Dairy producers were given the go-ahead to increase prices by an average of 22% and to a maximum of 28% in the latest session of Market Regulation Headquarters.
“We agreed for raw milk prices to increase to 29,000 rials ($0.14) per kilo, and therefore, dairy products will have to follow suit,” Mohammad Reza Kalami, the spokesman of the headquarters, was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
Iran’s per capita milk and dairy products consumption currently stands at 117 kilograms per year, which is 48 kilograms lower than the annual global average of 165 kilograms, according to the head of Iran’s Cattle Owners Union.
“Based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations latest report, per capita consumption of these products should stand at 300 kilograms," Ahmad Moqaddasi was quoted as saying by IRNA.
“At present, some 11 million tons of milk are produced in Iran per year, 10% of which are processed into dairy products and exported, including to the European Union member states.”
Iran’s per capita milk production currently stands at 130 kilograms per year. It is among the top milk producing countries in the world.