Dairy industry posts gains in six months

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s dairy industry saw sustained gains in the first half, driven by rising production, herd expansion and higher farmgate prices, according to the National Dairy Authority (NDA).

Local milk production increased by 21.2 percent to 25.38 million liters in the first half from 20.94 million liters during the same period in 2025.

The country’s dairy producing herd also expanded to 165,858 heads during the first semester, 6.5 percent higher than the 155,662 heads logged the previous year.

NDA also reported that the farmgate price of cow’s milk inched up by 0.41 percent to P47.05 per liter, while the price of carabao’s milk increased by 4.95 percent to P89.6 per liter.

The gains in the country’s dairy sector led to the value of dairy production, at constant 2018 prices, expanding by 21.4 percent to P975.73 million, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

The NDA said the gains posted during the period showed the continued expansion of the country’s production capacity and increasing opportunities for Filipino dairy farmers.

“Our farmers are becoming more confident in investing in their farms because they see a growing and reliable market for their milk,” NDA administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya said.

He added that government-led feeding programs increased demand for locally produced dairy, encouraging farmers to expand their herds, invest in quality feeds and increase milk production.