Colombia Reaches 168 Litres of Milk per Person as Consumption Gaps Persist
Fedegán, Colombia’s livestock federation, has continued to highlight a substantial divide in milk consumption between socioeconomic groups. Earlier estimates put annual consumption of processed milk at 28 litres per person in the lowest-income stratum and 179 litres in the highest. The figures describe the historical scale of the gap rather than providing an updated measurement for 2026.
The issue has gained attention as national production expands. Colombia produced 8.405bn litres of milk in 2025, according to Fedegán, the highest annual total recorded in the past two decades. The increase has focused discussion on the sector’s ability to process, sell and find markets for the available raw milk.
Fedegán has again proposed a tripartite fund involving the state, producers and dairy companies. The organisation says the fund could finance dairy products for lower-income groups and be used during periods of oversupply or weaker demand. It has included the proposal among measures aimed at increasing consumption in the first and second socioeconomic strata.
The federation is also calling for a larger role for milk and dairy products in publicly funded food programmes. Possible channels include the School Feeding Programme, early-childhood initiatives, community kitchens and food rations provided by state institutions. Fedegán says public procurement could both improve access to dairy products and create additional demand for domestic production.
President Abelardo De La Espriella has also placed milk consumption on the government’s agenda, according to the statements cited in the source material. The Presidency confirms that he has led the executive since August 2026. The issues raised by the government include milk prices, production costs and the role of imports.
Fedegán has additionally advocated greater milk-powder processing capacity, public purchasing and mechanisms to absorb surpluses when supply is high. Colombia’s established regional cheese-making sector provides another route for adding value to milk beyond liquid sales. The federation’s proposals would depend on how authorities design, finance and implement them, while the sector continues to seek stronger formalisation and additional commercial channels, particularly for households with lower dairy access.
