The rise of fat-filled dairy blends in European dairy exports to West Africa

Abstract

European exports of blends of skimmed milk and vegetable fats in powdered form raise interesting questions about the trade of cheap raw materials. These fat-filled dairy powders cost about 30% less than pure milk powder, and can be used as a substitute for the production of reconstituted milk. In value, imports of powder dairy blends have increased from 1.5 billion euros in 2000 to 6.1 billion euros in 2020. They now represent 40% of the value of dairy product imports from Africa. These imports are mainly from the European Union (EU), where they are not marketed neither consumed. We review the factors that led to the boom of West African imports of powder dairy blends, i.e. international prices but also other internal factors. This new trade generates controversies related to the quality of these products, their labeling, their environmental impact, and the competition they constitute for the production of domestic milk.