Government of India stays out of milk pricing decisions
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India does not regulate the procurement and sale prices of milk. These are determined by cooperative and private dairies based on factors such as cost of production, stocks of dairy commodities (e.g., white butter, skimmed milk powder), and prevailing domestic and international market conditions. However,…
GDT Event 386 declined by 0.3% & Global Dairy Trends
On Tuesday, 19 August 2025, GDT Trading Event 386 recorded a 0.3% decline in the overall GDT Price Index. The average price landed at US $4,291 per metric tonne (equivalent to €3,676). Among key product movements: Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF) edged up 0.1% to $7,078/MT. Butter declined 1.0%, now at $7,144/MT. Cheddar decreased 0.5% to…
India & NZ: Opposite Forces Steering Global Dairy
The global dairy market is not only about commodities — it is a geopolitical chessboard in constant motion, where beyond cows, milk and cheese, economic power, food security and policies come into play, capable of shaking entire nations. In this arena, India and New Zealand represent polar opposites: the former, a colossal producer that consumes…
Australia Drives Dairy Exports to Southeast Asia
Australia’s dairy sector, in collaboration with Austrade (the Australian Trade and Investment Commission), is intensifying its focus on Southeast Asia—a region now accounting for approximately 87% of its dairy exports. In the fiscal year 2023–24, Southeast Asia imported over 290,000 tonnes of Australian dairy, valued at more than A$1.2 billion, with Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia…
GST Overhaul May Slash Prices on Dairy & Consumer Goods
India is set to roll out a significant Goods and Services Tax (GST) overhaul, likely unveiled during the 56th GST Council meeting in September or October 2025, pending approval from the Group of Ministers (GoM) . Under the current draft, the multi-slab GST system will be simplified into two main rates: 5% and 18%, effectively…
China Extends Dairy Probe Amid EU Trade Tensions
China has extended its anti-subsidy investigation into European Union (EU) dairy products—including milk, cream, and cheese—by six months, pushing the deadline to February 2026. The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing cited the “complex nature” of the case as the reason for the extension. This investigation is widely seen as part of a broader tit-for-tat trade…
Global Milk Surge Pressures Dairy Market Stability
A sharp increase in milk production across the European Union, United States, and New Zealand is exerting significant downward pressure on commodity dairy prices. With supply now outpacing demand—amid weakening domestic consumption and slow export growth—market fundamentals are shifting toward bearish sentiment. The EU faces easing supply constraints but afternoon droughts threaten feed stocks. In…
Milk Not Essential for Strong Bones- Harvard study
Contrary to long-standing dairy marketing, milk consumption is not definitively vital for building stronger bones, according to nutrition experts at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. As reported by Jay Lau on August 14, the notion that milk’s calcium content directly translates to fewer fractures is unsupported by long-term studies. While both dairy products…
Productivity Gains Mean Little Without Fair Pay to Farmers
As India commemorates its 79th Independence Day, a moment of profound gratitude and collective reflection on the nation’s remarkable journey, few narratives resonate as powerfully as the transformation of its dairy sector. We went from a country with very little milk to becoming the world leader in dairy. This wasn’t just about making more milk;…
Amul Eyes US Plants to Dodge Rising Duties
Amid escalating U.S. tariffs on Indian exports, prominent FMCG players—including Amul and ITC—are recalibrating their U.S. strategy. Both are evaluating the feasibility of establishing production facilities in third countries or directly in the U.S. to overcome tariff-related hurdles and shield export competitiveness. This move seeks to mitigate the impact of elevated duties and preserve market…