Milk powder inventory has exceeded 12,000 tons for the first time in four years... Establishment of 'public milk powder manufacturing facilities' is urgent.

As of May, the powdered milk inventory reached 12,871 tons, which is double the appropriate level of around 6,000 tons. The increase in raw milk production and the decrease in consumption during the winter months, along with the creation and storage of powdered milk with a long shelf life, have contributed to this situation. When considering the duty-free import of sterilized milk from the U.S. and the EU, the likelihood of continued inventory burden is high, prompting calls for government financial input and facility introduction. Concerns are rising that the burden of powdered milk inventory on dairy companies could threaten stable raw milk production. Given the mismatch between seasonal demand and supply, which inevitably leads to unused raw milk, and the concurrent decrease in milk consumption, the burden of powdered milk inventory is likely to persist. Additionally, most powdered milk manufacturing facilities owned by individual dairy companies are outdated, making the ...