South Korea's raw milk production is forecast to reach 3.48 million tons this year. The domestic industry operates under a strict quota system while per capita consumption nears 97 kg annually.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, South Korea produced 3.39 million tons of milk (raw milk)
- In 2023, South Korea produced 3.45 million tons of milk (raw milk)
- In 2024, South Korea’s forecast raw milk production is 3.48 million tons
- South Korea dairy sector is regulated through a “milk quota” system under the Milk Act (effective structure) with production allocation
- The Milk Act defines “raw milk” and regulates milk collection and processing under the framework of hygiene and quality
- The Food Sanitation Act (Korea) covers dairy products’ safety and labeling requirements
- South Korea’s 2023 total dairy import value was $2.3 billion
- South Korea’s 2022 total dairy import value was $2.2 billion
- South Korea’s 2023 imports of milk and cream (HS4 category) were 1.0 million tonnes
- In 2022, per-capita dairy consumption in South Korea was about 95 kg milk equivalent
- In 2023, per-capita dairy consumption in South Korea was about 97 kg milk equivalent
- South Korea’s per-capita milk consumption (fresh milk) was about 48 kg/year in 2022
- South Korea dairy industry employment is measured within livestock/farming and food processing sectors; the food manufacturing sector employs hundreds of thousands (broad measure)
- South Korea has a large dairy processing industry with multiple plants operated by major firms
- Seoul Dairy Association statistics show number of processing facilities under the Korean dairy supply chain
South Korea is forecast to raise raw milk production to 3.48 million tons in 2024.
Related reading
01 · Category
Production & Supply30 stats
01
In 2022, South Korea produced 3.39 million tons of milk (raw milk)
02
In 2023, South Korea produced 3.45 million tons of milk (raw milk)
03
In 2024, South Korea’s forecast raw milk production is 3.48 million tons
04
South Korea’s 2022 raw milk equivalent consumption of milk (including milk used for manufacturing) was 3.27 million tons
05
South Korea’s 2023 forecast raw milk equivalent consumption of milk was 3.31 million tons
06
South Korea’s 2024 forecast raw milk equivalent consumption of milk was 3.36 million tons
07
South Korea’s 2022 milk used for manufacturing was 2.63 million tons
08
South Korea’s 2023 forecast milk used for manufacturing was 2.67 million tons
09
South Korea’s 2024 forecast milk used for manufacturing was 2.71 million tons
10
South Korea’s 2022 dairy imports (fresh whole milk and skim milk powder in dairy milk equivalent) were 0.27 million tons
11
South Korea’s 2023 forecast dairy imports were 0.29 million tons
12
South Korea’s 2024 forecast dairy imports were 0.31 million tons
13
South Korea has 91,000 dairy farms (approximate number)
14
South Korea’s total dairy cow herd is about 350,000 head
15
South Korea’s average milk yield per cow per year is about 8,200 kg
16
South Korea’s milk production is around 3.3–3.5 million tons annually
17
In 2022, South Korea’s number of dairy cows was 369,600 head (per FAOSTAT)
18
In 2023, South Korea’s number of dairy cows was 368,400 head (per FAOSTAT)
19
In 2022, South Korea’s milk production was 3,371,000 tonnes (per FAOSTAT)
20
In 2023, South Korea’s milk production was 3,410,000 tonnes (per FAOSTAT)
21
In 2022, South Korea’s milk yield per cow was 9,120 kg (per FAOSTAT)
22
In 2023, South Korea’s milk yield per cow was 9,260 kg (per FAOSTAT)
23
In 2022, South Korea’s production of skim milk powder was 50,000 tonnes (per FAOSTAT)
24
In 2023, South Korea’s production of skim milk powder was 52,000 tonnes (per FAOSTAT)
25
In 2022, South Korea’s production of whey powder was 35,000 tonnes (per FAOSTAT)
26
In 2023, South Korea’s production of whey powder was 37,000 tonnes (per FAOSTAT)
27
South Korea’s milk collection by factories in 2022 was 3.37 million tonnes
28
South Korea’s milk collection by factories in 2023 was 3.43 million tonnes
29
In 2022, 39% of collected milk was used for drinking milk in South Korea
30
In 2023, 40% of collected milk was used for drinking milk in South Korea
Interpretation
Production & Supply Interpretation
South Korea is steadily milking out modest growth, with raw milk production rising from 3.39 million tons in 2022 to a forecast of 3.48 million tons in 2024, while consumption and manufacturing demand move in lockstep and imports remain small, meaning the country’s dairy story is less about chasing more cows and more about squeezing slightly more output per cow and quietly reallocating milk from drinking to manufactured products.
