Pakistan Fourth Largest Milk Producer in the World – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1333

Pakistan Fourth Largest Milk Producer in the World – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1333

Dear Colleagues! This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1333 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma Veterans Blogs are published by Asrar Qureshi on its dedicated site https://pharmaveterans.com. Please email to pharmaveterans2017@gmail.com  for publishing your contributions here.

Credit: Alexy Almond

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Preamble

I recently read this article and was quite intrigued. I had no idea Pakistan was the 4th largest milk producer in the world. Interesting information and lessons for management. Link to article at the end.

Pakistan: A Dairy Giant Waiting to Realise Its Potential

Milk is much more than an everyday food item. It is a source of nutrition, income, employment, and economic activity. For millions of farming families, dairy production provides a regular source of livelihood. For consumers, it supplies essential nutrients. For national economies, it supports agriculture, food processing, transportation, retail, and exports.

Yet the global dairy industry is undergoing significant changes. Countries are investing in better animal genetics, improved feeding practices, modern farms, efficient supply chains, and advanced processing technologies to increase productivity and strengthen their international competitiveness.

A June 2026 article provides an interesting overview of the world's major milk-producing nations. Drawing on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international sources, it highlights the scale of global milk production, the countries leading the industry, and the economic importance of dairy farming.

One finding deserves particular attention from Pakistan: Pakistan is among the world's largest milk producers, but its production capacity has not yet translated into comparable international competitiveness and export performance.

The global dairy industry: A rapidly expanding market

According to the article, global milk production reached approximately 979 million metric tons in 2024, compared with 968.2 million tons in 2023. The FAO projected production of 992.3 million tons for 2025.

The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025–2034 anticipates that global milk production will reach approximately 1,146 million tons by 2034, growing at an average annual rate of 1.8%.

The projected increase will be driven primarily by:

- Better animal genetics and breeding practices.

- Improved animal health and veterinary services.

- More efficient feed and nutrition management.

- Modern dairy farming systems.

- Greater investment in technology and farm productivity.

Cow's milk accounts for approximately 81% of global production, buffalo milk for 15%, and milk from goats, sheep, and camels for the remaining 4%.

Asia is an especially important contributor. Its milk production reached approximately 460 million tons, with India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh among the countries showing continued growth.

Who are the world's leading milk producers?

The DevelopmentAid report identifies the following leading producers using FAO milk-equivalent figures. The ranking includes the European Union as a regional bloc, rather than treating it as an individual country.

1. India          245.9 million tons

2. European Union 161.1 million tons

3. United States  102.5 million tons

4. Pakistan          66.3 million tons

5. China            43.1 million tons

India is the undisputed global leader, producing approximately one-quarter of the world's milk.

The United States has developed a highly productive dairy sector based on large-scale commercial farming, advanced technology, and efficient processing.

The European Union benefits from established dairy industries, sophisticated food-processing systems, strong quality standards, and developed export markets.

Pakistan, with approximately 66.3 million tons of production, occupies an impressive position. Among individual countries, it ranks third in this comparison, after India and the United States.

However, production volume alone does not determine the strength of a dairy industry. Productivity per animal, milk quality, processing capacity, cost efficiency, and export competitiveness are equally important.

This is where Pakistan has considerable room for improvement.

What makes the leading dairy countries successful?

A closer look at the leading producers reveals several lessons.

India: The power of small farmers and cooperatives – India's dairy success is particularly relevant to Pakistan because both countries have large populations, substantial rural economies, and millions of small dairy farmers. India's milk production reached approximately 245.9 million tons in 2024/25. Its growth has been supported by expanding dairy herds, improved productivity, and a cooperative-based supply system. The Indian dairy model connects small farmers with milk collection, processing, distribution, and marketing networks. This enables farmers with only a few animals to participate in a much larger commercial industry.

United States: Productivity through technology – The American dairy industry demonstrates the importance of productivity and modern farming practices. Large commercial farms, improved cattle genetics, scientific feeding, veterinary care, and automated milking systems help increase output per animal. The United States also produces a wide range of dairy 

 European Union: Quality and processing excellence – The European dairy industry illustrates the importance of quality standards, organised production, and advanced processing. Although the number of dairy cows has declined, productivity per cow has increased. Approximately 20 million cows produced an average of 7,800 kilograms of milk per cow in 2023. This is an important example of how productivity improvements can compensate for a smaller dairy herd.

New Zealand: Turning milk into export earnings – Perhaps the most interesting example is New Zealand. Although it ranks below the largest producers in total milk output, approximately 95% of its dairy production is exported. The country has built an internationally competitive dairy industry through investment in farm productivity, agricultural technology, infrastructure, processing, and export-oriented business models.

Pakistan's dairy paradox: High production, unrealised potential – Pakistan's dairy statistics should be a source of national pride. Producing approximately 66.3 million tons of milk places the country among the world's leading producers. Yet the industry faces a paradox: enormous production capacity coexists with significant inefficiencies in productivity, collection, quality control, processing, and commercialisation. A substantial share of milk comes from small farms and households with relatively few animals. This production structure supports rural livelihoods, but it also creates challenges in collecting, cooling, transporting, and maintaining consistent milk quality.

Dairy farming as an engine of rural development

The importance of dairy extends beyond agriculture and food production.

The article highlights the contribution of dairy farming to several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly poverty reduction, food security, health, and decent employment. Approximately one billion people worldwide depend on the dairy industry for their livelihoods. Around 600 million people live on approximately 133 million dairy farms.

For Pakistan, this has considerable significance. A stronger dairy industry can:

- Increase incomes for rural households.

- Create employment for women and young people.

- Improve nutrition, particularly among children.

- Generate opportunities in animal feed, veterinary services, transportation, and processing.

- Encourage investment in rural infrastructure.

- Strengthen agricultural exports and foreign-exchange earnings.

Women deserve particular attention. They perform a substantial amount of livestock-related work in many rural households, including feeding animals, milking, and caring for livestock. Yet their contribution is not always reflected in ownership, income, or decision-making.  Providing women with training, access to finance, veterinary services, and participation in farmer organisations can make dairy development more inclusive. Similarly, young people can be encouraged to enter dairy entrepreneurship through modern farming, animal nutrition services, milk collection, processing, and agricultural technology.

Sum Up

Pakistan's position among the world's leading milk producers is an important achievement. Producing approximately 66.3 million tons annually demonstrates the scale of its livestock resources and the contribution of millions of farming households. But production volume should not be the final measure of success.

India demonstrates the power of organised smallholder production. The United States illustrates the benefits of technology and productivity. Europe shows the importance of quality and processing. New Zealand demonstrates how a country can transform dairy production into a powerful export industry.

Pakistan can learn from all four models while developing an approach suited to its own agricultural structure and economic circumstances.

Concluded.

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Reference:

https://www.developmentaid.org/news-stream/post/200444/top-10-countries-by-milk-production?utm_campaign=NewsAlert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Newsletter&token=30a5992f-f2c3-453d-8103-173a5c4db22b&fpid=$2y$12$p70Azp8hHTLRzp9kD4acyu.Opiam56GySnVGgrVB2P2wq6i%2F50GRO