India, China to boost global milk consumption: Tetra Pak

NEW DELHI: India and China will steer global consumption of liquid dairy products (LDP), which is set to rise by 30% to 350 billion litres by 2020, according to a new report by packaging firm Tetra Pak. The fourth diary index report, which forecasts a 30% surge in global liquid dairy products’ consumption, says rising prosperity and urbanisation in Asia, Africa and Latin America will fuel the growth.

“Consumers are looking for greater convenience and uncompromising quality and safety,” Tetra Pak President and CEO Dennis Jonsson said in a statement. “With economic growth across a wider cross-section of consumers and one of the youngest populations in the world, India is witnessing a dramatic change when it comes to consumers’ views on health, safety and convenience. Long shelf-life milk packed in cartons and carton based pouches continues to see strong growth in its early stages of entry in the Indian market,” Kandarp Singh, Tetra Pak South Asia MD said.

India and China are expected to account for more than a third of the world’s total LDP consumption, with the Asia-Pacific region continuing to consume more than the rest of the world, the report adds. Besides, it adds that brands and retailers around the world are committing to reduce waste and lower carbon impact. For example, the US milk industry recently pledged to cut its carbon footprint by 25% by 2020.

LDP include milk and other liquid dairy products such as flavoured milk, drinking yoghurt, sweetened condensed milk, lactic acid drinks, baby and toddler milk. In India, LDP consumption is likely to rise from around 55 billion litres in 2009 to around 60 billion litres in 2013.