Skip to main content
  1. Market Insights
  2. Ecommerce
  3. Food
  4. Dairy Products & Eggs

Milk Substitutes - Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe
  • Revenue in the Milk Substitutes Market is projected to reach US$55.74m in 2025.
  • Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 8.91%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$78.43m by 2029.
  • With a projected market volume of US$6.86bn in 2025, most revenue is generated China.
  • In the Milk Substitutes Market, the number of users is expected to amount to 8.4m users by 2029.
  • User penetration will be 3.2% in 2025 and is expected to hit 3.7% by 2029.
  • The average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to amount to US$7.85.

Definition:

The eCommerce Milk Substitutes market refers to the online sales of non-dairy products that are used as alternatives to cow's milk. These products include plant-based milk substitutes such as almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, and coconut milk, as well as other non-dairy options like rice milk and hemp milk. The market includes the revenues generated from the online sales of these milk substitutes, the number of users purchasing these products online, the average revenue per user, and the penetration rates of these products in the eCommerce sector.

Additional information:

eCommerce Milk Substitutes comprises revenues, users, average revenue per user, and penetration rates. Revenues are derived from annual filings, national statistical offices, Google- and Alibaba-Trends and industry knowledge. Sales Channels show online and offline revenue shares, as well as, desktop and mobile sales distribution. Revenues are including VAT. The market only displays B2C revenues and users for the above-mentioned markets, hence C2C, B2B and reCommerce is not included.

Key players in the market are companies, such as Alpro, Silk, and Oatly.

Market numbers for the total market sizes (online + offline) can also be found on the respective pages of the Consumer Market Insights.

In-Scope
  • Milk substitutes, such as Oatly's oat milk products, drive online purchases
Out-Of-Scope
  • Offline revenues, such as sales in physical grocery stores
Food eCommerce: market data & analysis - Cover

Market Insights report

Food eCommerce: market data & analysis
CONTENTBOX_CAPTION_STUDY_DETAILS

    Revenue

    NOTES: Data was converted from local currencies using average exchange rates of the respective year.

    MOST_RECENT_UPDATE: Jul 2024

    SOURCE: Statista Market Insights

    MOST_RECENT_UPDATE: Jul 2024

    SOURCE: Statista Market Insights

    Analyst Opinion

    The Milk Substitutes eCommerce Market within the Dairy Products & Eggs sector is experiencing substantial growth in Eastern Europe. This surge is fueled by rising health consciousness, increasing demand for plant-based options, and the ease of online shopping for consumers.

    Customer preferences:
    Consumers in Eastern Europe are increasingly gravitating towards milk substitutes driven by a combination of health awareness and dietary preferences influenced by cultural shifts. As more individuals adopt vegan or flexitarian diets, there is a growing demand for plant-based alternatives, such as almond, oat, and soy milk. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce has made these products more accessible, catering to busy lifestyles. Social media and influencer marketing play a significant role in shaping these preferences, as consumers seek relatable and credible sources for their dietary choices.

    Trends in the market:
    In Eastern Europe, the milk substitutes eCommerce market is experiencing significant growth, driven by an increasing consumer shift towards health-conscious and plant-based diets. The popularity of vegan and flexitarian lifestyles is fostering a demand for diverse alternatives like oat, almond, and soy milk. As busy lifestyles proliferate, e-commerce platforms are becoming essential for accessibility, allowing consumers to easily purchase these products online. The influence of social media and digital marketing strategies is crucial in shaping consumer preferences, creating opportunities and challenges for industry stakeholders as they adapt to evolving dietary trends.

    Local special circumstances:
    In Russia, the milk substitutes eCommerce market is shaped by a strong cultural inclination towards traditional dairy products, which poses both challenges and opportunities for plant-based alternatives. In Romania, a growing awareness of health and environmental issues is driving demand for oat and almond milk, particularly among urban populations. Ukraine's burgeoning e-commerce infrastructure is facilitating access to diverse milk substitutes, while Bulgaria's regulatory support for organic products is encouraging local producers to innovate in this sector. These unique local factors significantly influence market dynamics across the region.

    Underlying macroeconomic factors:
    The Milk Substitutes eCommerce Market in Eastern Europe is significantly influenced by macroeconomic factors such as changing consumer preferences, economic stability, and environmental policies. In countries like Romania and Ukraine, rising disposable incomes and a shift towards health-conscious diets are boosting demand for plant-based alternatives. Conversely, historical attachment to traditional dairy products in Russia presents challenges, yet also opportunities for innovation. Fiscal policies promoting organic agriculture in Bulgaria further enhance local production, while global trends towards sustainability drive investment in new product development across the region. Economic fluctuations and trade agreements also play a critical role in shaping market dynamics, impacting pricing and availability.

    Sales Channels

    MOST_RECENT_UPDATE: Jul 2024

    SOURCE: Statista Market Insights

    Users

    MOST_RECENT_UPDATE: Aug 2024

    SOURCE: Statista Market Insights

    Global Comparison

    MOST_RECENT_UPDATE: Jul 2024

    SOURCE: Statista Market Insights

    Methodology

    Data coverage:

    Data refers to B2C enterprises. Figures are based on the sale of physical goods via a digital channel to a private end consumer. This definition encompasses purchases via desktop computers (including notebooks and laptops) as well as purchases via mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets). The following are not included in the eCommerce market: digitally distributed services (see instead: eServices), digital media downloads or streams, digitally distributed goods in B2B markets, and the digital purchase or resale of used, defective, or repaired goods (reCommerce and C2C). All monetary figures refer to the annual gross revenue and do not factor in shipping costs.

    Modeling approach / Market size:

    Market sizes are determined by a combined top-down and bottom-up approach, based on a specific rationale for each market segment. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies and industry associations, third-party studies and reports, survey results from our primary research (e.g., Statista Consumer Insights Global Survey), data on shopping behavior (e.g., Google Trends, Alibaba Trends), and performance factors (e.g., user penetration, price/product). Furthermore, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations such as GDP, consumer spending, internet penetration, and population. This data helps us estimate the market size for each country individually.

    Forecasts:

    In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the particular market. For example, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing are well suited for forecasting digital products and services due to the non-linear growth of technology adoption. The main drivers are GDP per capita, consumer spending per capita, internet penetration, and population.

    Additional Notes:

    The market is updated twice per year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered at a country-specific level. The impact of the Russia/Ukraine war is considered at a country-specific level.

    Ecommerce

    XMO_REPORT_PROMO_HEADLINE

    Food eCommerce: market data & analysis - BackgroundFood eCommerce: market data & analysis - Cover

    Key Market Indicators

    NOTES: Based on data from IMF, World Bank, UN and Eurostat

    MOST_RECENT_UPDATE: Jan 2025

    SOURCE: Statista Market Insights

    Contact

    Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
    Meredith Alda
    Sales Manager

    Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

    Lodovica Biagi
    Director of Operations

    Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

    Ayana Mizuno
    Junior Business Development Manager

    Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

    Carolina Dulin
    Group Director - LATAM

    Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

    Yolanda Mega
    Operations Manager

    Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)