Dairy imports up 3.87%

MBABANE - There was a notable increase in dairy imports in the current first quarter of this year as compared to the previous one.

The increase comes at a time when Eswatini Dairy Board (EDB) is in a drive to drastically cut imports of dairy products, which are sufficiently produced locally to protect the blossoming local industry.

According to the latest imports statistics from EDB for the first-half of 2022, total volumes of imported dairy products between January and March were at about 6.92 million kg/l.

The exports were 2 465 942.37kg/l in January, for February 2 181 400.56kg/l was recorded and an increase of 2 269 330.72kg/l was recorded in March.

Calculations by the business desk show that this is a rise of 3.87 per cent for the period between February and

March.

What contributed to the increase were products produced locally which were imported in large quantities for the period under review.

Among the contributors to the increasing figures were emasi (sour milk), which is also sufficiently produced locally, but is still being imported in large quantities over the years. Sour milk imports in February were recorded at 345 162kg/l, which is the highest figure in a long time.

Increase

An increase in the imports of yoghurts was noticed in March as it currently stands at 311 891kg/l, in the period under review.

Meanwhile, EDB had proposed that a 40 per cent import levy be charged on all dairy products which are sufficiently produced locally, such as emasi (sour milk), yoghurt, fresh milk and fresh cream.

There are concerns that the 40 per cent is too much, so the consultations have stretched further. But EDB, in a recent interview, assured that the engagements were at an advanced stage.

The Eswatini dairy industry makes a large and growing contribution to the economy of the country. The local dairy industry is said to be lucrative in nature, presenting a number of investment opportunities for both domestic and foreign investment.

The country is among the African countries with a high consumption per capita of dairy products (90litres/ capita/annum), which present enormous investment opportunities in the local dairy industry.

This is per an overview of the industry done in the past year.

Despite the high consumption per capita, the country remains a net importer of dairy products, with approximately over 80 per cent of local consumed dairy products imported mainly from South Africa. The products with a huge local demand are UHT milk, yoghurt, cheese, (sour milk), fresh milk, dairy juices and baby formula.