Buckwheat Market

Buckwheat Market Size

The global buckwheat market size was valued at USD 621.9 million in 2024, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2025 to 2034 owing to increased consumer knowledge towards its multifaceted uses and nutritional value. Buckwheat also known as kasha in Eastern Europe, is a pseudocereal that was first planted as a crop in China 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Currently, Russia and China are the largest producers of buckwheat. According to USDA, the global production volume of buckwheat reached nearly 2.5 million metric tons in 2023.

Buckwheat is used for both human consumption and livestock feed. While buckwheat flour was traditionally used mostly for pancakes in the U.S., it is preferably added to a wide range of snack foods and baked goods. The growing interest in the use of buckwheat flour in the U.S. is partially driven by it being gluten free, but also because it is high in minerals and antioxidants.

Buckwheat requires low input relative to the yields it produces even on marginal soils. Because it develops a canopy quickly after planting, it makes a good cover crop or rotational crop. Buckwheat grows quickly, maturing in as little as 30 days and therefore is highly competitive with weeds. Moreover, its short maturity length makes it a good candidate for an emergency crop when an earlier-planted crop fails.

Buckwheat, replete with substantial amounts of dietary fiber, crucial minerals, and vitamins, functions as an indispensable ingredient across various culinary contexts. Furthermore, it acts as a vital link in addressing nutrient deficiencies and enhancing food security. This is primarily the result of the increasing proportion of consumers with gluten allergy and the highly nutritious profile of buckwheat. All these factors are highly favorable for health-conscious consumers and customers with diet restrictions.

Buckwheat Market Trends

• Advancements in buckwheat derived bakery and non-bakery product processing: One of the most attractive trends in the buckwheat industry is the development of new functional foods. Functional foods constitute those that exert a scientifically proven specific health benefit beyond their nutritional properties, but the consumption of their specific formulation is not essential for human life. Buckwheat has been used as an important raw material for functional food development because of its functionalities and compounds content, such as proteins, flavonoids, phytosterols, etc. Examples of functional foods include fortified beverages, juices, milk, yoghurts, margarines, cereals, etc.
  
• Extensive health benefits of buckwheat: The buckwheat species and varieties can be valuable in agriculture and food production. For improving and increasing its utilization for human nutrition, Buckwheat finds its place for buckwheat-based food products in both traditional and modern food markets.
  
• For instance, Buckwheat is a highly nutritious whole grain that many people consider to be superfood. Some health benefits of buckwheat may include improving heart health, promoting weight loss, and helping manage diabetes. Buckwheat is a good source of protein, fiber, and energy. Buckwheat does not contain gluten, so for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerances, buckwheat and buckwheat flour are excellent dietary alternatives.
  
• Improvements in technology in buckwheat farming and processing: The buckwheat industry is adopting new technological innovations aimed at improving yield and quality of the crop. The adoption of precision farming, for instance, Soil scanning and AI powered irrigation, is improving the efficiency of production. Moreover, the development of resistant buckwheat cultivars is improving the seeding rates due to decreased pest and climate change damage.
  

Buckwheat Market Analysis

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Based on source, the buckwheat market is bifurcated into organic, and conventional. Conventional buckwheat segment generated a revenue of USD 457.7 million in 2024 and USD 605.3 million in 2034 at a CAGR of 2.9% due to higher cost efficiency and easy availability.

• Conventional buckwheat is relatively cheaper to produce, along with having higher potential yields, which guarantees its market position. Furthermore, there is a constant supply for food processing, animal feed, and industrial applications.
  
• Large-scale manufacturers and wholesale buyers use conventional buckwheat because it has both reasonable price and standard quality. Moreover, conventional buckwheat also has access to established supply chains. This enables them to produce a vast quantity of flour, noodles, and breakfast cereals that are used for large production.
  

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Based on form, the buckwheat market is divided into groats, flour, flakes, and others. In 2024, groats segment held major market share, accounted for 39.3% share due to highly adaptable and reasonable prices.

• Buckwheat grain constitutes the main form in which buckwheat is consumed. Dehulled seeds are principally used for human consumption as breakfast cereals, or as processed flour for making different products. They are ready for cooking and usually served as an alternative to potatoes and rice. Its high nutritional benefits further expand its versatility in the food industry.
  
• Furthermore, the buckwheat sprouts as a new vegetable were introduced for the first time by Kim et al. and since then, these sprouts have gained popularity in many countries, primarily consumed as they are, consumed for their soft yet slightly crispy texture and appealing fragrance. Buckwheat sprouts are noted for their elevated levels of protein, minerals, and crude fiber, exceeding those found in grains and hulls.
  

Based on application, the buckwheat market is categorised into food & beverages, animal feed, personal care & cosmetics, and others. Food and beverages segment generated a revenue of USD 399.4 million in 2024, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.9%. This segment held substantial market share of 64.2% market in 2024 owing to widespread usage of buckwheat in different foods and its processed forms.

