China's total raw milk production reached 41.96 million metric tons last year, a 3.2% annual increase. This growth supported a domestic market valued at 728 billion yuan, where liquid milk accounted for nearly two-thirds of all revenue.
Key Takeaways
- Mengniu Dairy held 25.8% market share in liquid milk in 2022
- Per capita fresh milk consumption in China was 14.2 kg in 2022, up from 13.8 kg in 2021
- China's dairy market size was valued at RMB 728 billion in 2022, growing 5.8% YoY
- In 2022, China's total raw milk production reached 41.96 million metric tons, marking a 3.2% increase from 2021
- China's dairy imports totaled 3.62 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 5.8 billion
China’s dairy industry saw steady growth in recent years, driven by rising demand and improving production efficiency.
Related reading
01 · Category
Companies23 stats
01
Mengniu Dairy held 25.8% market share in liquid milk in 2022
02
Yili Group revenue from dairy was RMB 124.5 billion in 2022, up 6.2%
03
Bright Dairy & Food market cap was RMB 45 billion as of end-2022
04
Sanlu Group restarted operations with 1.2 million tons capacity in 2022
05
Feihe International infant formula sales reached RMB 18.9 billion in 2022
06
Junlebao Dairy's revenue grew 28% to RMB 22.4 billion in 2022
07
New Hope Dairy milk powder production capacity 0.5 million tons in 2022
08
Sanyuan Foods Beijing market share 15% in 2022
09
Beingmate infant nutrition revenue RMB 12.3 billion in 2022
10
Modern Dairy's herd size was 140,000 cows in 2022
11
Synutra International sales RMB 8.7 billion in 2022
12
Want Want China dairy beverages revenue RMB 15.2 billion in 2022
13
Ausnutria Dairy's China revenue RMB 9.4 billion in 2022
14
Huishan Dairy restarted with RMB 3.5 billion revenue in 2022
15
Nestle China's dairy sales RMB 28 billion in 2022
16
Danone China's yogurt market share 12% in 2022
17
Fonterra's China joint ventures produced 1.8 million tons in 2022
18
Arla Foods China cheese sales grew 22% in 2022
19
DuPont Danisco probiotics supplied to 60% Chinese dairy firms in 2022
20
China Mengniu Dairy Co., Ltd. exported 0.12 million tons products in 2022
21
Yili Group's R&D investment was RMB 2.1 billion in 2022
22
Bright Dairy's organic milk line revenue RMB 5.6 billion in 2022
23
Top 10 dairy companies controlled 65% market share in 2022
Interpretation
Companies Interpretation
The Chinese dairy sector has evolved from a marketplace of cautious sips to a battleground of strategic gulps, where giants like Mengniu and Yili fiercely defend their turf while once-fallen players like Sanlu attempt a cautious comeback, all under the watchful eye of consumers who now scrutinize everything from infant formula revenues to probiotic supply chains with the intensity of a food safety inspector.
