The dairy industry is a major contributor to Australia’s and New Zealand’s economies. While COVID-19 and seasonal weather fluctuations have certainly had an impact, the industry is still expected to grow. As such, it’s incredibly important that dairy producers are ahead of the curve and equipped with the best food processing and food packaging equipment. Read on to learn more about dairy industry trends and growth, as well as how FPE can provide support and expertise.
Australia dairy industry trends and facts
- It’s Australia’s 3rd largest rural industry: the value of dairy production is predicted to hit $6.2 billion in 2022-23 (source).
- And it employs a lot of Aussies: approximately 46,200 people are directly employed on dairy farms or by dairy companies, and this doesn’t even count those that transport, distribute or provide research and development services (source).
- Cheese is driving exports: while the value of Australian dairy exports is predicted to grow to $3.5 billion in 2022−23 overall, cheese is the biggest contributor (source). Australia also produces 366,201 tonnes of cheese annually (source).
- We consume a lot of dairy: per capita, Aussies drink 94.4 litres of milk and eat 13.4kg of cheese (source).
- Alternative milks and dairy products are on the rise: nowadays you can find plant based milk made from almonds, oats, macadamias, soy, coconut, cashews – the list goes on. Surveys have also shown that a quarter of Australians prefer plant milk over the real thing for their daily caffeine fix (source).
New Zealand industry trends and facts
- New Zealand is 8th largest dairy producer: in 2021 alone, dairy exports contributed $18.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy. New Zealand also produces approx. 21 billion litres of milk every year – roughly 3% of the world’s milk production (source).
- There are almost as many cows as people: New Zealand has a current population of 5.123 million people and 4.921 million cows (source).
- Efficiency and productivity are a huge focus: while there has been a slight decline in cow numbers recently, milking cows are more efficient than ever – which just goes to show how committed New Zealand dairy farmers are to improving the quality of their herds for better sustainability and productivity (source).
Processing equipment for the dairy industry
| PROCESSING ACTIVITY | MANUFACTURER | USAGE EXAMPLES |
| Blending | BCH | Blend processed cheeses |
| Processing | DC Norris | Making condensed milk and oat milk with kettle and jet cook technology |
| Production hygiene | Elpress | Hand and boot sanitisation for workers Pallet and crate washing |
| Conveyor belt washing | AMTek | Programmable washing system suitable for any conveyor belt Dial in chemical and water usage to conserve where possible |
| Packaging | RA Jones | Packaging of dairy products like cream cheese or ice cream |
| Material handling | SYSPAL | Sanitising conveyors to sanitise packaged product between processing areas Operator-safe machines for mixing, tipping, washing, weighing and stacking Euro bins of product |
See DC Norris in action:
So if you’re a dairy processor in Australia or New Zealand, trust FPE. For equipment, maintenance and more, we’re the leading provider. Contact us today on 1800 882 549 in Australia and 0800 100 003 in New Zealand to discuss your business needs.
FAQs
What is the dairy industry?
The dairy industry is an agricultural industry that produces milk and milk-based products, such as cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice cream and custard.
Why is the dairy industry important to Australia?
The dairy industry is the 3rd biggest rural industry in Australia. It not only contributes to a number of Australia’s exports, but it employs over 46,000 Aussies and is currently worth over $4.7 billion (source).
How big is the dairy industry in NZ?
The dairy industry is a major contributor to New Zealand’s economy. With just under 5 million dairy cows, dairy farming brings in $19 million to the national economy each year (source).
What are 4 examples of dairy products?
The 4 main types of dairy products include:
- Milk
- Cheese
- Yoghurt
- Butter
