Fonterra’s Darfield Plant Struggles to Meet Rising Chinese Demand
Sourse: dairynews.today
Fonterra's Darfield facility, processing 7.5 million liters of milk daily, is unable to keep up with China's growing appetite for cream cheese.
Fonterra’s Darfield plant in Canterbury, New Zealand, processes approximately 7.5 million liters of milk daily, producing 100 tonnes of cream cheese primarily for the Chinese market. Despite its capacity, the plant is currently overwhelmed by the surging demand for cream cheese in China. The facility's manager, Matt Smith, claims they "can’t make enough," showcasing the high demand in Asian dessert markets.
The plant, operational since 2012 and handling milk fr om the South Island, also produces about 270,000 tonnes of milk powder and cream cheese annually. It features the world’s largest whole milk powder dryer with a processing capability of 33 tonnes per hour.
The highly automated production line operates nearly continuously, managed by a minimal staff with advanced machinery, ensuring the production scale without sacrificing the desired taste and texture. This reflects the market trend wh ere Asian consumer preferences for dairy-enriched treats outstrip the current production capabilities.
The plant, operational since 2012 and handling milk fr om the South Island, also produces about 270,000 tonnes of milk powder and cream cheese annually. It features the world’s largest whole milk powder dryer with a processing capability of 33 tonnes per hour.
The highly automated production line operates nearly continuously, managed by a minimal staff with advanced machinery, ensuring the production scale without sacrificing the desired taste and texture. This reflects the market trend wh ere Asian consumer preferences for dairy-enriched treats outstrip the current production capabilities.
Key News of the Week
16.09.2025
Rethinking Global Milk Production Figures: A Critical Perspective
In the recent article “The Dairy Map of the World 2025: Who Feeds the Planet?”, it was noted that global milk production reached around 950 million tons in 2024, with India and Pakistan driving much of the 3% growth in Asia. At the same time, global dairy trade remains uneven: while some countries expand their export positions, others remain focused on domestic consumption.
