New Zealand Leads as Top Dairy Exporter Worldwide

New Zealand has been recognized as the largest single-country exporter of dairy products globally, as highlighted in a report by Rabobank. The country's export volumes have consistently ranged between 21 billion and 23 billion kilograms of liquid milk equivalent (LME) over the past eight years, stabilizing at 22 billion kg annually since 2023.

Despite an expansion in global trade volumes, which slightly reduced New Zealand's share percentage, the country still accounts for more than a fifth of all dairy products traded internationally. The European Union, although the largest exporting bloc with 27% of global trade, has seen its share decline from nearly 30% in 2017 due to decreased liquid milk shipments to China.

In contrast, New Zealand has maintained stable export volumes to China, becoming its largest supplier of imported liquid milk and cream. Cheese has become a significant growth area in the global market, with a 40% increase since 2017, totaling 8.96 billion kg. New Zealand also holds a dominant position in the whole milk powder (WMP) market, with 56% of global exports.

Matthew Zonderop, chair of the Waikato Federated Farmers, welcomed the findings, considering them a testament to the efforts of dairy farmers, sharemilkers, farm staff, processors, and exporters such as Fonterra. He emphasized that the economic benefits of these exports extend beyond the farmgate, benefiting rural communities, service providers, logistics operators, and manufacturers across New Zealand.