Import competition forces Chinese farmers out of dairy

More than 100,000 Chinese farmers have been exiting dairy annually since 2009, as they struggle to compete with imported milk prices, according to a Bord Bia report.

James O’Donnell, of Bord Bia’s Shanghai office, alsosays that China’s national herd dropped below 14m head in 2014.

Mr O’Donnell says Chinese dairy imports reached record levels in 2014, driven by strong growth in liquid milk, cheese and butter, while imports of whey powders slipped slightly.