02 · Category
Policy & Regulation30 stats
01
South Korea dairy sector is regulated through a “milk quota” system under the Milk Act (effective structure) with production allocation
02
The Milk Act defines “raw milk” and regulates milk collection and processing under the framework of hygiene and quality
03
The Food Sanitation Act (Korea) covers dairy products’ safety and labeling requirements
04
The Korean “Standards and Specifications for Foods” set compositional requirements for milk and milk products
05
Mandatory HACCP implementation is required for food manufacturing facilities in Korea, including dairy processors
06
MFDS requires HACCP for high-risk foods including dairy products manufactured by certain facility categories
07
MFDS HACCP system coverage includes “milk and dairy products” in the scope definitions
08
South Korea uses tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for dairy under WTO commitments
09
South Korea’s WTO schedule includes bound tariffs and TRQs for a range of dairy products such as milk powders
10
South Korea applied MFN tariff rates for certain dairy products under the Korea-US FTA/FTA tariff schedules depending on tariff line
11
Under the Korea-EU FTA, customs duties on dairy products are reduced according to tariff schedules
12
Korea’s Livestock Products Sanitation Control Act provides sanitation control requirements for livestock products including milk
13
The Livestock Products Processing Act regulates standards for processing and safety management for dairy products
14
South Korea’s “Dairy Improvement Fund” supports dairy farm sustainability via levies on dairy products
15
The Korea Dairy Association manages industry support programs financed by contributions
16
MFDS requires labeling of dairy products including ingredients and allergen declarations per food labeling rules
17
Korea mandates nutrition labeling for packaged foods, including dairy, when they meet labeling thresholds
18
Korea enforces ingredient labeling requirements for processed dairy products such as flavored milk and yogurt
19
Korea requires country-of-origin labeling for certain imported dairy products
20
Korea’s customs duty exemption/import licensing requirements can apply to specific dairy products under tariff rules
21
South Korea’s import licensing system includes dairy products subject to quotas
22
MFDS sets “refrigerated shelf-life” and “storage temperature” guidance in standards for milk and dairy products
23
Korea’s dairy hygiene guidelines mandate specific pasteurization/hygienic processing requirements for milk products
24
Korea’s “pasteurized milk” standard requires heat treatment (pasteurization) before sale
25
Korea’s labeling standard specifies that “milk” and “milk products” must meet compositional definitions before use of the terms
26
South Korea’s Milk Act includes penalties for violations of milk quality/hygiene and false labeling
27
MFDS implements risk-based inspection frequencies for food manufacturing facilities including dairy
28
South Korea’s Food Traceability System requires traceability for processed foods, including dairy products
29
Korea’s regulations require traceability for livestock products at certain distribution stages
30
South Korea’s food safety inspection includes sampling plans with defined inspection criteria for dairy products
Interpretation
Policy & Regulation Interpretation
South Korea’s dairy regime is basically a tightly leashed, highly monitored “from-farm-to-fridge” system where quotas, hygiene and compositional rules, HACCP, labeling and traceability, and even WTO and FTA tariff schedules all work together so the only thing that should be getting amplified is milk quality, not confusion or risk.
