Drinking milk sales

Regular or whole milk is standardised to a milkfat content of around 3.4 to 3.6 per cent. Modified, reduced and low-fat milks are standardised to other specifications, with varying milkfat and solids non-fat levels. The cream removed during standardisation can be bottled as table cream or manufactured into butter or other dairy products.

Drinking milk sales by state (million litres)

Australian milk consumption has been steadily shifting from regular to modified milk types, such as reduced and lowfat milks, over many years. This trend reversed for a period during 2008, as consumers responded to rapidly increasing retail prices by switching to the relatively lower-priced regular full cream milks. Nevertheless, the long-term trend in this category resumed the following year with full cream white milk volumes again losing share in a growing market to settle marginally above 49% share of total drinking milk in 2010/11. The trends across the other segments were mixed; with total modified milks up 4% and fresh flavoured milks up by over 5% for the year; while UHT milks were marginally down around 1% following two years of very strong growth.

Drinking milk sales by type (million litres)

Source: Milk processors and State Milk Authorities