New data reveals $19.6 billion impact of Australian dairy manufacturing.

Every dairy manufacturing job supports another 3.4 jobs across the Australian economy.

New economic modelling has revealed Australian dairy manufacturing generates $19.6 billion in economic output every year and supports more than 88,000 jobs.

For every job in dairy manufacturing, another 3.4 jobs are supported across the Australian economy – an employment multiplier higher than construction, healthcare and retail trade.

The findings form part of a major update to the Australian Dairy Products Federation’s (ADPF) evidence base on the economic contribution of dairy manufacturing.

Developed in collaboration with REMPLAN, the 2026 ADPF Dairy Economic Dashboard, allows users to explore interactive national and regional data on the industry’s economic contribution, workforce, milk supply, trade, innovation and nutrition.

It shows each year Australia’s dairy manufacturing industry:

• generates $19.6 billion in economic output
• supports more than 88,000 Australian jobs
• transforms about $6 billion of raw milk into high-quality dairy products
• creates 3.4 additional jobs for every dairy manufacturing job, and
• invests hundreds of millions of dollars in innovation and processing capability.

ADPF Chief Executive Officer Janine Waller said the data demonstrates the scale and reach of an industry that connects dairy farmers with consumers, sustains regional communities and turns raw agricultural production into high-value manufactured dairy foods.

“These numbers tell a powerful story about what Australian dairy manufacturing contributes to our country,” Ms Waller said.

“For every job in dairy manufacturing, another 3.4 jobs are supported beyond the factory floor.

“That means investment in our industry flows through to dairy farmers, transport and logistics businesses, regional communities and the broader economy.”

Ms Waller said the new data also provided important context for the challenges facing the sector and the opportunity to strengthen Australia’s domestic dairy manufacturing capability.

Local dairy manufacturers face constrained milk supply, rising operating and compliance costs and increasing competition from imports, with one in four dairy products consumed in Australia now coming from overseas.

“The ‘live’ dashboard provides the proof – we have highly valuable dairy manufacturing capability that’s worth backing,” she said.

“The opportunity now is to create the conditions that allow that productivity, capability and investment to continue and grow.”

Ms Waller said strong dairy processing capacity was also important for Australia’s food security, regional employment, manufacturing capability and export growth.

“Food security doesn’t start at the supermarket shelf,” Ms Waller said.

“It starts with our farmers producing milk and Australian dairy factories having the confidence to invest, innovate and turn milk into nutritious dairy foods’ consumers enjoy every day.

“But, maintaining that capability requires internationally competitive operating conditions and greater certainty around energy, regulation, trade and milk supply.”

The dashboard provides the evidence demonstrating why ADPF’s proposed targeted Dairy Growth and Manufacturing Capacity Package is needed to unlock further investment, improve competitiveness and strengthen Australia’s dairy supply chain.

The ADPF Dairy Economic Dashboard is supported by a detailed methodology paper outlining the modelling assumptions and data sources, as well as an infographic summarising the key findings.

Explore the 2026 ADPF Dairy Economic Dashboard:
https://adpf.org.au/australian-dairy-industry/