02 · Category
Consumption27 stats
01
Per capita fresh milk consumption in China was 14.2 kg in 2022, up from 13.8 kg in 2021
02
China's total dairy consumption volume reached 38.2 million tons in 2022
03
Liquid milk consumption accounted for 72% of total dairy intake in urban China in 2022
04
Yogurt consumption per capita in China was 4.1 kg in 2022, growing 7.5% YoY
05
Urban residents' dairy expenditure was RMB 456 per capita annually in 2022
06
China's infant formula milk consumption was 1.1 million tons in 2022
07
Milk tea beverage consumption involving dairy reached 12 billion servings in China in 2022
08
Rural per capita dairy consumption was 9.8 kg in 2022, up 4.2%
09
UHT milk held 45% share of liquid milk consumption in 2022
10
Cheese consumption per capita in China reached 0.12 kg in 2022, up 18%
11
Plant-based milk alternatives consumption grew to 0.9 million tons in 2022
12
Online dairy sales accounted for 28% of total consumption value in 2022
13
Flavored milk consumption volume was 3.2 million tons in 2022
14
Elderly population's dairy intake averaged 300 ml/day in 2022 survey
15
School milk program served 12 million students daily in 2022, totaling 1.2 million tons
16
Low-fat milk consumption share rose to 22% in 2022
17
Milk powder consumption for adults was 0.75 million tons in 2022
18
Beijing residents' per capita dairy consumption was 25.6 kg in 2022
19
Lactose-free dairy products consumption doubled to 0.15 million tons in 2022
20
Coffee with milk consumption reached 8 billion cups in 2022
21
High-protein dairy products sales grew 25% to RMB 15 billion in 2022
22
Shanghai's dairy consumption per capita was 28.1 kg in 2022
23
Functional dairy beverages consumption was 2.8 million tons in 2022
24
Vegan dairy substitute penetration reached 15% in Tier 1 cities in 2022
25
Ice cream consumption volume hit 4.5 million tons in 2022
26
Guangdong province dairy consumption totaled 3.9 million tons in 2022
27
Probiotic yogurt market value reached RMB 68 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
China's dairy industry is bubbling over with growth, as evidenced by a half-kilo bump in per capita milk consumption, 12 billion milk tea servings, and lactose-free products doubling, yet it remains a market carefully poured between urban and rural divides, yogurt cravings, and a still-modest but booming love for cheese.
03 · Category
Market21 stats
01
China's dairy market size was valued at RMB 728 billion in 2022, growing 5.8% YoY
02
Liquid milk segment revenue was RMB 456 billion in 2022, 62% of total dairy market
03
Dairy industry contributed 0.9% to China's GDP in 2022
04
Average retail price of raw milk was RMB 3.65 per kg in 2022
05
Milk powder market revenue reached RMB 156 billion in 2022
06
Yogurt segment grew at CAGR 8.2% from 2018-2022 to RMB 112 billion
07
Import tariffs on dairy products averaged 12.5% in 2022
08
E-commerce dairy sales revenue was RMB 204 billion in 2022, up 22%
09
Private label dairy products market share reached 18% in 2022
10
Organic dairy market valued at RMB 42 billion in 2022, CAGR 15%
11
Dairy processing capacity utilization rate was 78% in 2022
12
RMB/USD exchange rate impact led to 4% rise in import dairy costs in 2022
13
Infant formula market size was RMB 78 billion in 2022
14
Cheese market revenue grew to RMB 28 billion in 2022
15
Dairy export rebate rate was 15% for most products in 2022
16
Premium dairy segment (above RMB 10/liter) grew 12% to RMB 89 billion in 2022
17
Supply chain logistics costs for dairy averaged 9% of revenue in 2022
18
Functional dairy market valued at RMB 156 billion in 2022
19
Dairy industry employment reached 2.1 million direct jobs in 2022
20
Inflation-adjusted dairy price index rose 2.8% in 2022
21
Plant-based dairy market size was RMB 35 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Market Interpretation
In 2022, China's dairy industry was a half-trillion-yuan juggernaut of liquid milk, where rising premiums, yogurt cravings, and online shopping carts not only powered steady growth but also faced the sobering squeeze of tariffs, logistics costs, and a plant-based rival nipping at its heels.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production30 stats
01
In 2022, China's total raw milk production reached 41.96 million metric tons, marking a 3.2% increase from 2021
02
China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region produced 15.2 million tons of raw milk in 2022, accounting for 36% of national total
03
Average milk yield per dairy cow in China improved to 7.5 tons in 2022 from 7.1 tons in 2021
04
China's goat milk production was 2.1 million tons in 2022, up 4.5% year-on-year
05
Heilongjiang province's raw milk output hit 3.8 million tons in 2022, second highest nationally
06
