
Economy, Standards & Resilience
IDF focuses on sharing dairy market insights and emerging trends to help strengthen sector resilience. By developing harmonized standards and analytical methods, IDF ensures that global trade operates on the highest quality benchmarks. These efforts enable stakeholders to navigate shifting economic conditions with confidence and agility.
The long-term global outlook for the dairy sector according to the OECD indicates that world milk production is expected to grow at 1.7% p.a. (to 981 Mt by 2028) over the next decade, faster than most other main agricultural commodities. Rising populations and revenue growth are increasing demand for dairy, particularly in Asia and Africa.
IDF work in the area of economics and policies focuses on developments that influence dairy, providing statistical data on the sector, and monitoring developments in international trade politics, supply management policies, with the overall aim of improving milk production and encouraging consumption.
Through our international network of global experts, we are at the forefront of developments that may affect the dairy sector, to equip our members with the information they need to respond.
Global trends impacting dairy
Rising global populations and changing diets are increasing demand for dairy. IDF work looks at the market developments faced by today’s global dairy sector at various points in the dairy value chain. We also explore challenges and opportunities, and how the dairy sector as a whole may adapt to them.
IDF work on economics and policies has become a vital resource for many in the global dairy chain. Our flagship publication ‘The World Dairy Situation Report’ released annually, provides a global holistic view of the sector and serves as a robust fact base for strategic decision-making.
IDF’s most visible work in this area is the annual project undertaken by our dairy policies and economic experts to provide relevant data and analysis for the World Dairy Situation Report and Dairy Declaration measurement and reporting. Amongst work undertaken includes:
- Detailed information on production, processing, prices, consumption, and trade
- Country reports from all global regions
- Extensive monitoring on specific products, policies and programs
- Insight on continuously changing global dairy market conditions
- Analysis of worldwide market conditions and trends for each dairy product category
Share this page

Helping our members stay alert to global developments that may affect the dairy sector
Related reports & publications
IDF provides a permanent source of authoritative scientific and other information on a whole range of topics relevant to the dairy sector.
Related news & insights
IDF provides a permanent source of authoritative scientific and other information on a whole range of topics relevant to the dairy sector.
OECD expects dairy fat consumption to continue to increase
Brussels, 3 July 2018 – Consumers’ preferences are influenced by the science on dairy fat and its impact on a healthy diet, the OECD-FAO....
Dairy outlook and consumer trends transforming the sector
In-depth understanding of global supply and demand trends “2018 and early 2019 will see balanced supply and demand overall but high price....
IDF Launches the 2024 Edition of the World Dairy Situation Report
Paris – IDF World Dairy Summit The highly anticipated 2024 edition of the IDF World Dairy Situation Report is now available. This comprehensive....
IDF launches the 2022 edition of the World Dairy Situation Report
The well-expected 2022 edition of the IDF World Dairy Situation Report is now available. Again this year, the report is providing to all actors and....








