A new market forecast identifies millet and sorghum as promising ingredients in the expanding global ancient grain snack industry.

According to a report distributed by Research and Markets and published through GlobeNewswire on November 11, 2026, the worldwide ancient grain snack products market is projected to increase from approximately $2.08 billion in 2026 to $6.74 billion by 2036.

The forecast represents a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% over the ten-year period.

The market includes snack products made using grains and grain-like ingredients such as quinoa, millet, sorghum, amaranth, teff and buckwheat.

The report attributes expected growth to increasing interest in clean-label foods, gluten-free options, plant-based ingredients and convenient packaged snacks.

Millet and sorghum are identified as two of the grain segments expected to experience particularly strong growth.

Their suitability for puffed and extruded snack products creates opportunities for manufacturers developing alternatives to conventional grain-based snacks.

Quinoa, however, is expected to remain the largest individual grain segment in 2026, reflecting its established presence in health-focused food markets.

Among product categories, ancient grain chips are projected to account for the largest market share.

Snack bars and puffed products are also expected to gain popularity as consumers seek convenient foods for travel, work and everyday consumption.

For millet processors, these trends may create opportunities to develop products such as millet crackers, baked snacks, puffed millet products and cereal-based snack bars.

The report also examines the importance of retail distribution.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets are expected to remain the largest sales channel, while online retail is forecast to experience the fastest growth.

E-commerce could provide smaller specialty food brands with opportunities to reach consumers beyond their immediate geographic markets.

Regionally, North America is projected to account for the largest market share in 2026.

Asia-Pacific is expected to record the fastest regional growth through 2036, supported by familiarity with traditional grains, urbanisation and demand for packaged snack products.

India and China are identified as markets where ancient grains are increasingly being incorporated into contemporary food formats.

The report also highlights challenges facing manufacturers, including ingredient costs, supply-chain constraints, product texture, taste and shelf-life management.

These factors are particularly important when developing millet-based snacks for commercial distribution.

Although the forecast suggests opportunities for millet businesses, it does not provide a separate market value or growth percentage specifically for millet snacks in the accessible release.

The projected $6.74 billion figure therefore represents the broader ancient grain snack market and should not be described as the size of the millet snack industry.

The findings are based on a commercial market-research forecast, rather than measured future sales.

For the millet sector, the report highlights the potential importance of product innovation, processing technology and distribution in expanding consumer access to traditional grains.

As food manufacturers explore new snack formats, millet and sorghum may play an increasingly visible role in the global packaged food industry.