India has emerged the largest milk producer globally, with a 16.43 per cent share of the world’s total milk production
In 2014, the country produced nearly 100 mt of milk – 15 per cent more than the USA and three times more than China. The dairy sector, over the past decade has developed significantly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
In 2012-13, exports shot up by 388 per cent, amounting to 87,824 tonnes. The following year, exports rose even higher to reach 159,228 tonnes but have fallen back in 2014 to 66,424 tonnes and worth US$181.1mn. The key destinations for Indian dairy products are Bangladesh, UAE, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan.
Meanwhile, the livestock export market in India too has seen growth, by more than 60 per cent in the last three years. Southeast Asia remains a key export destination for Indian livestock products, but of late, India has also been engaging with Africa and Middle East to send its products to.
