India: Dairy and Products Annual

India’s milk production has been trending upwards for a decade. FAS New Delhi (Post) foresees this growth continuing in the near- to medium-term. Production increases, however, are falling short of their full potential. Post attributes Indian fluid milk production shortcomings to a combination of factors, including a shortage of quality feeds and fodders and a limited number of higher-yielding milk cows. Post forecasts MY 2024 (January-December) fluid milk production at 212.7 million metric tons (MMT) (up three percent), along with 0.8 MMT of nonfat dry milk (skimmed milk powder (up four percent), and 6.9 MMT of butter (up two percent) compared to 2023 volumes. India consumes the bulk of its milk and milk products production; this will likely continue for the foreseeable future. FAS New Delhi forecasts MY 2024 fluid milk consumption at 90 MMT (up three percent); nonfat dry milk is foreseen to come in at 0.7 MMT (up one percent) and butter at about 6.9 MMT (up two percent) compared to 2023 volumes.