Phl dairy imports up 24% in 9 months

The country's dairy imports in the nine months through September rose by more than a fifth on an annual basis to over 2.7 million metric tons in liquid milk equivalent, driven by higher demand as world prices eased.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

Dairy purchases abroad from January to September reached 2.71 million MT, about 24.7 percent higher than the 2.17 million MT recorded in the same period last year, according to the National Dairy Authority (NDA).

NDA data showed imports of major dairy products increased during the nine-month period, with milk and cream products jumping by 30 percent to 2.38 million MT from 1.83 million MT.

Skim milk imports, which accounted for 40 percent of total dairy purchases, grew by a quarter to 1.1 million MT from last year's 879,200 MT.

Purchases abroad of whey reached 567,920 MT, 44 percent higher than the 394,810 MT recorded volume last year.