China: A Burgeoning Cheese Market?

When one thinks of the great cheese countries of the world, they may think of brie from France, gruyere from Switzerland or cheddar from the U.K. But perhaps in the future, China will also appear on that list. Despite the fact that about 90% of the population is lactose intolerant, the U.S. Dairy Export Council says that cheese imports to China grew 47% in 2010.

Although "the market is flooded with mass-produced, processed mozzarella for making pizza," explains the Los Angeles Times, artisanal cheese remains a small market. However, with China's growing middle class, there is strong potential for the market to increase significantly.

In 2005, the Asia Times reported that China's cheese consumption was "booming" but that the fast food market had the potential for the greatest volume of growth.

Currently, there is only one cheese factory run by native Chinese, Le Fromager de Pekin, in the outskirts of Beijing. The shop sells about 5,300 pounds per year and most of its customers are expats.

Given that the artisanal cheese remains a niche market in the dairy-happy United States, it still may take some time until the Chinese fully embrace the pleasures of a ripe Camembert.

Comments

[portfolio]

11:16 AM on 05/22/2011

China will soon be the fattest nation on the planet.

They already use more tobacco than any other nation.

Addiction has always been their downfall.

[orange county man]

11:04 PM on 05/21/2011

But have they discovered cheese in a can? I mean, come on, cheese whiz is the best.

[Stephanie71]

10:23 PM on 05/21/2011

Can't say I'm too excited about this given the fact that their dairy supply has at times been infected with TB.

[orange county man]

11:48 PM on 05/21/2011

Who knows maybe the TB adds a sharp note to the cheese. Sort of like Roquefort.

[Konnie]

03:52 PM on 05/20/2011

i predict this will be a huge money maker! who knew there was no cheese in china! i didn't until
a new employee from china gained 15 pounds when she first came to here after discovering
cheese. she acted like she had discovered chocolate! she ate it every way she could, looking
up recipes on the internet became an obsession. she would breathlessly describe finding a
new one. the cheese department in one of our local supermarkets has become like her crack
house. (she would be so embarrassed if she knew i was writing this) multiply that times a few million.