What does Asia want?

Food consumption in Asia has increased over the past two decades and consumption patterns have shifted from traditional diets oriented around starchy staples to more varied diets.  Diets now contain greater quantities of higher value and higher protein foods, particularly meat and dairy products. A report “What Asia wants – Long-term food consumption trends in Asia” researched by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) projects the real value of dairy consumption for ASEAN member states will more than double by 2050. This consumption growth will be largely met by imports, which are projected to be US$6 billion higher in 2050 than in the base year of 2007. Demand for dairy products in many developing countries of Asia has grown strongly over the past two decades. Rising incomes, growing populations and changing diets are important factors influencing this increase. To meet demand many Asian countries have significantly increased their imports of milk and dairy products. The Asian region now accounts for around 57 per cent of the global trade in milk powders and 20 per cent of global cheese imports. China Consumption of milk and dairy products in China has risen significantly in response to higher household incomes, increased urbanisation and changes in diets to include more animal products. Per person consumption of milk and dairy products (except butter) rose from 9.5 kilograms in 2000 to 29.8 kilograms in 2009. China’s milk production expanded rapidly during the 2000s, reaching 35 million tonnes in 2007 before declining sharply in 2008 and 2009. Milk production increased in the two years to 2012, reaching 32.5 million tonnes. China has emerged as a large global importer of milk powders. In the three years to 2011 China’s imports of whole milk powder increased more than sixfold to 325 000 tonnes, imports of skim milk powder more than doubled to 130 000 tonnes and imports of whe