Middle East and Africa Dairy Market Growth Analysis - Market Size, Share, Forecast Trends and Outlook Report (2025-2034)

The growth in the dairy trade was a result of an increasing demand from countries like China, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Mexico, and Australia. The trade was aided by the rise in milk exports from key markets in Africa, Central America, Europe and North America.

Globally, the consumption of dairy products has been increasing. While fresh dairy products are projected to grow by 2.1% annually in the forecast period of 2025-2034, processed dairy products will witness a 1.7% per annum growth in the coming five years. This growth in demand globally is also reflected in the Middle East and Africa dairy market with butter and cheese consumption accounting for almost 11% and 18% of the total dairy consumption in North Africa. In the Middle East, on the other hand, these two products will account for nearly 12% and 13% percent consumption in the forecast period.

The Middle East and Africa dairy market is driven by a growing milk industry in Africa. The milk output in Africa increased by 1.1% in 2018, as compared to the previous year, to reach a capacity of 45.6 million tons. The dairy market in the region is being aided by the rising demand for dairy products due to growing health concerns among the consumers.

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Key Trends and Recent Developments

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Market Segmentation

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Market Analysis

The growing population and lifestyle changes leading to rising health concerns are the primary drivers of the Middle East and Africa dairy market. Fresh milk, especially is seeing significant growth as it is considered nutrient-richer than shelf stable milk. The dairy market is especially being driven by the demand for portable ready-to-drink products like drinkable yoghurt among health-conscious females and youth in the region.  The growth of the yoghurt market is also led by the customer interest towards drinks containing probiotics along with a shift towards more convenient packaged products rather than homemade dairy products.  Thus, yoghurt along with sour milk is seeing healthy growth across the region, with the exception of Iran. Whey and whey proteins are also seeing a growing demand in the region.

The rising demand along with the growing customer receptiveness of new and innovative dairy products like flavoured milk and milk products, cheese spreads, and sauces, among others, are providing further impetus to the market in the Middle East and Africa. The mounting presence of food and beverages companies, the major application sector for dairy, are aiding the market along with the increasing availability of dairy products. The rising applications products like cheese for fondue in the fine dining sector is further driving the dairy market growth in the region.

Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt along with Iran are the leading regional dairy markets. Saudi Arabia is the largest producer in the Middle East and Africa due to a large consumption of dairy products in the country. The Saudi Arabia dairy market is driven by a rising health awareness among women. It is also the largest importer of US dairy products in the area as the local companies mostly produce fresh and chilled products like milk and yoghurt. South Africa, too, is a leading market in the region due to the growing demand for cheese, butter and other milk products. Egypt is another major market with the rising consumption of liquid milk and cheese.

Competitive Landscape

Key Middle East and Africa dairy market players are expanding their distribution networks and increasing their production capabilities to meet the growing demand for dairy products in the region. Dairy companies in the Middle East and Africa are also offering premium products, including gourmet yoghurts, organic milk, and artisanal cheese, among others, amid the growing disposable incomes of customers in the region.

Almarai Company

Almarai Company, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is one of the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy companies. It is also the largest food and beverage manufacturer and distributor in MENA. Some of its renowned brands are Farm’s Select, 7DAYS, Almarai, Nura, Almarai Refresh, and Premier Chef, among others. In 2023, the company reported net income of SAR 2.049 billion.

Arla Foods amba

Arla Foods amba, founded in 1881 and headquartered in Sønderhøj, Denmark, is a coop...

Lactalis Group

Lactalis Group, established in 1933 and headquartered in Laval, France, is a prominent dairy comp...

Clover Industries Limited

Clover Industries Limited, established in 1898 and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, i...

*Please note that this is only a partial list; the complete list of key players is available in the full report. Additionally, the list of key players can be customized to better suit your needs.*

EMR’s comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the market and provides a SWOT analysis as well as an analysis of Porter’s five forces.