Lactose Suppliers & Prices in Australia — Market Overview 2026
Sub Product
Anhydrous Lactose, Crystalline Lactose, Feed Grade Lactose, Food Grade Lactose, +5
Derived Products
Milk Chocolates, Milk Stout, Liquid Infant Formula
Raw Materials
Cow Milk
HS Code
170211
Last Updated
2026-10-19
Key takeaways for search and sourcing teams
- 5 export partner countries and 5 import partner countries are ranked.
- Latest reference year in this page dataset is 2024.
- Page data last updated on 2026-10-19.
Lactose Export Supplier & Manufacturer Intelligence, Price Trends, and Trade Flows in Australia
Use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to validate Lactose exporter coverage, partner quality, and route priorities in Australia.
Annual Export Value, Volume, and Supplier Market Size for Lactose in Australia (HS Code 170211)
Analyze 3 years of Lactose export volume and value in Australia to evaluate supplier market growth, seasonality, and trade volatility.
| Year | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,959,930 | 4,980,288 USD |
| 2023 | 10,920,780 | 7,548,266 USD |
| 2022 | 3,151,300 | 4,800,222 USD |
Top Destination Markets for Lactose Exports from Australia (HS Code 170211) in 2024
For 2024, compare export volume and value across the top 5 destination countries for Lactose exports from Australia.
| Rank | Country | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 3,867,450 | 2,755,092.783 USD |
| 2 | New Zealand | 3,420,410 | 1,853,115.188 USD |
| 3 | Japan | 352,120 | 286,554.721 USD |
| 4 | Singapore | 75,560 | 64,709.46 USD |
| 5 | New Caledonia | 3,200 | 6,617.578 USD |
Tridge Ark · Sourcing Feasibility Check
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Lactose Import Buyer Intelligence and Price Signals in Australia: Buyers, Demand, and Trade Partners
4 import partner companies are tracked for Lactose in Australia. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to analyze buyer demand, partner density, and downstream channels.
Scatter points are sampled from 100.0% of the full transaction dataset. Each point is a real transaction — click one to see its details and ask AI Chat whether it was a fair deal.
Sample Import Transaction and Price Records for Lactose in Australia
1 sampled Lactose import transactions in Australia provide date, origin, and trade-country context to benchmark price levels and demand-side trading patterns.
Lactose sampled import transaction unit prices by date in Australia: 2026-01-01: 2.33 USD / kg.
| Date | Reported Product | Unit Price | Exporter | Importer | Origin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Lac**** *** ******* ***** ********** ** ********** ******* ********** ** *** *** | 2.33 USD / kg | (-) | (-) | - |
These 1 rows are a sample — open Lactose transactions in Australia on Tridge Eye
Each record shows the exporter, importer and unit price. Ask AI Chat whether the deal was fair, or turn the records into an AI Curation.
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Top Lactose Buyers, Importers, and Demand Partners in Australia
Review leading buyer profiles and compare them with 4 total import partner companies tracked for Lactose in Australia. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to evaluate demand-side partner fit.
(Australia)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-09-19
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 5M - 10M
Industries: Food Manufacturing, Food Services And Drinking Places
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / Wholesale, Food Manufacturing, Trade
(Australia)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-09-19
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Industries: Beverage Manufacturing, Food Manufacturing, Food Packaging, Food Services And Drinking Places
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / Wholesale, Food Manufacturing, Retail
(Australia)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-09-19
Sales Revenue: USD 10M - 50M
Industries: Beverage Manufacturing, Food Manufacturing, Food Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / Wholesale, Food Manufacturing, Trade
(Australia)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-09-19
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 1M - 5M
Industries: Food Manufacturing, Food Wholesalers
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / Wholesale, Food Manufacturing, Trade
See the full picture in Tridge Eye: full price and trade history · 725,009+ company profiles
Australia Import Partner Coverage
4 companies
Import partner company count highlights demand-side visibility for Lactose in Australia.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics and company profiles to identify active Lactose importers, distributors, and buyer networks in Australia.
Annual Import Value, Volume, and Demand Size for Lactose in Australia (HS Code 170211)
Track 3 years of Lactose import volume and value in Australia to assess demand growth and market momentum.
| Year | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,065,499 | 10,455,013 USD |
| 2023 | 4,565,875 | 8,725,205 USD |
| 2022 | 7,505,180 | 16,522,024 USD |
Top Origin Supplier Countries Supplying Lactose to Australia (HS Code 170211) in 2024
For 2024, compare import volume and value across the top 5 origin supplier countries supplying Lactose to Australia.
| Rank | Country | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria | 864,641 | 4,235,258.124 USD |
| 2 | New Zealand | 857,302 | 2,255,347.409 USD |
| 3 | United States | 1,956,440 | 1,929,809.273 USD |
| 4 | Germany | 465,055.785 | 1,195,551.02 USD |
| 5 | Denmark | 852,000 | 795,819.686 USD |
Tridge Ark · Export Feasibility Check
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Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPowder
Industry PositionDairy-Derived Food Ingredient / Pharmaceutical Excipient
Market
Lactose in Australia functions primarily as a dairy-derived ingredient used by food manufacturers (including dry blends and dairy-based formulations) and as an excipient for pharmaceuticals. Domestic supply can be produced from whey streams generated during cheese manufacturing and broader dairy ingredient operations, which are concentrated in South-eastern Australia. At the same time, Australia imports lactose in meaningful volumes, indicating reliance on imported supply for some grades and/or applications. Importers must manage biosecurity and imported-food compliance at the border, and downstream users must manage milk-allergen declaration requirements on labels where relevant.
