China's Dairy Industry: A Comprehensive Overview

China stands as a dominant force in the global dairy industry, producing approximately 36 million tons of milk annually. With a processing capacity of about 60.18 million tons per year, China plays a crucial role in the global dairy sector. The country's regulatory measures ensure the quality and safety of dairy products, reflecting its commitment to high standards.

Dairy Cattle Management

China employs advanced genetic technologies, such as genetic chips, to enhance dairy cattle management. This modern approach boosts milk production capabilities and strengthens disease resistance, showcasing China's focus on modernizing its dairy sector.

Milk Production and Processing

The country's dairy infrastructure adheres to stringent quality standards. Notably, the use of dried milk powder in drinking milk is prohibited to maintain product integrity, highlighting China's dedication to providing high-quality dairy products.

Cheese and Milk Powder Production

The cheese sector is rapidly expanding due to growing consumer interest. While whole milk powder production is on the rise, exports of skimmed milk powder have declined by 11%. Imports of high-protein whey from the U.S. have surged by 225%, reflecting shifts in consumer preferences and trade dynamics.

Key Enterprises

Major players in China's dairy industry include Junlebao Dairy Group Co., Ltd., Bright Dairy Holdings, Yili Group, and Mengniu Dairy. Significant developments include Junlebao's IPO and Bright Dairy's strategic investment in Synlait, indicating active corporate activities within the sector.

Export and Import Dynamics

China's dairy imports are projected to reach 17.18 million tons, with the average import price per ton rising by 10% to $4,428. The volume of dairy imports has grown by 6%, driven by increasing demand for high-fat products like butter and cheese. In June, dairy imports increased by 11.4%, with significant contributions from whole milk powder and soft cheeses. The value of these imports rose by 20.6% due to rising international prices.

Market Dynamics and Challenges

The Chinese dairy industry faces challenges such as overproduction and shifting consumer preferences. Strategic alliances and increased imports are strategies adopted to address these issues. Additionally, there is growing interest in alternative dairy sources, such as sheep milk.

Regulatory Developments

New regulatory standards are anticipated to come into effect from September 19, 2025, impacting dairy exports from countries like Vietnam. Furthermore, China's market regulator requires infant formula manufacturers to test for the toxin cereulide, emphasizing product safety.

International Trade Relations

Trade disputes have affected Canadian farmers due to tariffs, while Arla Foods Ingredients is expanding through collaboration with Zhongbai Xingye Food Technology. Agreements with Hong Kong have been finalized for dairy and meat exports, illustrating China's active involvement in international trade.

Innovation in China's Dairy Sector

Innovation is a key growth driver, with developments like genetic chips enhancing milk production. The National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy, led by Yili Group, highlighted China's influence at the 2025 IDF World Dairy Summit, showcasing the nation's commitment to technological advancement in the dairy sector.

Significant Market Events

Notable events include Junlebao Dairy's stock offering and Bright Dairy's alliance with Synlait. The UHT milk market is expected to reach USD 15.2 billion by 2034, reflecting the sector's growth potential.

Inner Mongolia's Contribution

Inner Mongolia's dairy output exceeded 7.76 million tonnes in 2024, accounting for 19% of China's total production. The region effectively combines traditional practices with modern innovation in dairy production, contributing significantly to the national output.

Fonterra's Investment in China

Fonterra's market in China generates 30% of its income, with a $1 billion investment aimed at capitalizing on the growing demand for fats and proteins, highlighting the strategic importance of the Chinese market to international dairy producers.

Research and Development

Nanjing Agricultural University advances research on dairy calves' gut microbiota, contributing to China's R&D landscape and reinforcing the importance of scientific research in developing the dairy sector.

Support for Dairy and Cattle Sectors

The Ministry of Agriculture plans to enhance policies and financial support, while Wuzhong is developing a mega-processing cluster for 6,400 tons of daily processing, reflecting governmental support for infrastructure development.

China's Domestic Milk Production

China's domestic milk production decreased by 6.0% in April due to internal restructuring efforts, demonstrating the challenges and adjustments within the domestic production landscape.

Advanced Dairy Farming

A dairy farm operates with over 5,000 cows using the world's largest automatic milking carousel. This facility, equipped with two 80-position carousels, showcases the increasing industrialization of dairy farming in China.

Food Safety Concerns

China experienced a significant food safety scandal involving melamine-tainted milk in 2008. The scandal affected thousands of infants, leading to Taiwan maintaining a ban on Chinese dairy imports due to concerns about safety and transparency.

