China Dairy Cream Market- Market Overview:    

The China Dairy Cream Market is expected to grow from USD 1.75 billion in 2024 to USD 2.63 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 4.7% during the projection period 2025–2033. The increasing foodservice industry and coffee culture underpins the China Dairy Cream Market as the demand increases due to bakery, confectionery, beverage, and culinary applications. The necessity to have high-quality dairy products and the use of UHT/long-life cream, whipping cream, and cream powder is fueling market growth among home and industry consumers. The trend towards health and wellness is further supported by growing consumer interest in plant-based creams (soy, oat, and coconut) that are increasingly popular. 

The growing demand of high-processing and packaging technology in China coupled with the rising popularity of online shopping and groceries and contemporary supermarkets is contributing to the market developing both in the east and western part. The dairy cream market is set to be enhanced by government incentives to boost the domestic dairy farming and rural supply chains, along with the tendency of urban consumers to pursue convenience and premiumization, which will lead to a steady increase in the growth till 2033. 

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Market Dynamics: 

Drivers

• An increase in demand in dairy cream used in the bakery, confectionery, coffee and culinary.

The market is also being pushed by the expanding foodservice business, uptake of western-style bakery and introduction of coffee culture, as well as consumer needs of high-quality dairy and value-added cream products. Likewise, the market penetration is supported by the expansion of e-commerce grocery channels, modern retail stores, and cold-chain infrastructure. Moreover, household and industrial consumption is augmented as a result of the popularity of UHT/long-life cream and convenience packaging.

Restraints

• Sensitivity to price, dependence on imported dairy supplies and lactose intolerance issues.

The expensive price of premium cream imported, and the reliance on imported dairy products present a hindrance to the small-scale producers and those consumers who are price sensitive. The health factors which concern the fat composition and the rise of lactose intolerance can also restrict the consumption of cream among the specific groups. The short-term growth is also curtailed by supply chain fluctuation and volatility in the prices of raw milk.

Opportunities

• Increase in demand of plant-based products and high-quality dairy products.

The rising popularity of plant-based creams (soy, oat, coconut, almond) is a new area of growth particularly among health-aware and younger consumers. The modernization and expansion of value-added dairy segments through government incentives on domestic dairy farming opens opportunities both to local and international players. There are also new revenue sources through growing use of cream in ready-to-eat food, desserts, and drinks.

Challenges

High competition, regulatory and quality control.

The domestic and multinational brands are both very competitive in the market and have sought differentiation in terms of pricing, quality and innovation. Products have to be kept fresh and have a shelf life and strict food safety regulations and labeling requirements must be fulfilled across the different regions in China. The swifter changes in consumer preferences, together with the difficulty of scaling production of sustainable and organic cream, are still major obstacles to long-term development.

Segmentation Analysis:

The China Dairy Cream Market has been segmented based on Product Type, Source, Processing Method, Packaging and region. 

By Product Type

Fresh Cream, Whipping Cream, Sour Cream, Cream Powder and Flavored/Value-Added Creams are the models that fall under this segment. Whipping Cream on its part secured 42.6 % of the segment in 2024 which is the highest echelon of the market. The reason is that it is popularly applied in bakeries, confectioneries and coffee-based beverages throughout China and thus cannot be ignored by both retail and foodservice industries. Fresh Cream comes next with a high share owing to its daily use by the home population and Sour Cream, Cream Powder, and Flavored Creams are niche, yet dynamic segments. 

By Source

It is divided into Cow Milk, Buffalo Milk, Goat Milk and Plant-Based Alternatives (Soy, Oat, Coconut, Almond). The most visible sub-segment is Cow Milk that controls nearly 68.3% of the market share in 2024. This is because of its rich availability, well established dairy farming infrastructure and high consumer preference to the traditional dairy-based creams. Plant-Based Alternatives, being the smallest, are the most rapidly expanding ones as the cases of lactose intolerance increase and the consumption trend of vegan diets and nutritious ones grows.

By Processing Method

This segment accepts Pasteurized, UHT/Long-Life, Sterilized as well as Powdered cream products. UHT/Long-Life Cream effectively absorbs the greatest of 54.1% in 2024. The long shelf life, storage convenience, and the ability to be distributed in large volumes (retail) predisposes make it the most popular with households and foodservice providers. Pasteurized cream is still in favor of its fresh flavor whereas Powdered cream serves the industrial food processing specifications well. 

By Packaging   

The segment includes Cartons, Bottles, Tubs/Cups, Aerosol Cans, Sachets/Single-Serve, and Bulk/Industrial Packs. The packaging segment of 47.5 % those cartons on their part took in 2024 is the largest tier of the market. Their superiority lies in the fact that they are widespread in UHT/long-life cream, eco-friendly design, and have easy distribution in supermarkets and hypermarkets. The Bottles and Tubs/Cups are powerful on the household and restaurant level, whereas the Aerosol Can is in the niche whipped cream market and Bulk Packs are essential to bakeries and industrial participants.    

Key Industry Players Analysis:  

To increase their market position in the China Dairy Cream Market, top companies focus on tactics such as adopting new technology, mergers & acquisitions, product developments, collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures, etc. 

• Yili Group

• Mengniu Dairy

• Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd.

• Modern Dairy 

• Sanyuan Group

• Fengxing Milk

• Chicecream

• New Hope Dairy

• Nestlé China

• Fonterra (China)

Latest Development:

• Mengniu Group won three prestigious Gold Awards at the 2025 World Dairy Innovation Awards for Best Children’s Dairy Product, Best Health Innovation, and Best New Brand/Start-Up, showcasing its leadership in Chinese dairy innovation. The award-winning products include the Rui Bu En Enzhi Infant Formula, developed over 12 years in collaboration with Jiangnan University to closely mimic breast milk fat, demonstrating clinical benefits; the Delamere Xiaomanyao Aronia Probiotic Yogurt Ice Cream, the world's first fully fermented yogurt ice cream combining superfood Aronia berry and probiotics; and the M-ACTION sports nutrition brand, recognized for rapid growth and expansion in China's sports nutrition market. Mengniu’s achievements highlight their scientific research strength, continuous innovation in nutrition and health, and commitment to providing high-quality dairy products globally. 

  Report Metrics

Scope of the Report

China Dairy Cream Market by Product Type:

• Fresh Cream

• Whipping Cream

• Sour Cream

• Cream Powder

• Flavored/Value-Added Creams

China Dairy Cream Market by Source:

• Cow Milk

• Buffalo Milk 

• Goat Milk

• Plant-Based Alternatives (Soy, Oat, Coconut, Almond)

China Dairy Cream Market by Processing Method:

• Pasteurized

• UHT/Long-Life

• Sterilized

• Powdered

China Dairy Cream Market by Packaging:

• Cartons

• Bottles

• Tubs/Cups

• Aerosol Cans 

• Sachets/Single-Serve

• Bulk/Industrial Packs