Uruguay Expands Dairy Export Market with First Shipments to Indonesia
Uruguay has taken a significant step in diversifying its dairy export markets by sending its first shipments of powdered milk to Indonesia. Conaprole, a leading Uruguayan dairy company, has exported containers of both whole and skimmed milk powder to this Southeast Asian nation. The shipments mark the opening of a new trade channel aimed at decreasing reliance on traditional markets and increasing Uruguay's presence in Southeast Asia.
According to customs records, these shipments included whole milk powder priced at approximately $3,800 per ton and skimmed milk powder at about $3,400 per ton. Indonesia is a strategic market for Uruguay, as it produces only 20% of the milk it consumes, relying heavily on imports to meet an annual demand exceeding 600,000 tons of dairy products.
This development comes after the signing of a bilateral sanitary protocol in March, following an audit by Indonesian authorities in late 2025. The Uruguayan dairy industry views Indonesia as a key opportunity due to its growing demand and ambitious government programs aimed at distributing milk to children and pregnant women, projecting to reach 82 million daily beneficiaries by 2029.
In August, Uruguay plans an official trade mission to Southeast Asia, including visits to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. This delegation will comprise representatives from Uruguay's Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP), the National Dairy Institute (Inale), and the National Meat Institute (INAC). The mission aims to secure further sanitary approvals and strengthen commercial ties in the region.
Additionally, Uruguay is working to open export channels for beef and mutton to Indonesia while negotiating sanitary agreements with Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The successful entry of Uruguayan powdered milk into the Indonesian market signifies a new commercial phase for Uruguay's dairy industry, reinforcing Asia as a significant growth driver for the sector's exports.
