Imports 33% down on 2015

Imports during the first nine months of this year have been 33% less than the quantity imported during the same period last year. From January to September 2016 44 662 tonnes of dairy products were imported, compared to 66 431 tonnes from January to September 2015. Total exports from January to September 2016 were at 129 593 tonnes, 6% less than during the same period last year.  Lower imports have resulted in our net export balance increasing, on a milk-equivalent basis to 45 million litres for the nine-month period, compared to 34 million litres during the same period last year. According to MPO economist Dr Koos Coetzee, the decrease in imports has resulted in a decrease in the total supply of milk to the South African market despite slightly higher production over the past two months.