China’s ice cream market is expected to expand from USD 9.0 billion in 2025 to USD 11.1 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%. The sector’s growth trajectory reflects a convergence of structural shifts in consumer behavior, seasonal demand dynamics, and intensified competition from both within and outside the category.
Rising temperatures are expected to stimulate short-term consumption, but the category’s long-term expansion rests on ice cream’s transformation into a broader indulgence offering. The blurring of lines between traditional snacks and desserts is reshaping consumption occasions, with ice cream increasingly positioned as a versatile treat rather than a seasonal refreshment. This “dessertification” of the category is widening its relevance, making it an attractive choice across dining occasions, social settings, and even premium gifting.
At the same time, consumer migration toward more modern and formalized retail channels is altering the competitive environment. Traditional mom-and-pop grocery stores are gradually ceding share to specialty snack shops, discount outlets, convenience stores, and e-commerce platforms. These newer channels not only expand reach but also provide a more curated environment for premium product placement and impulse purchases. Digital platforms, in particular, are opening opportunities for tailored marketing, faster product rollouts, and direct engagement with younger, urban consumers who are shaping the market’s future.
However, the category faces headwinds. Growing awareness of sugar intake and health-related concerns is tempering the pace of expansion, especially in urban markets where wellness considerations are influencing dietary choices. Ice cream is also contending with heightened competition from a broadening set of indulgence options, ranging from freshly made or soft-serve ice cream in foodservice channels to premium ready-to-drink beverages positioned as lifestyle treats. In this environment, consumers are displaying greater discernment, reducing overall frequency of purchase but showing a willingness to trade up for products that deliver richer flavors, novel textures, and superior indulgent experiences.
Innovation will remain the cornerstone of product development, with manufacturers investing in creativity across flavors, formats, and presentation. Unconventional flavor combinations, novel shapes, and indulgent packaging are being deployed to sustain consumer interest and reinforce ice cream’s positioning as a treat worth paying for. As competition intensifies, companies that balance health-conscious offerings with indulgent innovations and leverage modern retail platforms to capture consumer attention are most likely to thrive. The interplay between premiumization, evolving distribution, and health considerations will ultimately define the pace and resilience of China’s ice cream market growth.
This report presents a thorough analysis and future outlook for the China ice cream market, covering historical data from 2020 to 2024 and forecasts up to 2030. It investigates market size, growth patterns, and segmented insights, revealing the trends transforming the industry. By dissecting critical aspects such as product type, category and distribution channel, the report provides a comprehensive toolkit for understanding and capitalizing on market opportunities.
Report Highlights
This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the China ice cream market size (in Tons/CNY/USD) from 2020 to 2030. The core dataset includes historical figures and forward-looking projections for both the overall market and its key segments, supplemented by compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for historical and forecast periods. Segmentation covers product type, category and distribution channel. By comparing historical and projected growth rates, the analysis identifies high-potential segments, enabling data-driven strategic decision-making.
In addition to granular market metrics, the report captures the broader structural shifts that define the industry’s trajectory. Using proprietary analysis and cross-referenced economic indicators, it maps the interaction between innovations, policy, and consumption patterns. This enables strategic foresight into future growth zones, disruption risk, and innovation-led differentiation, especially within product-focused and region-specific segments.
A competitive benchmarking section tracks market share movements and brand positioning among key players from 2020-2024. The report maps consolidation trends, share shifts, and differentiation strategies, equipping stakeholders with actionable insights for portfolio optimization and long-term planning.
Market Segmentation
The China ice cream market is structured as follows:
Product type – e.g., impulse ice cream, take-home ice cream
Category – e.g., dairy ice cream, water ice cream
Distribution channel – e.g., convenience stores, e-commerce, food specialty stores, foodservice channels, hypermarkets, small grocery stores, supermarkets, others
Macroeconomic & Demographic Indicators
Supporting context includes:
Total population
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Per capita consumption
Consumer spending as a percentage of GDP
These variables enhance understanding of consumption potential and macroeconomic trends affecting the market.
Competitive Landscape: Market Share Analysis
This report presents market share figures for top companies operating in the ice cream sector in China, highlighting brand reach and competitive footprint. Notable participants include:
Beijing Allied Faxi Food Co., Ltd.
Bright Food (Group) Co., Ltd.
China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited
General Mills, Inc.
Guangdong Meiyile Food Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Yuexiu Holding Limited
Hangzhou Wufeng Frozen Foods Co., Ltd.
Henan Tianbing Cold Drinks Co., Ltd.
Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co.,?Ltd.
Mars, Incorporated
Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.
Nestle S.A.
Shenyang Deshi Enterprise Group Co., Ltd.
Siping Hongbaolai Beverage Co., Ltd.
Unilever PLC
This section helps stakeholders evaluate market concentration, identify partnership opportunities, and track shifts in leadership.
Why Choose This Report?
Access accurate and up-to-date market size data for the China ice cream sector.
Obtain granular insights across key segments, including product type, category and distribution channel.
Understand the underlying market dynamics through expert-driven analysis of growth drivers, barriers, and structural shifts.
Identify attractive investment areas by tracking fast-growing categories and emerging consumption patterns.
Evaluate the competitive landscape to support timing, positioning, and strategic decision-making.
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Deliverables Include
Professionally structured PDF report
Full EXCEL databook with year-by-year figures and multi-dimensional segmentation from 2020 to 2030
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key Findings
Market Segmentation
Market Overview
China Ice Cream Market – Product Type Analysis
China Ice Cream Market – Category Analysis
China Ice Cream Market – Distribution Channel Analysis
Company Shares Analysis
Beijing Allied Faxi Food Co., Ltd.
Bright Food (Group) Co., Ltd.
China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited
General Mills, Inc.
Guangdong Meiyile Food Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Yuexiu Holding Limited
Hangzhou Wufeng Frozen Foods Co., Ltd.
Henan Tianbing Cold Drinks Co., Ltd.
Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co.,?Ltd.
…
Macroeconomic Data and Forecast
Research Methodology
Disclaimer
FIGURES AND TABLES
Table China Ice Cream Market 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market, Net Growth, 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market, Growth Rates, 2020-2030
Table China Ice Cream Market by Product Type, 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market by Product Type, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market by Product Type, 2020-2030
Table China Ice Cream Market by Category, 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market by Category, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market by Category, 2020-2030
Table China Ice Cream Market by Distribution Channel, 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market by Distribution Channel, CAGR Historic and Forecast, 2020-2030
Chart China Ice Cream Market by Distribution Channel, 2020-2030
Table China Ice Cream Market Share (%), by Companies, 2020-2024
Chart China Ice Cream Market, by Companies, 2024
Table China Ice Cream Market Share (%), by Brands, 2020-2024
Chart China Ice Cream Market, by Brands, 2024
Table China – Population (Millions) and Forecast
Table China – Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Forecast
Table China – Gross Domestic Product and Forecast
Table China Ice Cream Market: Spend as a Proportion of GDP (%)
Table China Ice Cream Market: Consumption per Capita (Population)