6.2 Dairy Farmers of America Business Overview
- 4.6.3 Dairy Farmers of America Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.6.4 Dairy Farmers of America Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.6.5 Dairy Farmers of America Recent Developments
- 4.7 Glanbia
- 4.7.1 Glanbia Company Information
- 4.7.2 Glanbia Business Overview
- 4.7.3 Glanbia Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.7.4 Glanbia Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.7.5 Glanbia Recent Developments
- 4.8 Valley Milk
- 4.8.1 Valley Milk Company Information
- 4.8.2 Valley Milk Business Overview
- 4.8.3 Valley Milk Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.8.4 Valley Milk Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.8.5 Valley Milk Recent Developments
- 4.9 Associated Milk Producers
- 4.9.1 Associated Milk Producers Company Information
- 4.9.2 Associated Milk Producers Business Overview
- 4.9.3 Associated Milk Producers Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.9.4 Associated Milk Producers Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.9.5 Associated Milk Producers Recent Developments
- 4.10 Arion Dairy Products
- 4.10.1 Arion Dairy Products Company Information
- 4.10.2 Arion Dairy Products Business Overview
- 4.10.3 Arion Dairy Products Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.10.4 Arion Dairy Products Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.10.5 Arion Dairy Products Recent Developments
- 4.11 Innova Food Ingredients
- 4.11.1 Innova Food Ingredients Company Information
- 4.11.2 Innova Food Ingredients Business Overview
- 4.11.3 Innova Food Ingredients Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.11.4 Innova Food Ingredients Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.11.5 Innova Food Ingredients Recent Developments
- 4.12 Sterling Agro Industries
- 4.12.1 Sterling Agro Industries Company Information
- 4.12.2 Sterling Agro Industries Business Overview
- 4.12.3 Sterling Agro Industries Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.12.4 Sterling Agro Industries Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.12.5 Sterling Agro Industries Recent Developments
- 4.13 Grain Millers
- 4.13.1 Grain Millers Company Information
- 4.13.2 Grain Millers Business Overview
- 4.13.3 Grain Millers Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.13.4 Grain Millers Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.13.5 Grain Millers Recent Developments
- 4.14 Agri-Mark
- 4.14.1 Agri-Mark Company Information
- 4.14.2 Agri-Mark Business Overview
- 4.14.3 Agri-Mark Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.14.4 Agri-Mark Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.14.5 Agri-Mark Recent Developments
- 4.15 Land O'Lakes
- 4.15.1 Land O'Lakes Company Information
- 4.15.2 Land O'Lakes Business Overview
- 4.15.3 Land O'Lakes Buttermilk Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2021-2026)
- 4.15.4 Land O'Lakes Buttermilk Product Portfolio
- 4.15.5 Land O'Lakes Recent Developments
5 Global Buttermilk Market Scenario by Region
- 5.1 Global Buttermilk Market Size by Region: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 5.2 Global Buttermilk Sales by Region: 2021-2032
- 5.2.1 Global Buttermilk Sales by Region: 2021-2026
- 5.2.2 Global Buttermilk Sales by Region: 2027-2032
- 5.3 Global Buttermilk Revenue by Region: 2021-2032
- 5.3.1 Global Buttermilk Revenue by Region: 2021-2026
- 5.3.2 Global Buttermilk Revenue by Region: 2027-2032
- 5.4 North America Buttermilk Market Facts & Figures by Country
- 5.4.1 North America Buttermilk Market Size by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 5.4.2 North America Buttermilk Sales by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.4.3 North America Buttermilk Revenue by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.4.4 United States
- 5.4.5 Canada
- 5.4.6 Mexico
- 5.5 Europe Buttermilk Market Facts & Figures by Country
- 5.5.1 Europe Buttermilk Market Size by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 5.5.2 Europe Buttermilk Sales by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.5.3 Europe Buttermilk Revenue by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.5.4 Germany
- 5.5.5 France
- 5.5.6 U.K.
- 5.5.7 Italy
- 5.5.8 Russia
- 5.5.9 Spain
- 5.5.10 Netherlands
- 5.5.11 Switzerland
- 5.5.12 Sweden
- 5.5.13 Poland
- 5.6 Asia Pacific Buttermilk Market Facts & Figures by Country
- 5.6.1 Asia Pacific Buttermilk Market Size by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 5.6.2 Asia Pacific Buttermilk Sales by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.6.3 Asia Pacific Buttermilk Revenue by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.6.4 China
- 5.6.5 Japan
- 5.6.6 South Korea
- 5.6.7 India
- 5.6.8 Australia
- 5.6.9 Taiwan
- 5.6.10 Southeast Asia
- 5.7 South America Buttermilk Market Facts & Figures by Country
- 5.7.1 South America Buttermilk Market Size by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 5.7.2 South America Buttermilk Sales by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.7.3 South America Buttermilk Revenue by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.7.4 Brazil
- 5.7.5 Argentina
- 5.7.6 Chile
- 5.8 Middle East and Africa Buttermilk Market Facts & Figures by Country
- 5.8.1 Middle East and Africa Buttermilk Market Size by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 5.8.2 Middle East and Africa Buttermilk Sales by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.8.3 Middle East and Africa Buttermilk Revenue by Country (2021-2032)
- 5.8.4 Egypt
- 5.8.5 South Africa
- 5.8.6 Israel
- 5.8.7 Türkiye
- 5.8.8 GCC Countries
6 Segment by Type
- 6.1 Global Buttermilk Sales by Type (2021-2032)
- 6.1.1 Global Buttermilk Sales by Type (2021-2032) & (K MT)
- 6.1.2 Global Buttermilk Sales Market Share by Type (2021-2032)
- 6.2 Global Buttermilk Revenue by Type (2021-2032)
- 6.2.1 Global Buttermilk Sales by Type (2021-2032) & (US$ Million)
- 6.2.2 Global Buttermilk Revenue Market Share by Type (2021-2032)
- 6.3 Global Buttermilk Price by Type (2021-2032)
7 Segment by Application
- 7.1 Global Buttermilk Sales by Application (2021-2032)
- 7.1.1 Global Buttermilk Sales by Application (2021-2032) & (K MT)
- 7.1.2 Global Buttermilk Sales Market Share by Application (2021-2032)
- 7.2 Global Buttermilk Revenue by Application (2021-2032)
- 7.2.1 Global Buttermilk Sales by Application (2021-2032) & (US$ Million)
- 7.2.2 Global Buttermilk Revenue Market Share by Application (2021-2032)
- 7.3 Global Buttermilk Price by Application (2021-2032)
8 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis of the Market
- 8.1 Buttermilk Value Chain Analysis
- 8.1.1 Buttermilk Key Raw Materials
- 8.1.2 Raw Materials Key Suppliers
- 8.1.3 Buttermilk Production Mode & Process
- 8.2 Buttermilk Sales Channels Analysis
- 8.2.1 Direct Comparison with Distribution Share
- 8.2.2 Buttermilk Distributors
- 8.2.3 Buttermilk Customers
9 Global Buttermilk Analyzing Market Dynamics
- 9.1 Buttermilk Industry Trends
- 9.2 Buttermilk Industry Drivers
- 9.3 Buttermilk Industry Opportunities and Challenges
- 9.4 Buttermilk Industry Restraints
10 Report Conclusion
11 Disclaimer
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