The average cheese consumption in China is only about one-tenth of one kilogram per year, while that for the European Union stood at about 18.7 kilograms, according to Li Defa, director of the Dairy Association of China.
China produces over 20,000 tonnes of cheese each year, while the increasing demands have driven import growth for 13 consecutive years. A total of 108,000 tonnes of cheese were imported in 2018, according to Yu Kangzhen, vice agricultural and rural minister.
Sales of China’s largest cheese maker Milkground surged over 500 percent by end-May year on year.
The cheese sector can be developed into an emerging consumption market and contribute to the growth of the country’s dairy sector, Yu said.
