[2023 National Audit] The Top Foreign Milk Importer Is Not Australia but This European Country

Choi Chunsik, People Power Party Lawmaker, National Audit Data
"Imported Foreign Milk Volume Surges 9-Fold in 5 Years"

The import volume of foreign milk has increased more than ninefold over the past five years. It was found that the country from which Korea imported the most milk is not Australia, known as a "dairy advanced country," but Poland in Europe.

According to the National Assembly Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, and Fisheries Committee member Choi Chun-sik of the People Power Party's audit data on the 11th, last year's import volume of foreign milk was 31,462 tons, about nine times (28,022 tons) higher than in 2017 (3,440 tons).

On July 24th, the Dairy Promotion Committee subcommittee decided to negotiate raw milk prices, and it is expected that the price will exceed 1,000 won per liter for the first time. A customer is selecting milk at Seoul Hanaro Mart. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

The import volume and value of milk over the past six years were ▲2017: 3,440 tons (2.53 million USD) ▲2018: 4,291 tons (3.11 million USD) ▲2019: 10,484 tons (7.49 million USD) ▲2020: 11,476 tons (8.01 million USD) ▲2021: 23,284 tons (16.51 million USD) ▲2022: 31,462 tons (23.37 million USD). This year, imports reached 25,427 tons (21.17 million USD) up to August.

Looking at the milk import volume and value by major importing countries over the past seven years (2017 to August 2023), Poland overwhelmingly led with 73,301 tons (52.76 million USD). Following were ▲Germany with 16,296 tons (11.32 million USD) ▲Italy with 11,329 tons (9.14 million USD) ▲Australia with 6,180 tons (6.56 million USD) ▲France with 1,366 tons (1.12 million USD).

It is expected that the import of foreign milk will increase further when the tariff rates on milk from the United States and the EU become zero in 2026.

Assemblyman Choi Chun-sik stated, “In preparation for the zero tariff rate on US and EU milk in 2026, the government must urgently establish measures to strengthen the competitiveness of domestically produced milk.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.