China Opens Market to Brazilian Dairy Products

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Chinese enabled 24 Brazilian dairy plants to export products such as powdered milk and cheeses.

The announcement was made by Minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) on Tuesday, July 23rd.

There are currently 1.2 million small dairy farmers in Brazil.

The measure had been agreed with China in 2007, but there was no Brazilian plant qualified to export.

During her trip to China in May, this was one of the minister’s priorities.

“Brazil is a major producer and China is the largest importer in the world. Brazil produces 600 thousand tonnes of milk, but China imports 800 thousand tonnes, 200 thousand tonnes more than we produce”.

In April this year, the ministry had sent the list of 24 establishments to the Asian country.

Among the products that may be exported are non-fluid products, such as powdered milk, cheeses and condensed milk.

Exports

Through the qualification of establishments, the sector is expected to export US$4.5 million (R$18 million) in cheeses, according to Viva Lácteos – Brazilian Dairy Association.

In 2018, the Chinese imported 108,000 tons of cheese. The product’s imports have grown at an average annual rate of 13 percent over the past five years.

Brazilian cheese exports grew 65.2 percent over the last three years.

Before the opening of the Chinese market, the sector was already investing in the inflow of products into China, through its participation in trade shows.