Growing demand in Asia as an opportunity for the Polish dairy industry

Asia is becoming more and more clearly a major direction for the development of the Polish dairy industry. It is there that milk consumption is growing the fastest – especially in South Korea and Vietnam. The Polish dairy sector remains one of the pillars of agri-food exports, and its products gain a strong position in the most competitive markets in the world.

The “Drop of Excellence” program in the industry spotlight

The meeting organized at the Ministry of Agriculture with the participation of the Polish Federation of Cattle Breeders and Milk Producers was devoted to the presentation of the progress of the “Drop of Excellence. European milk and milk products of high quality”. During the event, the effects of the campaign implemented since April 2025 in South Korea and Vietnam were discussed. The EU-funded programme aims to increase the recognition of European – including Polish – dairy products on fast-growing Asian markets.

This promotion is one of the most important tools to strengthen the presence of Polish dairy products in countries with high quality requirements and growing consumer awareness.

Poland among the European leaders of milk producers

Poland remains one of the largest milk producers in the European Union. In 2024, domestic production reached 16 million tonnes, which secured third place in the EU. Production surpluses are successfully directed to exports – the value of exports of dairy products last year amounted to EUR 3.6 billion.

In the opinion of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – the future development of the industry will be influenced by Asian markets, where the highest growth rate of milk consumption is being recorded. South Korea and Vietnam are currently strategic destinations for Polish companies.

Polish milk at the forefront of South Korean imports

On the South Korean market, Poland is one of the most important suppliers of milk, and the demand for dairy products is constantly growing. In 2024, exports of Polish dairy products to this country reached almost EUR 32 million. In the period January-September 2025, the value of exports amounted to EUR 29.2 million, which means an increase of 9% year-on-year. Supplies of liquid milk and cream dominate, accounting for about 90 percent of exports.

At the same time, work is underway to expand the list of products approved for the market, among them UHT cream or whey powders. Since December 2, an audit of Korean MFDS inspectors in dairy and egg plants has been underway in Poland. Its positive results may open up further export opportunities.

Vietnam – the fastest growing market in ASEAN

The second pillar of Poland’s presence in Asia is Vietnam – a market with exceptionally high growth potential, systematically increasing imports of European dairy products. In the period January-September 2025, exports of Polish dairy products to Vietnam amounted to nearly EUR 26 million, which means an increase of 45% year-on-year. Liquid milk and cream have the largest share (approx. 73 percent), and the importance of whey is also growing.

Administrative cooperation is also developing dynamically – meetings of the Polish-Vietnamese working group on agriculture are held regularly. The next one is planned in Warsaw in the first quarter of 2026.

Joint moves for a stronger position for Poland in Asia

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture emphasize that maintaining the pace of expansion requires consistent cooperation between the administration and producers and processors. South Korea and Vietnam confirm that the Polish dairy industry has global potential, and joint activities with the industry open the way to further strengthening Poland’s position on Asian markets.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), „Rosnący popyt w Azji szansą dla polskiego mleczarstwa. MRiRW wspiera ekspansję na nowe rynki”, December 2025 r.

Translated by IDC

JL