Milk and cream market in Madagascar

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2019, production of milk and cream in Madagascar remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 478.1 thousand tons to 482.9 thousand tons. The market was characterized by low local output that failed to meet domestic demand, with average cow productivity at only 2,600 liters per year. In 2019, the National Authority for Corrective Trade Measures imposed a 32% additional duty on imports of concentrated milk to shield local producers from cheap imports, a measure that likely helped sustain domestic production volumes.

A multi-year decline followed, with production falling to 456.0 thousand tons in 2020, 417.9 thousand tons in 2021, and a low of 387.9 thousand tons in 2022. Despite the 2020 relocation of Yoplait yogurt production to Madagascar, which introduced a new industrial processor, and the launch of the EU-funded Profi-Lait+ project in 2021 to support farmers with collection centers, the sector struggled with high production costs, poor genetic quality of cattle, and a lack of veterinary oversight. These structural constraints offset the potential benefits from new investment and support programs.

Production rebounded to 439.1 thousand tons in 2023. This recovery aligned with the Malagasy Dairy Board's public target to raise annual output to 143 million liters within three years, a goal that spurred further investment, including in cheese production for export. The growth suggests initial positive effects from sustained efforts to reduce import dependency and strengthen the local dairy supply chain.

Production milk and cream in Madagascar

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Madagascar produced 456.0 thousand tons of milk and cream in 2020, marking a modest year-over-year decline of 5.6%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 16.4%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 5.8%. The most significant drop occurred in 2018, with a 12.4% reduction, while 2019 saw a slight increase of 1.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports milk and cream from Madagascar

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Madagascar's milk and cream exports remained stable at 1 ton, showing no change from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports plummeted by 91.8%, averaging an annual decline of 56.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, France was the primary destination for Madagascar's milk and cream exports, accounting for 92.4% of the total volume shipped.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Madagascar's milk and cream exports in 2020 were valued at 1 thousand US dollars, virtually unchanged from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value dropped by 90.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -54.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Madagascar in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, France overwhelmingly dominated as the buyer of Madagascar's milk and cream, representing 91.3% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Madagascar in value, 2017-2020

Imports milk and cream to Madagascar

Imports in kind, t

Madagascar's milk and cream imports declined for the third year in a row in 2020, reaching 840 tons—a 27.2% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 60.9%, averaging an annual reduction of 26.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020, t

During 2017-2020, the largest suppliers of milk and cream to Madagascar were France (36.1% of import volume), Belgium (22.4%), and Germany (17.5%), together making up 76.1% of total imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Madagascar's milk and cream imports continued to decline for the third consecutive year in 2020, with a value of 577 thousand US dollars—a sharp 25.8% drop from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, import value decreased by 57.6%, averaging an annual decline of 24.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Madagascar in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In the 2017-2020 period, France (42.0% of import value), Belgium (18.0%), and Germany (15.6%) consistently served as the main sources for Madagascar's milk and cream imports, collectively accounting for 75.6% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Madagascar in value, 2017-2020