India waives petrochemical duty amid war crisis
India has waived customs duty on around 40 critical petrochemical imports as a temporary measure to tackle supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict, with the exemption effective from April 2 to June 30, 2026. The duty relief covers key feedstocks and intermediates such as ammonia, methanol, toluene, styrene, acetic acid, along with…
West Asia Conflict Squeezes Private Dairies
India’s private dairy companies are facing mounting margin pressure as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts supply chains and inflates input costs across the value chain. The crisis is driving sharp increases in packaging costs, alongside broader inflationary pressures impacting operations. At the same time, demand from the HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering) segment has weakened,…
Freight Turmoil Reshapes Global Dairy Trade Flows
Freight disruptions and shifting protein economics reshape global dairy trade, impacting costs, competitiveness, and exports. Milk mixing in the stainless tank during the fermentation process at the cheese manufacturing Edited by: Damián Morais Shifting protein economics and logistics disruption redefine competitiveness in dairy markets. Insight Focus Global dairy markets have steadied but remain freight‑driven. Logistics disruptions…
LPG Crisis Halves Milk Sales for Dairy Farmers
Dairy farmers in Madhya Pradesh are facing severe disruption as an ongoing LPG shortage—linked to global supply tensions—has cut milk sales by nearly 50%, forcing distress selling and operational challenges across the value chain. A ground report from Indore highlights that a typical farm producing around 1,000 litres of milk daily (600 litres own +…
Army Rejects 125 MT Milk Powder from Milkfed
The Indian Army has rejected an entire consignment of ~125 metric tonnes (MT) of whole milk powder supplied by Punjab’s state-run dairy cooperative Milkfed under its Verka brand, after two batches failed quality checks. The rejection was communicated by an Army Service Corps unit based in Jammu to the Ludhiana District Cooperative Milk Producers Union,…
UK Opens Milk Sector Survey for Fairer Supply Chain
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new milk sector survey, inviting dairy farmers, processors and industry bodies to share feedback on how the supply chain is functioning amid current challenges. The short survey, which takes around 10 minutes to complete, is now open and will close on 20…
Damaged Dairy Delivery Sparks Quality Concerns
A viral social media video has raised serious concerns over last-mile quality control in dairy delivery after a customer alleged that a quick-commerce order from Zepto arrived with damaged and leaking dairy products, including a swollen Amul milk pouch and a torn Mother Dairy curd cup. The video, posted on March 18, 2026, has garnered…
Rising Input Costs May Push Milk Prices Up
India’s dairy sector is bracing for a potential milk price hike as input costs surge sharply, with industry players indicating that a revision in consumer prices may soon become unavoidable. Leading dairies in Maharashtra are set to hold a key meeting, with 40–50 members from Pune, Kolhapur and Sangli expected to participate, collectively handling around…
Functional dairy rises amid global food volatility
Functional dairy is emerging as a key growth driver in the global food and beverage sector, supported by rapid technology-led innovation that is repositioning the category within the broader functional foods space. According to FoodNavigator Asia’s latest Trend Tracker, rising consumer awareness and demand for better value-for-money products have fueled the meteoric growth of functional…