Growing Chinese appetite for dairy products presents export opportunities for Pakistan

BEIJING, Aug. 20, (APP):China’s dairy import market, valued at $12.78 billion in 2025 with 2.66 million tonnes of products imported, is emerging as a promising frontier for Pakistani dairy exporters as bilateral agricultural cooperation between the two nations continues to expand.

According to the Dairy Association of China, China’s dairy imports grew 13.7 percent year-on-year in value in 2025. Major import categories include milk powder, whey products, cheese and cream. The growth reflects rising domestic demand for high-quality dairy products, presenting significant opportunities for international suppliers.

Recognizing this potential, the Agro & Food Division of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), in collaboration with the Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, organized a webinar on “Unlocking China’s Dairy Market — Opportunities for Pakistani Exporters” on August 18.

Muhammad Imran, Trade and Investment Counsellor, briefed participants on the size and potential of China’s dairy market, evolving consumer demand, import and distribution channels, regulatory requirements and opportunities for Pakistani exporters to develop sustainable commercial ties with Chinese importers and distributors.

Pakistan’s dairy sector is well-positioned to meet China’s growing demand. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2025-26, the country ranks among the world’s top milk-producing nations, with gross milk production reaching 74.69 million tonnes in fiscal year 2025-26, up from 72.34 million tonnes the previous year. Buffaloes remain the country’s largest milk source, producing 44.41 million tonnes, followed by cows at 28.10 million tonnes. The country has the capacity to produce UHT milk, milk powder, cream, butter, ghee and other value-added products, CEN reported.

Shehzad Amin, CEO of the Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA), highlighted the strength of Pakistan’s dairy sector, including its large livestock and milk-production base, established processing facilities, and the capacity to produce a wide range of value-added dairy products. He also underlined the export capabilities of Pakistani dairy companies, their compliance with international quality and Halal requirements, and the approval of Pakistani dairy establishments by China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) for exports to China.

Bilateral dairy cooperation has already gained tangible momentum. In April 2025, Pakistan marked a historic milestone with its first-ever export of camel milk powder to China. A China-Pakistan joint venture, Royal JW Foods, which focuses on buffalo industry development and dairy processing, exported its first batch of concentrated buffalo milk to China in 2025. The company plans to launch more high-value-added buffalo milk products including yogurt, cheese and butter for the Chinese market.

Approximately 20 Pakistani and Chinese companies participated in the webinar to explore pathways to bridge the wide trade gap and build sustainable business partnerships.