Market research

Milk market in SADC

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

"SADC" region includes following countries:

Angola

Botswana

Comoros

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eswatini

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Earlier Report Observations

The South African milk market demonstrated steady growth at the start of the period, with volume increasing from 8 810 thousand tons in 2018 to 9 539 thousand tons in 2020. Industry consolidation, including the acquisition of Ladismith Cheese Company by Sea Harvest and a major buyout offer for Clover, reduced the number of producers but enhanced the efficiency and output of larger operators, supporting production growth.

Market expansion continued through 2021 and 2022, with volume reaching 10 150 thousand tons in 2022. This phase was characterized by sustained consumer demand for dairy products, which maintained upward momentum in market size.

In 2023, market volume rose further to 10 579 thousand tons despite a 13.9% price increase for milk, eggs, and cheese. Strong consumer preference for traditional dairy products and ongoing industry consolidation, reflected in the declining number of producer-distributors, underpinned the market's growth. By 2024, stable electricity supply had emerged as a key factor supporting production capacity.

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, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in SADC
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in SADC in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
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 SADC

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Milk production in SADC increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, 9,358 K t of milk were produced, showing a moderate 8.8% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 14.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.8%	0.5%	8.8%	4.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk from SADC

Exports in kind, K t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. From the low in 2018 to the high in 2020, export volumes varied 4.5 times. In 2020, SADC's milk exports totaled 58.6 K t, indicating a significant rise of 242.6% relative to the prior year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 13.1 K t, with the largest decline of 71.4% occurring that same year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(71.4%)	31.0%	242.6%	8.7%

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Foreign milk supplies from SADC declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 113.4 M $ US, amounting to a controlled fall of 5.1% over the past year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 16.6%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.1%)	(4.5%)	(5.1%)	(5.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Cameroon was the leading destination in the structure of exports in value terms, accounting for 0.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk to SADC

Imports in kind, K t

Milk imports to SADC declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 239.7 K t, reflecting a contraction of 8.9% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 51.1%, equating to an annualized rate of -21.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(45.2%)	(2.1%)	(8.9%)	(21.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

The analysis of imports in kind from 2017 to 2020 shows a broad distribution across many markets. Portugal (25.3% of imports in kind), Malaysia (6.5%), and Poland (6.5%) together accounted for only 38.4% of total flows, with a significant 61.6% falling on other partners.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Milk shipments to SADC from abroad declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 404.9 M $ US, which is 14.5% smaller compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 486.3 M $ US, with the largest increase of 26.2% occurring that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	26.2%	(2.6%)	(14.5%)	1.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, there was no single dominant market for milk imports in value terms. New Zealand (14.3% of imports in value terms), Malaysia (9.7%), and Portugal (7.6%) together took only 31.6% of total imports, while many smaller partners each accounted for modest individual shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io