January 14, 2011

China's 2010 milk powder imports hit record high

In 2010, China imported a record volume of milk powder totalling 370,600 tonnes in the first 11 months, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) reported.

Before the melamine scandal in 2008, domestic milk powder brands accounted for about 60% of the market, said Ma Ying, deputy director of the MOA dairy industry management office. He added that in 2011, they may make up less than 50% of it, while imported milk powder takes over the rest.

Overseas milk powder producers rake in huge profits with a profit rate of at least 40%, due to the unreasonably high prices Chinese consumers are forced to pay for imported milk powder, Ma said.