Number of dairy cows in China stood at 5.8 million heads in 2022
07
China's pasteurized milk production volume was 28.4 million tons in 2021
08
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region contributed 2.9 million tons of raw milk in 2022
09
Milk production growth rate in Shandong province was 5.1% in 2022, reaching 2.5 million tons
10
China's UHT milk production reached 22.6 million tons in 2022
11
Total dairy farms in China numbered 456,000 in 2022, with average herd size of 85 cows
12
Gansu province's raw milk production grew 6.2% to 1.2 million tons in 2022
13
China's organic milk production was 0.85 million tons in 2022, up 12%
14
Jilin province produced 2.1 million tons of raw milk in 2022
15
Dairy cow stocking density in major provinces averaged 1.2 cows per hectare in 2022
16
China's yogurt production volume hit 8.9 million tons in 2022
17
Shaanxi province's milk output was 1.1 million tons in 2022, up 3.8%
18
Feed cost per liter of milk in China was RMB 2.1 in 2022
19
China's cheese production reached 0.45 million tons in 2022, growing 15%
20
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region produced 0.95 million tons raw milk in 2022
21
Milk fat content in Chinese raw milk averaged 3.8% in 2022
22
China's powdered milk production was 1.2 million tons in 2022
23
Tianjin municipality's dairy production was 0.32 million tons in 2022
24
Somatic cell count in Chinese dairy herds averaged 250,000 cells/ml in 2022
25
China's condensed milk production stood at 0.67 million tons in 2022
26
Hubei province produced 0.88 million tons raw milk in 2022
27
Automated milking systems in use on 25% of large-scale Chinese dairy farms in 2022
28
China's butter production was 0.31 million tons in 2022, up 8.2%
29
Liaoning province's milk output reached 1.05 million tons in 2022
30
China's raw milk self-sufficiency rate was 96.5% in 2022
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
China's dairy industry is no longer just a national affair, but a sophisticated, data-driven empire where Inner Mongolia lords over a third of the moo-vement, cows are politely but firmly asked to be 5.6% more productive, and the nation proudly claims 96.5% self-sufficiency, all while quietly cultivating a surprisingly goaty side hustle.
05 · Category
Trade25 stats
01
China's dairy imports totaled 3.62 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 5.8 billion
02
New Zealand supplied 28% of China's dairy imports in 2022, 1.02 million tons
03
Dairy imports from EU reached 0.85 million tons in 2022
04
Whole milk powder import volume was 0.72 million tons in 2022
05
Skim milk powder imports declined 5% to 0.41 million tons in 2022
06
Infant formula imports valued USD 2.1 billion in 2022
07
China's dairy exports grew 12% to 0.28 million tons in 2022
08
Dairy trade surplus with ASEAN countries was USD 150 million in 2022
09
Butter imports reached 0.18 million tons in 2022, up 9%
10
Cheese imports totaled 0.12 million tons, valued USD 850 million in 2022
11
Australia exported 0.65 million tons dairy to China in 2022
12
Whey protein concentrate imports were 0.35 million tons in 2022
13
RCEP agreement boosted dairy imports by 8% post-2022 implementation
14
Dairy exports to Southeast Asia reached 0.15 million tons in 2022
15
Liquid milk imports dropped 15% to 0.09 million tons in 2022
16
Ireland's dairy exports to China valued EUR 450 million in 2022
17
China's share of global dairy imports was 15.2% in 2022
18
UHT milk exports from China hit 0.05 million tons in 2022
19
Dairy tariff quota utilization was 102% for WTO allotments in 2022
20
Imports from Netherlands grew 14% to 0.22 million tons in 2022
21
Yogurt imports reached 0.03 million tons, mostly premium brands, in 2022
22
China's dairy re-exports to Hong Kong were 0.42 million tons in 2022
23
Milk protein concentrate imports 0.11 million tons in 2022
24
Exports to Middle East dairy products valued USD 120 million in 2022
25
Import growth rate for lactose-free dairy was 25% in 2022
Interpretation
Trade Interpretation
While China's dairy imports reveal a voracious appetite for New Zealand's milk powder and Europe's infant formula, its own growing exports of UHT milk to Southeast Asia suggest it's learning to milk the global market from both ends.
Reference
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APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). China Dairy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-dairy-industry-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "China Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/china-dairy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "China Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-dairy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
79 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level