Dairy Production, Consumption, And Trade Prospects In China

The development of dairy industry can not only help improve the diet and nutrition structure of Chinese, but also promote the enhancement of farmers'income and improvement of agriculture structure .For quite a long time, China failed to give due attention to the dairy industry, which resulted in the small investment in dairy industry and low technical content of dairy farming and processing. Since the economic reform, China's dairy industry has developed very quickly. With investments in technology, introduction of modern processing technologies, enabled inter-regional transportation of dairy products from surplus regions in the north to the eastern coast, he importation of dairy cattle and genetics from the United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as adoption of advanced feeding and management practices, one can predict that Chinese milk production, consumption and trade will be on the growth. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: to assess the development of milk production and consumption in china, to assess trade dairy products, to investigate the importance factors control consumer's decision for purchase dairy products, to evaluate the level of dairy products (Fresh milk, Yogurt Cheese) consumption among Chinese population, to search the source of information of dairy products. In term of production, results of the study show that China's raw milk production is growing very fast, but per capita production remain too low. The result shows, there is unbalanced of output of raw milk production among China's region. Per capita consumption has also increased especially on the side of fresh milk, but consumption of cheese, butter remains constant during the period 1995-2005. Urban areas are the major consumer markets of dairy products in China. The result shows also China will be net importer of dairy products, almost for the coming 7-8 years. Our study found also that some factors are very important in decision to purchase dairy products among Chinese people. In terms of level of consumption of dairy products (fresh milk, cheese, and yogurt) among Chinese people, we found that fresh milk is more drinking among the oldest people; cheese is not yet accepted in the diet of Chinese people. As source of information of dairy products, result shows that, television ranked the first, followed by billboards and then radio.