DAIRY IMPORTS rose 12.9% year on year to 1.65 million metric tons (MT) during the first half, according to the National Dairy Authority (NDA).
The NDA said by value, milk and dairy shipments declined 9.2% to $37.11 million.
The report said skim milk powder accounted for 40% of all such imports followed by other milk powders and ready-to-drink milk at 17% and 4%, respectively.
“New Zealand was the largest source of these imports with 31% (by) value, followed by the US (23%) and Indonesia (5%),” it added.
Domestic milk production rose 15% year on year to 16,020 MT in the first half, the NDA said.
It added that domestic production accounted for 21% of the liquid milk supply in the Philippines.
“The domestic milk industry is supported by a dairy animal inventory of 151,059 head, which includes 34,754 dairy cattle, 80,805 carabao, and 35,500 goats,” it added.
The NDA said dairy exports for the six-month period rose 27.5% year on year to 21,030 MT.
Export products included cream (17%), cheese (16%), whole milk powder (7%), and skim milk powder (6%).
The NDA said that key export markets were Singapore and the United Arab Emirates with 19% and 13% of the total by value, followed by Canada (12%) and the US (11%). — Adrian H. Halili
