Milk market in Trinidad and Tobago

Earlier Report Observations

The milk market in Trinidad and Tobago began the period at 21 882 tons in 2018 but entered a downward trend, reaching 20 015 tons by 2020. Although Nestle invested in dairy development to increase milk output, these efforts were offset by management inefficiencies and corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture, coupled with a growing consumer shift toward non-dairy milk alternatives such as almond and oat milk, which reduced demand for conventional milk.

From 2021, dairy farmers cited soaring feed prices and global shipping costs as major hurdles, further squeezing production. The following year, global disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated input and logistics costs, prompting Nestle to raise milk prices. To mitigate the impact, the government suspended the Common External Tariff on milk, which temporarily supported import volumes and helped lift the market size to 19 254 tons in 2022. By 2023, however, the market contracted sharply to 15 857 tons as these measures proved insufficient against persistent cost pressures.

Production milk in Trinidad and Tobago

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

Milk production in Trinidad and Tobago has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 2,184 tonnes of milk, representing a significant 25.6% drop compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 33.4%, which translates to an average annual decline of 12.7%. The peak production was recorded in 2018 at 3,456 tonnes, with the largest year-on-year increase of 5.3% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of production in Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Milk production in Trinidad and Tobago has decreased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the value of milk output was $3,839,000 USD, marking a 27.3% decline from the year before. From 2017 to 2020, production value dropped by 42.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -17.0%. The highest value was achieved in 2018 at $6,947,000 USD, when the largest increase of 3.3% was also recorded.

Annual dynamics of production in Trinidad and Tobago in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports milk from Trinidad and Tobago

Exports in kind, t

Following two years of growth, milk exports from Trinidad and Tobago have declined. In 2020, the country exported 1,252 tonnes of milk, a substantial 23.0% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 11%, with a CAGR of -3.8%. The peak export volume was in 2019 at 1,625 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 14.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Trinidad and Tobago's milk exports in volume terms were Guyana (27.1% of exports), Barbados (23.1%), and Jamaica (20.0%). Together, these three countries accounted for 70.1% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of milk exports from Trinidad and Tobago was $2,200,000 USD, down 24.8% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 23.7%, with a CAGR of -8.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at $2,925,000 USD, which also experienced the largest increase of 2.5%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the primary markets for Trinidad and Tobago's milk exports in value terms were Barbados (25.1% of exports), Guyana (19.4%), and Jamaica (15.6%). This group collectively represented 60.1% of total export value.

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

World map of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in value, 2017-2020

Imports milk to Trinidad and Tobago

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, milk imports into Trinidad and Tobago have increased. In 2020, the country imported 19,083 tonnes of milk, a modest 1.0% rise from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 5.2%, with a CAGR of -1.7%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 18,894 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 4.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, t

During the 2017-2020 period, the largest contributors to Trinidad and Tobago's milk imports in volume terms were Germany (31.0% of imports), Malaysia (17.8%), and Ireland (13.3%). These three countries together accounted for 62.1% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Following two years of decrease, milk imports into Trinidad and Tobago have risen. In 2020, the country imported approximately $44,536,000 USD worth of milk, a limited 6.7% increase year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 3.6%, with a CAGR of 1.2%. The lowest import value was in 2019 at $41,743,000 USD, which also recorded the largest decline of 2.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the leading suppliers of milk to Trinidad and Tobago in value terms were Ireland (32.3% of imports), Germany (15.7%), and Mexico (9.5%). These three countries jointly represented 57.4% of total import value.

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

World map of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in value, 2017-2020