China expects huge demand for high-grade infant milk powder
( 2003-12-24 16:51) (Agencies)
Sales of high-grade infant milk powder are expected to reach 4 billion yuan
(483 million US dollars) in China in the coming year, experts predict.
Mou Jingjun, secretary-general of the China Dairy Industry Association
(CDIA), said that China is now overtaking Japan to become the world's second
biggest market for high-grade infant milk powder, second only after the United
States.
About 17 million babies are born each year in China and 20 percent of them
need to be fed with milk powder, Mou said, so some 300,000 tons of milk powder
are called for each year. However, China only produced 100,000 tons of milk
powder in 2002.
Statistics also show that over one third of China's 1,500 dairy enterprises
produce infant milk powder.
|
