Dairy processors are on the edge of a decade-long “dairy boom” as the market for fluid milk products is expected to grow 30% from 2010 to 2020. The populations of India and China alone will account for more than 30% of the liquid dairy products in that period.

 

That’s the forecast of Dennis Jönsson, president and CEO of Tetra Pak Group. He spoke from the company’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland in a webinar-based press conference this morning, attended by Dairy Foods. Driving the boom are population growth, an expanding middle class and consumers looking for convenience, quality and food safety.

 

Global demand for all forms of liquid dairy products, or LDP, will grow from 270 billion liters in 2010 to around 350 billion liters by 2020, according to Tetra Pak’s research. LDP includes white milk and other liquid dairy products (OLDP), such as flavored milk, drinkable yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, lactic acid drinks, and baby and toddler milk.

 

Demand will remain flat in North America and Western Europe, however. Processors in developed countries should see demand grow for valued-added milk products, such as lactose-free, organic milk, and fortified or functional milk.