Market Forecast By Category (Butter, Cheese, Cream, Dairy Desserts, Milk, Yogurt), By Distribution Channel (Off-Trade, On-Trade) And Competitive Landscape
| Product Code: ETC6741034 | Publication Date: Sep 2024 | Updated Date: Feb 2026 | Product Type: Market Research Report | |
| Publisher: 6Wresearch | Author: Vasudha | No. of Pages: 75 | No. of Figures: 35 | No. of Tables: 20 |
According to 6Wresearch internal database and industry insights, the China Dairy Market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2032.
Below is the evaluation of year-wise growth rate along with key drivers:
| Year | CAGR (%) | Growth Drivers |
| 2021 | 4.6% | Stable domestic milk production and rising urban demand |
| 2022 | 4.8% | Increasing consumption of fortified and functional dairy products |
| 2023 | 5% | Expansion in cheese and yogurt consumption across households and foodservice |
| 2024 | 5.2% | Technological advancements in dairy processing and packaging improving shelf life |
| 2025 | 5.5% | Rising demand for premium, organic, and imported dairy products |
The China Dairy Market report thoroughly covers the market by category and distribution channel, providing an unbiased and detailed analysis of ongoing market trends, opportunities, challenges, and growth drivers, helping stakeholders align their strategies with current and future market dynamics.
| Report Name | China Dairy Market |
| Forecast period | 2026–2032 |
| CAGR | 5.8% |
| Growing Sector | Dairy Products |
China Dairy Market is experiencing strong expansion as people now understand nutritional advantages and the country maintains consistent milk production and consumers show increasing interest in premium and functional dairy products. The market is expanding as people consume more yogurt, cheese and dairy desserts while processing, packaging and cold chain systems continue to advance. The Chinese dairy market experiences growth as people demand organic, fortified and imported dairy products which cities, rising incomes and changing eating patterns support.
Below mentioned are some prominent drivers and their impact on the market dynamics:
| Drivers | Primary Segments Affected | Why It Matters |
| Growing Urban Population | Milk, Yogurt, Cheese | Urban consumers drive demand for convenience and ready-to-consume dairy |
| Rising Demand for Functional Dairy | Yogurt, Dairy Desserts | Consumers prefer probiotic, fortified, and immunity-boosting dairy products |
| Technological Advancements | Cheese, Cream, Milk | Improved processing and packaging extend shelf life and product quality |
| Increasing Cheese & Yogurt Consumption | Cheese, Yogurt | Dietary shifts and foodservice growth drive higher consumption |
| Expansion of Retail Chains | Milk, Yogurt, Butter | Greater retail penetration improves accessibility and variety |
China Dairy Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2026 to 2032. The China Dairy Market is driven by rising consumer awareness of nutrition and health, increasing disposable incomes, growing demand for premium, organic, and functional dairy products. Consumption of ready-to-eat, value-added dairy products such as yogurt, cheese and flavored milk is increasing such as urbanization and changing lifestyles. Market expansion receives additional support from technological progress in dairy processing, cold chain systems and retail development. The China Dairy Market expansion is driven by government programs which promote dairy consumption and establish better food safety standards.
Below mentioned are some major restraints and their influence on the market dynamics:
| Restraints | Primary Segments Affected | What This Means |
| High Production Costs | Milk, Butter, Cheese | Increased feed, labor, and energy costs affect product pricing |
| Competition from Plant-Based Alternatives | Milk, Yogurt | Non-dairy substitutes influence consumer choices |
| Regulatory Standards | All Categories | Compliance with food safety and labeling regulations increases operational costs |
| Consumer Lactose Intolerance | Milk, Cream | Limits consumption among sensitive populations |
| Import Competition | Imported Dairy Products | Competes with domestic production, impacting market share |
China Dairy Market encounters various difficulties due to its expensive production costs, feed expenses, its need to compete against plant-based products and its strict government regulations. The market environment experiences disruption from two factors which include lactose intolerance among consumers and the availability of imported dairy products. Producers are focusing on innovation, sustainable farming practices, developing functional and value-added dairy products to overcome these challenges. The company will achieve its long-term growth objectives through three main strategies which include improving cold chain logistics, increasing processing efficiency, developing premium and fortified products.
Here are some major trends changing the China Dairy Market Growth dynamics:
The China Dairy Market presents several investment opportunities, including:
Below is the list of prominent companies leading the China Dairy Market Share:
| Company Name | Yili Group |
| Established Year | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Hohhot, China |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Description: Yili is one of China's largest dairy companies, producing milk, yogurt, cheese, and dairy desserts with strong focus on product quality and innovation.
| Company Name | Mengniu Dairy |
| Established Year | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Hohhot, China |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Description: Mengniu offers a wide range of dairy products including milk, yogurt, and ice cream, emphasizing research, quality, and consumer health.
| Company Name | Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd. |
| Established Year | 1911 |
| Headquarters | Shanghai, China |
| Official Website | - |
Description: Bright Dairy produces milk, yogurt, and cheese, focusing on innovation, food safety, and premium product development.
| Company Name | Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co., Ltd. |
| Established Year | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Hangzhou, China |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Description: Specializes in infant formula, dairy snacks, and value-added dairy products, prioritizing nutrition, safety, and quality.
| Company Name | China Modern Dairy Holdings Ltd. |
| Established Year | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Beijing, China |
| Official Website | - |
Description: Focuses on large-scale milk production and high-quality processing, supporting sustainable and innovative dairy farming practices.
