November 29, 2013
Costa Rica''s dairy exports to China to increase
In 2014, China''s dairy import from Costa Rica will increase, as Costa Rican dairy producer Dos Pinos cooperative will increase the number of containers it ships monthly to China to 100.
Sanitary protocols enabling Costa Rica to export dairy to China were met earlier this year and Dos Pinos, the country''s largest dairy producer, is poised to make the most of the development.
Dos Pinos has already exported more than 42 tonnes of milk and cream, worth nearly US$40,000 to China, according to figures from the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer).
Costa Rica''s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Gloria Abraham said Dos Pinos'' entry into the Chinese market is a great development for Costa Rican producers, because the cooperative represents almost 90% of the milk production in the Central American country.
Costa Rica has worked hand-in-hand with Chinese authorities to obtain the necessary licenses, said Abraham, which allowed the country in August to send its first shipments of milk to China.
In addition to milk, other livestock products such as beef, cowhide and pork, have acquired the necessary licenses for export to the Chinese market.
At the beginning of 2014, other products might also be exported, including citrus fruits and juices, and are awaiting export approval from Chinese authorities, according to Abraham.
Abraham touted the quality of Costa Rican dairy products and the high possibility they will be successful among Chinese consumers, as such, it was an important opportunity for Dos Pinos to present its products at the Seventh China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit, held from November 26 to 27 in San Jose.
Alvaro Piedra, Procomer trade promotion manager, said China imports dairy products from several countries, but the quality of Costa Rican milk could win a prominent share of the Chinese market.
"Procomer has been working with Dos Pinos to export different flavoured milks, as well as butter to China. The chiefs of Dos Pinos have confirmed to us that they will send five more shipping containers this year to China, which we consider very important, because trade with China is on the rise," said Piedra.
Currently, the Dos Pinos cooperative exports dairy products to 15 countries around the world, including Singapore and Japan.