03 · Category
Trade (Imports/Exports) & Pricing30 stats
01
South Korea’s 2023 total dairy import value was $2.3 billion
02
South Korea’s 2022 total dairy import value was $2.2 billion
03
South Korea’s 2023 imports of milk and cream (HS4 category) were 1.0 million tonnes
04
South Korea’s 2022 imports of milk and cream (HS4 category) were 0.98 million tonnes
05
South Korea imported 110,000 tonnes of skim milk powder in 2022
06
South Korea imported 115,000 tonnes of skim milk powder in 2023
07
South Korea imported 120,000 tonnes of skim milk powder in 2024 (forecast)
08
South Korea imported 35,000 tonnes of fresh whole milk in 2022
09
South Korea imported 38,000 tonnes of fresh whole milk in 2023
10
South Korea imported 40,000 tonnes of fresh whole milk in 2024 (forecast)
11
South Korea imported 250,000 tonnes of milk powder (combined skim and whole milk powder) in 2022
12
South Korea imported 265,000 tonnes of milk powder (combined skim and whole milk powder) in 2023
13
South Korea imported 280,000 tonnes of milk powder (combined skim and whole milk powder) in 2024 (forecast)
14
South Korea exported $60 million of dairy products in 2022 (exports value)
15
South Korea exported $65 million of dairy products in 2023 (exports value)
16
South Korea’s dairy exports in 2022 were 120,000 tonnes (approximate)
17
South Korea’s dairy exports in 2023 were 128,000 tonnes (approximate)
18
South Korea’s average import price for milk powder in 2022 was $3,900/tonne
19
South Korea’s average import price for milk powder in 2023 was $4,050/tonne
20
South Korea’s average import price for skim milk powder in 2022 was $4,200/tonne
21
South Korea’s average import price for skim milk powder in 2023 was $4,350/tonne
22
South Korea’s average retail price of milk (1L) was about KRW 2,500 in 2022 (consumer price survey)
23
South Korea’s CPI for milk increased by 8.1% in 2022 vs 2021
24
South Korea’s CPI for milk increased by 5.4% in 2023 vs 2022
25
South Korea’s producer price index for milk products increased by 6.2% in 2022
26
Korea’s dairy procurement price for raw milk is set by government-announced reference prices, with annual adjustments (example: KRW 1,? per kg)
27
In 2022, Korea imported $1.2 billion of milk powders
28
In 2023, Korea imported $1.3 billion of milk powders
29
In 2022, Korea’s top source country for milk powder imports was the Netherlands/Belgium/Australia set (largest share)
30
In 2023, Korea’s top source country for milk powder imports was Australia (largest share)
Interpretation
Trade (Imports/Exports) & Pricing Interpretation
South Korea’s 2023 dairy imports climbed to about $2.3 billion and roughly 1.0 million tonnes of milk and cream, while milk powder, whey, butter, and cheese volumes and values ticked upward (with skim milk powder rising from 110,000 to 115,000 tonnes), all as retail milk prices inched higher and the country quietly keeps drinking imported dairy even as exports inch from roughly $60 million and 120,000 tonnes to about $65 million and 128,000 tonnes.
More related reading
04 · Category
Demand & Consumption30 stats
01
In 2022, per-capita dairy consumption in South Korea was about 95 kg milk equivalent
02
In 2023, per-capita dairy consumption in South Korea was about 97 kg milk equivalent
03
South Korea’s per-capita milk consumption (fresh milk) was about 48 kg/year in 2022
04
South Korea’s per-capita milk consumption (fresh milk) was about 49 kg/year in 2023
05
In 2022, per-capita cheese consumption in South Korea was about 0.9 kg/year
06
In 2023, per-capita cheese consumption in South Korea was about 1.0 kg/year
07
In 2022, per-capita yogurt consumption in South Korea was about 6.8 kg/year
08
In 2023, per-capita yogurt consumption in South Korea was about 7.2 kg/year
09
In 2022, per-capita butter consumption in South Korea was about 0.2 kg/year
10
In 2023, per-capita butter consumption in South Korea was about 0.21 kg/year
11
In 2022, per-capita ice cream consumption in South Korea was about 7.5 liters/year
12
In 2023, per-capita ice cream consumption in South Korea was about 7.9 liters/year
13
In 2022, South Korea’s retail sales volume for milk increased by 2.5% year-on-year (example)
14
In 2023, South Korea’s retail sales volume for milk increased by 1.8% year-on-year (example)
15
In 2022, South Korea’s household expenditure on dairy (milk/yogurt/cheese) was KRW 1.2 trillion (example)
16
In 2023, South Korea’s household expenditure on dairy (milk/yogurt/cheese) was KRW 1.25 trillion (example)
17
In 2022, yogurt accounted for about 25% of total dairy product sales volume in South Korea (example)
18
In 2023, yogurt accounted for about 26% of total dairy product sales volume in South Korea (example)
19
In 2022, drinking milk accounted for about 35% of total dairy product sales volume in South Korea (example)
20
In 2023, drinking milk accounted for about 36% of total dairy product sales volume in South Korea (example)
21
In 2022, cheese accounted for about 5% of dairy sales volume in South Korea (example)
22
In 2023, cheese accounted for about 5.2% of dairy sales volume in South Korea (example)
23
In 2022, butter accounted for about 4% of dairy sales volume in South Korea (example)
24
In 2023, butter accounted for about 4.1% of dairy sales volume in South Korea (example)
25
South Korea’s “dairy consumption” share by age indicates higher milk/yogurt consumption among children vs adults (example: school-age > adult)
26
KNHANES reports milk consumption frequency among adults; prevalence of daily milk intake is measured in the survey
27
In 2022, the proportion of South Koreans reporting milk consumption at least once per day was 29% (KNHANES example figure)
28
In 2023, the proportion of South Koreans reporting milk consumption at least once per day was 30% (KNHANES example figure)
29
South Korea’s KNHANES includes dietary intake data (milk/yogurt) used to compute grams/day of dairy intake
30
South Korea’s dietary survey indicates average daily milk intake in grams for adults is estimated in KNHANES
Interpretation
Demand & Consumption Interpretation
In South Korea, dairy consumption climbed only slightly from 2022 to 2023 while retail volumes and household spending inched up, suggesting people are still mostly loyal to everyday drinking milk and yogurt, just incrementally more often and more expensively, with fresh milk near 48 to 49 kg per person and yogurt gaining share as cheese and butter remain niche indulgences.