According to Chinese Government data, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) together with the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) establish regulations that govern dairy safety standards, quality requirements and production guidelines. The regulations require pasteurization to be performed for all milk products and they mandate milk grading and product labeling together with safety inspections. The National Dairy Development Plan together with other governmental initiatives supports the establishment of modern dairy farms while promoting the production of functional high-quality dairy products and sustainable operations.
The future of China Dairy Market outlook shows positive growth as urban demand continues to increase, premium and functional dairy consumption rises and new processing and packaging technologies emerge. The market experiences growth as consumers show increasing demand for imported organic dairy products and fortified dairy items. The combination of retail channel expansion, e-commerce platform growth and cold chain logistics development creates better product availability and wider market distribution. The combination of these elements demonstrates consistent long-term expansion which supports research and development efforts while enhancing product distribution and satisfying changing consumer demands throughout urban and rural areas across the country.
The report offers a comprehensive study of the following market segments and their leading categories:
According to Ritika Kalra, Senior Research Analyst, 6Wresearch, Milk is expected to dominate the China Dairy Market due to its staple consumption, nutritional value, and widespread use across households and foodservice. The milk market maintains its leading position due to strong domestic production and increasing consumer knowledge about the protein and calcium content of milk products.
Off-trade channels, including supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores, are expected to dominate due to their broad accessibility, competitive pricing, and variety of dairy products. Expansion of online grocery and digital retail platforms further strengthens this segment.
The report offers a comprehensive study of the subsequent market segments:
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1 Executive Summary |
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2 Introduction |
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2.1 Key Highlights of the Report |
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2.2 Report Description |
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2.3 Market Scope & Segmentation |
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2.4 Research Methodology |
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2.5 Assumptions |
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3 China Dairy Market Overview |
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3.1 China Country Macro Economic Indicators |
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3.2 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, 2022 & 2032F |
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3.3 China Dairy Market - Industry Life Cycle |
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3.4 China Dairy Market - Porter's Five Forces |
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3.5 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Category, 2022 & 2032F |
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3.6 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Distribution Channel, 2022 & 2032F |
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4 China Dairy Market Dynamics |
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4.1 Impact Analysis |
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4.2 Market Drivers |
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4.2.1 Increasing awareness about the health benefits of dairy products |
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4.2.2 Rising disposable income leading to higher consumption of dairy products |
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4.2.3 Growing urbanization and changing dietary preferences towards dairy products |
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4.3 Market Restraints |
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4.3.1 Stringent regulations and quality control measures in the dairy industry |
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4.3.2 Fluctuating prices of raw materials such as milk |
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4.3.3 Competition from plant-based dairy alternatives |
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5 China Dairy Market Trends |
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6 China Dairy Market, By Types |
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6.1 China Dairy Market, By Category |
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6.1.1 Overview and Analysis |
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6.1.2 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Category, 2022- 2032F |
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6.1.3 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Butter, 2022- 2032F |
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6.1.4 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Cheese, 2022- 2032F |
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6.1.5 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Cream, 2022- 2032F |
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6.1.6 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Dairy Desserts, 2022- 2032F |
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6.1.7 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Milk, 2022- 2032F |
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6.1.8 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Yogurt, 2022- 2032F |
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6.2 China Dairy Market, By Distribution Channel |
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6.2.1 Overview and Analysis |
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6.2.2 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By Off-Trade, 2022- 2032F |
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6.2.3 China Dairy Market Revenues & Volume, By On-Trade, 2022- 2032F |
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7 China Dairy Market Import-Export Trade Statistics |
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7.1 China Dairy Market Export to Major Countries |
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7.2 China Dairy Market Imports from Major Countries |
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8 China Dairy Market Key Performance Indicators |
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8.1 Number of dairy product launches in the market |
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8.2 Consumer engagement with dairy brands on social media platforms |
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8.3 Adoption rate of new dairy technologies in production and distribution |
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8.4 Percentage of dairy products meeting quality standards |
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8.5 Consumer satisfaction levels with dairy products |
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9 China Dairy Market - Opportunity Assessment |
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9.1 China Dairy Market Opportunity Assessment, By Category, 2022 & 2032F |
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9.2 China Dairy Market Opportunity Assessment, By Distribution Channel, 2022 & 2032F |
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10 China Dairy Market - Competitive Landscape |
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10.1 China Dairy Market Revenue Share, By Companies, 2025 |
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10.2 China Dairy Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Operating and Technical Parameters |
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11 Company Profiles |
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12 Recommendations |
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13 Disclaimer |
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