How much milk does New Zealand produce and export?
New Zealand is the nullth largest producer of milk: 21.5 million tonnes in 2024, 2.7% of the world's 788.6 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the largest exporter by value: $6.2 billion in 2024, 28% of world exports of milk powders (HS 0402) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 28% of its milk exports by value.
All about milk · All about New Zealand · Milk price history
New Zealand's milk production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21.5 million tonnes | 2.7% | +0.1% a year | 2024 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.7% |
New Zealand's milk exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.2 billion | 28% | 1.9 million t | $3,312 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 0402 (Milk and cream, concentrated or sweetened (powders)).
Where New Zealand's milk goes
| Destination | Value | Share of New Zealand's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.8B | 28% |
| Algeria | $488M | 7.9% |
| Indonesia | $445M | 7.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $331M | 5.3% |
| Malaysia | $330M | 5.3% |
How much milk New Zealand uses
New Zealand's domestic supply of milk was 9.9 million tonnes in 2023, 0.9% of the world's. Food supply was 62 kg per person a year, 89th highest of 142 countries with a million or more people. It produced 213% of what it used (self-sufficiency) and imported 4%. FAO's item is "Milk, excluding butter (whole-milk equivalent)". Consumption · Self-sufficiency.
The milk price New Zealand sells into
The benchmark price, Milk, USDA Class III spot, United States, was $19.66/cwt in August 2026, down 7% over twelve months. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Milk price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "New Zealand milk: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/NZL/milk/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.