Market research

Milk market in Bhutan

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, Bhutan's government invested in crossbreeding programs, animal healthcare, and extension services while providing subsidies for cattle purchases and barn construction to shift dairy farming from subsistence to market-oriented production. These measures gradually increased domestic milk output, but a parallel policy to replace imports with local milk reduced inbound shipments. As a result, total market volume declined over 2018–2021, because the rise in production did not fully offset the drop in imports.

The establishment of the Koufuku International milk processing plant in Trashigang in 2024 created a reliable off-take channel for dairy farmers, especially in remote areas, supporting a recovery in production after a dip in the early 2020s. Ongoing government support for dairy cooperatives and value-chain strengthening continued to promote self-sufficiency, helping to stabilize the market volume in 2023.

Shifts in demand for traditional dairy products such as chugo influenced milk utilization, while efforts to improve cattle genetics and farmer organization contributed to a more resilient supply base. The overall trend through 2023 reflected a market gradually rebalancing toward greater domestic production and reduced import dependence.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bhutan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production milk in Bhutan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of milk, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Bhutan's milk production saw a two-year increase before declining. In 2021, the country produced 54 403 tonnes of milk, representing a 6.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 2.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%. The highest production level was recorded in 2020 at 57 912 tonnes, while the largest annual increase occurred in 2019 at 3.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.1%	1.0%	(6.1%)	(0.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk from Bhutan

Exports in kind, t

Bhutan's milk exports dropped to zero tonnes in 2019, marking a complete 100.0% decrease from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(100.0%)	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, India was virtually the sole buyer of Bhutan's milk exports, accounting for 100.0% of the total export volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2019, Bhutan's milk export value fell to 0.1 thousand US dollars, a 100.0% decline compared to the year before.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(100.0%)	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout the 2018–2021 period, Bhutan's milk export value was almost entirely directed to India, which represented 100.0% of the total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk to Bhutan

Imports in kind, t

Bhutan's milk imports reached 8 283 tonnes in 2021, showing a significant 14.2% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2018–2021 period, imports fell by 41.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.2%. The largest annual decline occurred in 2019 at 31.5%, while the smallest increase was recorded in 2020 at 0.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(31.5%)	0.2%	(14.2%)	(16.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, India was nearly the exclusive supplier of milk to Bhutan, providing 98.3% of the total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Bhutan's milk import value declined for the second year in a row. In 2021, it stood at 10 792 thousand US dollars, reflecting a sharp 24.2% drop from the previous year. Over the 2018–2021 period, import value decreased by 22%, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 14 337 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 3.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US