Top 9 suppliers of liquid milk to China

The volume of milk shipments to China, the world's most-populous nation, has jumped an average of 126 percent a year since 2010, according to Chinese customs data, creating a $333 million market dominated by the European Union.

Han Qi, professor at the School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and Economics, said many consumers had become skeptical of domestic dairy products after the 2008 scandal -- infant formula adulterated with melamine that left at least four babies dead and thousands seriously ill. Thus, people are more likely to buy foreign milk products, especially for infants.

The US Department of Agriculture also said in May that Chinese consumers, ruffled by past food scandals, see imported milk as a safer alternative to domestic supplies.

Let's take a look top nine suppliers of liquid milk to China in last year:

No. 9 Spain, 5,300 metric tons

A consumer searches dairy products in a supermarket in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in June. Photo: China Daily

No. 8 Uruguay, 6,200 metric tons

A man with a child selects infant formula in a Qionghai supermarket in Hainan province, July 10, 2013. Photo: IC

No. 7 UK, 9,200 metric tons

Couples hold a baby select canned milk powder and baby formula at a supermarket in Qiqihaer city, northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province, December 1, 2012. Photo: IC

No. 6 Poland, 11,700 metric tons

Two women select canned milk powder and baby formula at a supermarket in Xuchang city, Henan province, March 24, 2013. Photo: IC

No. 5 Italy, 12,400 metric tons

A woman selects canned milk powder and baby formula at a supermarket in Qiqihar city, Heilongjiang province, February 4, 2013. Photo: IC

No. 4 France, 14,300 metric tons

Dairy farmer Keith Trotter stands in a field near milking sheds amongst his herd of cows on his farm in the town of Matakana, located north of Auckland, New Zealand, Sept 24, 2015. Photo: Agencies

No. 3 New Zealand, 52,300 metric tons

A woman with a baby selects imported infant formula in a Beijing supermarket. Photo: China Daily

No. 2 Australia, 61,200 metric tons

A woman with a baby selects infant formula in a supermarket in Xuchang, Henan province in August, 2013.Photo: IC

No. 1 Germany, 196,300 metric tons

(CHINA DAILY)