Imports still high

The higher level of imports evident since January 2015, continued during May 2015. In May, 10 876 tonnes of dairy were imported, three times as much as in May 2014. Total imports for the first five months of 2015 of 39 143 tonnes are 94% more than during the same period last year. During the first five months 17 million litres of long-life milk was imported, 7 million litres in May 2015.

During the first five months of 2015, 13 911 tonnes of dairy were exported, down 3,4% on the same period in 2014. Despite the sharp increase in imports and lower exports, the South African dairy industry remains a net exporte, in terms of mass and milk equivalent basis. Exports exceed imports by 19 067 tonnes or by 10,9 million litres on a milk equivalent basis