Market RoleMixed market — domestic dairy ingredient producer and material importer of lactose for food and pharmaceutical use
Domestic RoleFunctional carbohydrate ingredient (food manufacturing) and common excipient (pharmaceutical tableting/capsules); also linked to whey-stream valorisation from cheese manufacturing
Market GrowthMixed
SeasonalityMilk production in key South-eastern dairying regions is strongly seasonal, peaking in October; this seasonality can influence whey availability and scheduling for whey/lactose ingredient production, while other states show flatter year-round output due to a focus on drinking milk and fresh products.
Specification
Primary VarietyLactose monohydrate
Secondary Variety
- Anhydrous lactose
- Food-grade lactose
- Pharmaceutical-grade lactose
Physical Attributes
- White to off-white powder/crystals; buyer specifications often differentiate particle size/flow properties for blending and tableting.
Compositional Metrics
- Buyer specifications commonly include purity (anhydrous lactose basis), moisture, and microbiological limits aligned to the intended use (food vs pharmaceutical).
Grades
- Food grade
- Pharmaceutical grade
Packaging
- Moisture-protective packaging (e.g., lined bags or bulk bags) to reduce caking risk during storage and transport.
Supply Chain
Value Chain
- Cheese manufacture → whey stream generation (contains lactose) → dairy-ingredient processing (e.g., drying / further fractionation depending on facility) → bagging/bulk packing → domestic distribution and/or import supplementation
Temperature
- Ambient logistics are typical for lactose powder, but storage conditions should avoid heat and high humidity to reduce caking and quality drift.
Atmosphere Control
- Moisture control (low humidity storage, sealed packaging) is a key handling requirement for lactose-containing dairy powders.
Shelf Life
- Shelf-life performance is sensitive to moisture pickup and physical instability (caking) in powders during storage.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-compliance with Australia’s import requirements (biosecurity conditions via BICON and imported-food controls under IFIS) can result in shipments being held and, if they fail inspection, requiring relabelling or being re-exported/destroyed, disrupting supply continuity for manufacturers relying on imported lactose.Confirm BICON conditions pre-shipment, prepare label/spec documentation for IFIS, and implement a pre-arrival compliance checklist aligned to the Food Standards Code and DAFF import steps.
Food Safety MediumMilk-allergen declaration failures on foods that use lactose-containing dairy ingredients can trigger non-compliance outcomes and recalls; Australia’s allergen labelling rules require clear declaration and a co-located 'Contains' summary statement using required allergen names (including 'milk').Run label verification against FSANZ allergen requirements (Standard 1.2.3 / Schedule 9) and maintain allergen management and change-control procedures for ingredient substitutions.
Logistics MediumLactose powders are moisture-sensitive; shipping delays, poor container sealing, or high-humidity storage can increase caking risk and degrade handling performance, while freight volatility can impact landed cost for commodity-grade lactose.Specify moisture-barrier packaging, require container desiccation/lining where appropriate, and set moisture/physical-condition acceptance checks at receipt.
Sustainability
- Greenhouse-gas footprint and on-farm environmental expectations associated with dairy supply chains
- Waste and byproduct management in dairy manufacturing (whey-stream handling and valorisation)
Labor & Social
- Supplier assurance on ethical labour practices across upstream dairy operations and downstream ingredient handling (manufacturing and warehousing)
Standards
- HACCP-based food safety management systems (commonly expected for ingredient manufacturers and importers)
FAQ
What HS code and tariff treatment applies to lactose imports into Australia?Australia’s customs tariff schedule lists lactose under HS 1702.11.00 (≥99% lactose) and HS 1702.19.00 (other lactose), with the general rate of duty shown as Free in Schedule 3 of the Customs Tariff Act.
Can imported lactose be held for inspection when it arrives in Australia?Yes. Imported food intended for sale can be referred under DAFF’s Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) for label/visual inspection and, where applicable, testing. DAFF can issue a Food Control Certificate directing the importer to hold the goods until requirements are met.
If lactose is used as an ingredient in a food sold in Australia, does the label need to declare milk as an allergen?If the product contains milk (including milk-derived ingredients), Australia’s Food Standards Code requires allergen declaration using required names (including 'milk') and a co-located 'Contains' summary statement in the specified format. Businesses should verify how the specific lactose ingredient is treated within their allergen management and labelling review process.
Sources
Other Lactose Country Markets for Supplier, Manufacturer, Export, and Price Comparison from Australia
Compare Lactose supplier coverage, trade flows, and price benchmarks across countries related to Australia.
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Related Lactose Product Categories
Browse parent, sub, derived, and raw-material product market pages related to Lactose.
Raw materials: Cow Milk
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