Core Insights - The "European Dairy" three-year promotion project, initiated by the Irish Food Board, aims to supply diverse high-value functional dairy ingredients to the Chinese health market, addressing the needs of aging populations, athletes, and specialized medical foods [1][2] Group 1: Market Overview - Dairy products account for the largest share of Ireland's agricultural food exports, representing 37% of total export value [1] - In 2024, Ireland is projected to export approximately 1.78 million tons of dairy products, with a total export value reaching €6.4 billion [1] - From January to May 2025, Ireland's dairy exports increased by 22% to €2.7 billion [1] Group 2: Export Dynamics - China is the fourth largest export market for Irish dairy products, with exports to China exceeding €380 million in 2024 [2] - The export volume of whey, a high-value dairy ingredient, grew by 37.3%, reaching €47.8 million, while casein exports increased by 21.1% to €40.7 million [2] - From January to May 2025, the export volume of Irish dairy products to China was 19,800 tons, with an export value of €13.6 million, reflecting a 2% year-on-year growth [2] Group 3: Market Trends - The Chinese dairy industry is shifting from scale expansion to value competition, with structural consumption upgrades moving from "broad and large" to "precise and specialized" [2] - The liquid milk market is facing growth bottlenecks, and the infant formula sector is experiencing a slowdown, prompting companies to seek new markets and growth opportunities [2] - There is a growing consumer demand for low-fat, low-sugar, high-protein, organic, and additive-free functional dairy products, expanding consumption scenarios beyond traditional uses [2]