Zimbabwe milk output up 7% in nine months

By ETimes

HARARE – ZIMBABWE’S milk production rose about 7% to 94.98 million litres in the first nine months of 2026, from 88.9 million litres in the same period last year, according to data from the Dairy Services Department in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Milk intake by processors increased 6.8% to 87.8 million litres from 82.2 million litres, while volumes retailed directly by producers rose 7% to 7.17 million litres from 6.7 million litres.

Output averaged 10.55 million litres a month over the period, compared with 9.88 million litres a year earlier.

Production peaked at 11.44 million litres in August, up 8.3% from the same month in 2025.

September output was 11.23 million litres, 6.3% higher than a year earlier.

The lowest monthly volume was recorded in February at 9.39 million litres.

Year-on-year growth was strongest in January at 8.5%, and weakest in July at 4.4%.

Direct retail sales by producers fell 9% in January but rose in every month after that, with the sharpest increase of 11.8% in August. Total production in 2025 stood at 121.85 million litres.