> In 2024 China produced 40.8 million t of cow milk, the 3rd largest in the world (5.12% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 29%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/china/

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# Cow milk production in China

In 2024 China produced 40.8 million t of cow milk, the 3rd largest in the world (5.12% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 29%. The record was 42.0 million t in 2023.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/milk/)[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Production, 202440.8 million t
World rank3 of 183
10-year change+29%
Record42.0 million t2023

## Cow milk in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## China compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total5.1%4.8% in 2014
kg per person28.7world 97.7
10-year change+29%world +22%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/india/) | 135,000,000 | 16.9% |
| 2 | [United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/united-states/) | 102,452,123 | 12.9% |
| 3 | **China** | 40,790,000 | 5.1% |
| 4 | [Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/brazil/) | 36,816,178 | 4.6% |
| 5 | [Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/germany/) | 33,777,780 | 4.2% |

[Full ranking of 183 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/)

### Map of world production of cow milk

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 40,790,000 | −2.8% |
| 2023 | 41,966,500 | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 39,316,300 | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 36,827,000 | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 34,400,000 | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 32,012,394 | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 30,745,641 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 30,386,209 | −0.8% |
| 2016 | 30,640,000 | −3.6% |
| 2015 | 31,798,000 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 31,599,000 | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 30,008,000 | −5.5% |
| 2012 | 31,749,000 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 31,099,000 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 30,389,000 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 29,951,000 | −0.5% |
| 2008 | 30,106,000 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 29,471,000 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 29,446,000 | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 27,533,700 | +22% |
| 2004 | 22,606,000 | +29% |
| 2003 | 17,463,000 | +34% |
| 2002 | 12,998,000 | +27% |
| 2001 | 10,255,000 | +24% |
| 2000 | 8,274,000 | +15% |
| 1999 | 7,175,939 | +8.4% |
| 1998 | 6,621,000 | +10% |
| 1997 | 6,011,000 | −4.5% |
| 1996 | 6,294,000 | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 5,764,000 | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 5,288,000 | +6.1% |
| 1993 | 4,986,000 | −0.9% |
| 1992 | 5,031,000 | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 4,647,000 | +12% |
| 1990 | 4,157,000 | +9.0% |
| 1989 | 3,813,000 | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 3,660,000 | +11% |
| 1987 | 3,301,000 | +14% |
| 1986 | 2,899,000 | +16% |
| 1985 | 2,499,000 | +14% |
| 1984 | 2,186,000 | +18% |
| 1983 | 1,845,000 | +14% |
| 1982 | 1,618,000 | +25% |
| 1981 | 1,291,000 | +13% |
| 1980 | 1,141,000 | +33% |
| 1979 | 855,000 | −22% |
| 1978 | 1,100,000 | +22% |
| 1977 | 900,000 | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 870,000 | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 840,000 | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 800,000 | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 770,000 | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 725,000 | +6.6% |
| 1971 | 680,000 | +6.3% |
| 1970 | 640,000 | +6.7% |
| 1969 | 600,000 | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 580,000 | −4.9% |
| 1967 | 610,000 | −3.2% |
| 1966 | 630,000 | −2.3% |
| 1965 | 645,000 | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 640,000 | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 635,000 | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 620,000 | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 600,000 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports29,914 t USD 26.0 m
Exporter rank31 of 110
Imports358,926 t USD 376 m
Importer rank7 of 188
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of cow milk in China?

China produced 40.8 million t in 2024, 5.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does China rank in the world for production of cow milk?

China ranked 3rd of 183 countries in 2024. The largest producer was India with 16.9% of the world total.

### How has the production of cow milk in China changed?

It rose by 29% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +22% for the world. The record was 42.0 million t in 2023.

### Does China export or import raw milk of cattle?

In 2024 China reported exports of 29,914 t (USD 26.0 m) and imports of 358,926 t (USD 376 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/india/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/united-states/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/brazil/)[Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/germany/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/russia/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/pakistan/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/france/)[New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/new-zealand/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/turkey/)[Poland](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/poland/)[United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/united-kingdom/)[Netherlands](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/netherlands/)
[All countries producing cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/)

## Other products of China

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/china/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/china/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/china/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/china/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/china/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/china/)[Cucumbers](https://husfarm.com/production/cucumbers/china/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/china/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/china/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/china/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/china/)
[Agricultural production in China](https://husfarm.com/production/country/china/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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