Soon after the festive Diwali season, all major dairy product manufacturing companies have increased the retail prices of packed milk across the city. Effective from November 12, prominent dairy brands including Dinshaw’s, Amul, and Mother Dairy, among others, have implemented a price hike ranging between Rs 2 and Rs 4 per litre, adding to the household budget burden of consumers. According to market sources, the dairy companies have attributed this upward revision in prices to rising operational expenses.

 

Escalating costs related to fodder, cattle feed, packaging materials, and transportation have significantly added to the overall cost of milk production and distribution, prompting manufacturers to pass on the burden to end consumers. In addition to operational expenses, recent deficit rainfall across key milk-producing belts has also played a crucial role in driving up the rates. Market sources revealed that adverse weather conditions in many regions have pushed the prices of green and dry fodder up by 20 per cent, while cattle feed costs have simultaneously risen by around 10 per cent over the course of the last year. Confirming the development, Dr Ajay Upadhaya, Vice President of Dinshaw’s Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd., stated that the revised rates have come into effect from November 12, reflecting an increase of Rs 2 to Rs 4 per litre. Sharing specific details on the price revision, he said,

 

“The rates for full cream milk have gone up by Rs 4 per litre. Earlier, it was sold at a price of Rs 72 per litre, but now its price has been revised to Rs 76 per litre.” Apart from full cream milk, Dinshaw’s Dairy Foods has also introduced a proportional price hike across its other varieties of milk. Following a similar trajectory, other leading market players such as Mother Dairy and Amul have also increased the prices of packed milk by Rs 2 to Rs 4 per litre across all their variants starting from Thursday. Meanwhile, the price hike coincides with a notable spike in local consumption. According to a rough industry estimate, Nagpur city’s current demand for packed milk stands between 5 lakh and 6 lakh litres per day. Sources told The Hitavada that this daily demand has surged by 15 to 20 per cent recently, largely propelled by the festive season. Furthermore, the demand for pure milk has witnessed an additional boost due to the recent regulatory crackdown by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Following strict enforcement action by the FDA, local paneer manufacturers have shifted to utilising genuine milk for production, thereby further driving up the overall demand for milk in the city.