China: Dairy and Products Annual

In 2023, dairy product imports are forecast to remain near 2022 levels but a number of factors, including high global dairy prices, increased domestic production, and a weak economic outlook could weigh heavily on trade. Raw milk production in 2023 is expected to reach nearly 41.7 million metric tons (MMT). Production will support increases in whole milk powder (WMP), which is estimated to rise to nearly 1.1 MMT in 2023. In China, skim milk powder (SMP), cheese and butter are produced in limited quantities. The volume of production for these products is unlikely to change much in 2023. Import prices for fluid milk, WMP, SMP, butter and cheese in combination with a weak economic outlook are expected to weigh on imports in 2023, as they have in 2022.