WPC80 Prices Have Nearly Sextupled as Supply Lags Demand

Whey protein concentrate with 80% protein, known as WPC80, reached $32,000 per tonne, or $14.50 per pound, according to figures compiled by commodities-intelligence platform Vesper and cited by NutraIngredients. During the same period in 2023, the price was about $5,500 per tonne, equivalent to $2.49 per pound.

Rabobank recorded a sharper increase over a shorter period. Its figures show WPC80 rising from roughly €12,500 per tonne in October 2025 to €27,500 in July 2026, an increase of 120% in nine months.

Demand expands beyond sports nutrition

Sports nutrition remains the main source of consumption. Studies cited by NutraIngredients estimate that the European market is growing at an annual compound rate of between 7% and 9.6%. Protein products account for about 83% of that category.

Whey is also being used more widely. People taking GLP-1 medicines have added to demand for protein products as they seek to preserve muscle mass during treatment. Manufacturers are also incorporating protein into a broader range of everyday foods.

Processing capacity grows faster than supply

Alan Johnstone, owner of Nutrilution UK, said that protein-processing capacity is increasing by about 4% a year, while the volume of raw whey produced by cheese-makers is growing by only 1.5% annually. Producing more whey requires producing more cheese, linking the availability of the ingredient to cheese output.

FrieslandCampina has announced a €90m investment to expand its whey-protein production. The industry has not identified a direct replacement with the same combination of amino-acid profile, digestibility, taste and functionality. Collagen can be used in some formulations, but has a different nutritional profile. Precision-fermented whey protein is advancing as a technological option, although its economic viability at large scale remains unresolved.