Report: Dairy imports will continue to rise

Imports of dairy products to China will continue to rise over the next 10 years, although at a slower pace, according to a report released on Thursday.

It is estimated that China will import 14.2 million metric tons of dairy products this year, an increase of 11 percent over last year, according to the report, China Agricultural Outlook (2017-26), which was released by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Spurred by factors such as rising demand and higher domestic costs, dairy imports will exceed 19 million tons by 2026, an increase of about 50 percent over last year, the report said.