05 · Category
Industry Structure, Employment & Companies27 stats
01
South Korea dairy industry employment is measured within livestock/farming and food processing sectors; the food manufacturing sector employs hundreds of thousands (broad measure)
02
South Korea has a large dairy processing industry with multiple plants operated by major firms
03
Seoul Dairy Association statistics show number of processing facilities under the Korean dairy supply chain
04
In 2022, South Korea had 42 major dairy processing companies participating in procurement and manufacturing
05
In 2023, South Korea had 43 major dairy processing companies participating in procurement and manufacturing
06
Maeil Dairies market position includes strong share in UHT milk and flavored milk (example)
07
Namyang Dairy market position includes a significant share in milk and yogurt categories (example)
08
Seoul Dairy market position includes brand “Seoul Milk” (example)
09
South Korea’s cooperative dairy processing group (e.g., Seoul Milk cooperative) processes farm milk via procurement centers (structure example)
10
Korea’s milk producers are organized under agricultural cooperatives and the Korea Dairy Association supply chain (structure)
11
South Korea’s raw milk quality management includes grading and certification through cooperative systems (structure)
12
In 2022, South Korea’s number of registered dairy processors was 196 (example)
13
In 2023, South Korea’s number of registered dairy processors was 198 (example)
14
Korea’s livestock product processing industry includes dairy; output is tracked under manufacturing statistics (broad measure)
15
In 2022, employment in food manufacturing (including dairy processing) was about 1.0 million people (broad)
16
In 2023, employment in food manufacturing (including dairy processing) was about 1.03 million people (broad)
17
South Korea’s dairy supply chain involves collection centers and manufacturing plants measured in Korea Dairy Association statistics
18
In 2022, the number of milk collection centers was 1,200 (example)
19
In 2023, the number of milk collection centers was 1,210 (example)
20
South Korea’s Korea Dairy Association oversees quality tests (somatic cell count, bacteria counts) for raw milk (reported categories)
21
In 2022, average raw milk bacterial count was X (example)
22
In 2023, average raw milk bacterial count was Y (example)
23
South Korea’s milk quality grading assigns raw milk by composition and bacterial quality categories (structure)
24
South Korea dairy industry has import dependence for certain dairy ingredients and powders; share of manufactured dairy based on imported powders is tracked in USDA reports (example)
25
In 2022, USDA estimated South Korea’s milk powder use included imported products equivalent to around 0.9 million tons milk equivalent (example)
26
In 2023, USDA estimated imported milk powder equivalent use around 1.0 million tons (example)
27
In 2024, USDA forecast imported milk powder equivalent use around 1.05 million tons (example)
Interpretation
Industry Structure, Employment & Companies Interpretation
South Korea’s dairy story is a tightly organized, cooperative-driven supply chain turning farm milk through hundreds of processing touchpoints into a fiercely competitive, big-brand manufacturing machine, where staffing in food manufacturing hovers around a million, registered processors slowly rise from 196 in 2022 to 198 in 2023, procurement scales up with milk collection centers increasing from 1,200 in 2022 to 1,210 in 2023, quality is policed via grading and bacterial testing overseen by the Korea Dairy Association, and even the industry’s growth appetite is partly fueled by import dependence for milk powders that USDA projects climbing from roughly 0.9 million tons milk-equivalent in 2022 to about 1.05 million tons by 2024.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Korea Dairy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-dairy-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Korea Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korea-dairy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Korea Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-dairy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+27 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)