China: Strong shift towards high-value dairy protein consumption

Source: highgrounddairy.com Recent studies show that Chinese consumers are increasingly interested in the link between nutrition and mental health, with milk being seen as a food group that supports overall health. This is driving demand for natural, nutrient-rich dairy products, particularly among the younger and elderly populations. Trade data shows that China's total milk imports for the 12 months to February 2026 reached approximately 2.78 million tons, a 22% decrease from five years ago. However, the import structure is changing markedly, with whey becoming the largest product group (701 thousand tons, up 5.5%), along with a strong increase in functional proteins such as MPC and natural condensed milk. Conversely, imports of traditional products such as skimmed milk powder (SMP), whole milk powder (WMP), and liquid milk have all declined sharply, reflecting a consumer trend towards domestic fresh milk and higher nutritional value products. At the same time, products serving ...