Domestic Butter Consumption Tops 45,000 Tons p.a.

Iran’s annual butter consumption currently stands at 45,000-50,000 tons, Reza Bakeri, secretary of Iran’s Dairy Industries Society, announced.

Close to 90% of domestic demand for the dairy product are met via imports, as domestic production has a small share. The big part of imported butter is consumed as breakfast butter and a small share is used for industrial purposes, IRNA reported.

The UAE, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Turkey, Ireland and Germany are the main exporters of butter to Iran.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Hassan Rokni said the government plans to become self-sufficient in butter production within the next 10 years through selective livestock breeding for increasing the fat content of milk.

Iran’s first-ever lactic butter production line with a production capacity of 7,000 tons a year was launched in Tehran in May.

Lactic butter is made from whole milk that has been fermented with lactic acid. It has a low moisture content and strong flavor.