• This category is further extended by its combination with other ingredients for flour, noodles, pasta, bakery items, cereals, and snacks. Buckwheat sprouts are consumed for their enhanced levels of antioxidants and nutrients compared to mature grains. Meanwhile, buckwheat hulls, traditionally seen as by-products, are identified as sources of dietary fiber and flavonoids, suitable for use in dietary supplements and functional foods.
  
• Besides, the use of buckwheat in plant-based dairy substitutes, functional beverages and enriched protein food products has increased which is another reason for the growth of this segment. As a nutritious and gluten-free grain substitute, the consumption of buckwheat is on the rise due to consumer shift toward plant-based and healthier diets.
  

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China buckwheat market generated a revenue of USD 126 million in 2024. China buckwheat market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.7% reaching USD 165.4 million by 2034 as it is driven by the influence by both domestic production and external trade competition.

• In 2022, China's buckwheat production was 522 thousand tons, constituting 31.1% of the worldwide output. Buckwheat hulls (BH), a byproduct of buckwheat processing, are generated abundantly, comprising roughly one-third of the total buckwheat yield.
  
• There are enhanced orders for the foreign buckwheat varieties because, in addition to a domestic supply being available, imported buckwheat is still cheaper. Furthermore, quality is becoming more and more important, and the market is beginning to make changes to prices for the purpose of competition specifically in China.
  

The buckwheat market in the U.S. is expected to experience promising growth from 2025 to 2034 due to growth of increasing demand for non-gluten and non-elerginic foods.

• Buckwheat is a minor crop in the U.S. where it is planted on about 27,000 acres each year. The two major producers of buckwheat products in the U.S. are Minn-Dak growers (North Dakota) and Birkett Mills (New York). The exporting trends also demonstrate the widening scope of the U.S. funneling its buckwheat to the rest of the world.
  
• The increased interest in adopting plant-based diets has led to an increased demand for buckwheat in gluten-free noodles and flour, as well as snacks. The momentum of the organic movement has further motivated U.S. farmers to adopt more environmentally friendly methods to satisfy the increasing demand for organic buckwheat products.
  

Buckwheat Market Share

Top 5 companies in the buckwheat industry are Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Birkett Mills, Wilmar International, and Galinta. The competition within the global buckwheat market is stringent, comprising firms of varying scales, even including multinational companies. The most prominent drivers of competition are product quality, cost, innovative measures, and alliances formed. To meet the new surge in health-conscious consumers, companies are shifting towards the products of organic and gluten-free buckwheat products.

Mergers and acquisitions serve as a means of increasing market share and production capacity. Innovative product development and strategic marketing of buckwheat-based products are critical in capturing market share in the upcoming years. Furthermore, there is a focus on acquiring new companies to increase market share and production capacities.

For instance, acquisition of Galinta Group by INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, which marked them as a leading European supplier of buckwheat. Additionally, key players are extending their R&D budgets to target new emerging trends, focusing on the plant-based and gluten-free diets, which accelerates the need for health supplement products as well as buckwheat snacks.

Buckwheat Market Companies

Some of the eminent market participants operating in the buckwheat industry include:

• Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
• Birkett Mills
• Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods
• Bulk Barn Foods
• Galinta
• Homestead Organics
• Krishna India
• Lee Kum Kee
• Minn-Dak Growers
• Ningxia Newfield Foods
• Skvyrskyi Grain Processing Factory
• UA Global
• Wilmar International
  

ADM provides exceptional buckwheat products for both culinary and industrial uses, utilizing its robust distribution and processing capabilities. The company’s strategic focus is on sustainability and innovation to satisfy the needs of health-oriented customers. By adopting modern agricultural methods and having an effective supply chain, ADM deals with issues of product quality and seasonal supply.

Bob‘s Red Mill Natural Foods has established itself in the health food industry through the sale of gluten-free and natural products, which include buckwheat flour and cereals. The company embraces the whole-grain movement along with ethical consumerism, which most shoppers appreciate. Bob‘s Red Mill focuses on marketing and educating customers about the most recent health issues and dietary practices to introduce new products.

Buckwheat Industry News:

• In February 2024, INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, the leading private equity fund in the Baltics, completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Galinta Group, one of the largest producers of buckwheat in Europe, as well as one of the leading producers and traders of flakes, rice, and other groats in the Baltic region.
  
• In December 2023, Big Bold Health announced the launch of a groundbreaking plant-powered superfood. The first-ever 100% organic himalayan tartary buckwheat (HTB) Sprout Powder.
  
• In October 2023, Lil Bucks' Buckwheat and Clusterbucks were featured in Whole Foods' Top 10 Food Trends for 2024. This recognition highlighted the increasing popularity of buckwheat as a nutritious ingredient in health food products.
  
• In September 2023, Maine Crisp rebranded as Better With Buckwheat and accelerated its national expansion by securing distribution in select Whole Foods Market stores.
  

The buckwheat market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry, with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Million) & volume (Kilo Tons) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Source

• Organic
• Conventional

Market, By Form

• Groats
• Flour
• Flakes
• Others

Market, By Application

• Food & beverages
• Animal feed
• Personal care & cosmetics
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America 
  • U.S.
  • Canada 
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Netherlands 
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina 
• Middle East and Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE