10/10/07 China is new market for US dairy products

In 2002 Idaho exported more than 88 million dollars worth of goods to China. Last year that number had risen to 593 million or roughly one sixth of the state's total foreign exports. Governor Butch Otter's trade mission to China later this month is an attempt to increase those exports even further. With 1.3 billion people the US Dairy Export Council targeted China eight years ago. US DEC's Marc Beck says our dairy exports to China have quadrupled during that period. BECK "Dairy is increasingly getting the recognition among the Chinese as an important part of a diet. The Chinese historically have not really been dairy friendly." What's causing the dairy growth in China? Beck says the growing number and popularity of food service outlets like McDonalds and Pizza Hut play a huge role. BECK "Interestingly enough, dining out at a Pizza Hut is really looked at as a special occasion and becoming increasingly popular amongst the Chinese." Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games. Beck expects a similar boost in dairy sales to that experienced when Japan and Korea hosted the games. Otter is headed to China this year rather than waiting until next year when the Chinese government and many businesses will be immersed in the games and all that surrounds them. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott