China increases dairy imports, the U.S. are penalised

China’s GDP is expected to slow down in 2019, compared to 2018 (+6.3% against 6.6%), but demand for dairy products remains high in the first four months of the year.

Between January and April of this year Chinese imports grew by 17.3% in quantity and 20.4% in value and even increasead by 30.1% the total import in milk equivalent (ME) compared to the same period last year.

Oceania is the first supply region, followed by the European Union; both strengthen their position, thanks to the duty war between Beijing and Washington, which severely penalizes the US.

January-April 2019 SMP import increased by 30.9% in quantity and by 34.8% in value. New Zealand accounts for 57% of the market, while the European Union strengthens its market share, bringing it to 26%, thanks to a surprising performance (+212.8%). Australia and Belarus also come into play. The position of the United States, on the other hand, fell (-89.1%) due to the war on duties.

The positive balance of the first four months of 2019 is dragged by the April boom, which marks an increase in imports of 31% in quantity and 36.7% in value.

Imports of Milk and Cream, in particular, in April grew by 73% in quantity and 44.9% in volume, driven by a decrease of 16.3% in the unit price (1.14 $ / kg). Powder also booms, with WMP increasing by 64.1% in quantity and 48% in value and SMP recording +44.5% in quantity and 61.1% in value, supported by a unit price of 2.45 $ / kg.