China's Market Competition

China's second-tier dairy companies, including Bright Dairy, Junlebao, Feihe, and New Hope Dairy, are engaged in a race for market dominance. These four prominent second-tier companies strive to secure the third-place position behind industry leaders Yili and Mengniu.

Inner Mongolia's Cheese Industry

Inner Mongolia promotes cheese industry innovation and expansion. The second Inner Mongolia Cheese Industry Brand Promotion Event was held in Hohhot, focusing on accelerating the development of the region's dairy sector by transforming raw milk resources into high-value consumer products.

Meiji's Market Challenges

Meiji faces growing competition and significant financial losses in China. The decision to sell these assets comes in the wake of substantial losses incurred by Meiji’s Chinese subsidiaries. Meiji sells its dairy operations in China for a base price of 320 million yuan, potentially reaching 350 million yuan.

Fonterra's Expansion

Fonterra has upgraded its Chengdu Application Centre to enhance its customer innovation capabilities in Southwest China. This move aims to support local food-service, bakery, and beverage sectors with tailored dairy solutions.

Focus on Functional Proteins

China's dairy sector is increasingly focusing on functional proteins due to rising demand for whey and high-protein beverages. The sports nutrition sector has experienced considerable growth, with a CAGR of 22.7% between 2015 and 2024. New trends are transforming the Chinese dairy market with low-alcohol beverages and functional foods.

Hohhot: The World Dairy Capital

Hohhot, a city in northern China, has been named the global dairy capital by the International Union of Food Science and Technology. The city hosts two of the world's ten largest dairy producers and has achieved industry revenue exceeding 300 billion yuan ($44.2 billion) by 2025.

Global Data Centers for Dairy Industry

China has unveiled two global data centers for the dairy industry. The World Dairy Industry Conference 2026 was held in Hohhot, where China launched the China Intelligent Dairy Data Center (Global) and the Global High-Quality Dairy Data Factory, spearheading global innovation and sustainability efforts in the industry.

A2 Milk's Supply Chain

Synlait’s Dunsandel plant has the registration from China’s State Administration for Market Regulation required to produce A2 Milk’s infant milk formula for the Chinese market. The China-label infant-milk-formula business recorded revenue of $544.3m, down 14%, with issues including production backlogs and mismatches between supply and demand during the June quarter.

China's Dairy Demand and Opportunities for Pakistani Exporters

China imported dairy products worth $12.78 billion in 2025, including 2.66 million tonnes of dairy products, with milk powder, whey, cheese, and cream among the main categories. The value of those imports rose by 13.7% from a year earlier.

China's Self-Sufficiency and Import Reduction

China Mengniu consolidated its ownership at parent level by initiating the divestment of Brownes Dairy, consolidating its interests across the company’s parent-level ownership structure. China’s dairy imports dropped sharply in July 2026, while the country’s domestic milk production continued to cover more of its market. Chinese dairy imports fell by 30.6% year on year in July.

Investment and Industry Rankings

Pāmu secured an equity investment from China’s Sharejoy Group in Spring Sheep, in which Pāmu holds a majority stake. The investment from China’s Sharejoy Group is intended to support Spring Sheep’s senior-nutrition business. China’s Mengniu and Yili followed with scores of 87.2 and 85.0 respectively. Yili retained the top position for financial brand value, operating across liquid milk, milk powder, yoghurt, ice cream, and nutritional products. Yili and Mengniu, two Chinese dairy groups, also remained in the global top ten. Their volumes were described as stable, although domestic consumption growth in China was more moderate. China remained more difficult: Nestlé estimated that the category’s value was declining by 2% to 3%. Danone considers China a strategic market, with China's infant-formula market valued at about €20bn and medical nutrition as a long-term opportunity amid population ageing.

Production for China's 2027 Export Quota

Production for China's 2027 export quota is due to resume in October. For beef cattle, the bulletin highlights China. Production for the country’s 2027 export quota is due to resume in October, with shipments expected around the middle of November. The Chinese market has been stabilising. Import demand for milk powders, protein ingredients, and cheese continues to support dairy trade in China. The manufacturer supplies customers in China. ProviCo's international sales of specialized dairy protein ingredients include China as a key market.

Dairy exports decreased by 0.4% with purchasing weaker in China. Overall dairy exports decreased by 0.4% from a year earlier, with purchasing weaker in Southeast Asia and China.