India’s dairy exports to the Middle East surged to record levels during the recent West Asia crisis, as Gulf importers rushed to secure supplies despite shipping disruptions and geopolitical uncertainty.
The export boom was led by dairy giant Amul, which sharply increased shipments of skimmed milk powder (SMP) to the Gulf even as regional logistics were strained. The performance underscores India’s growing role as a reliable food supplier to the Middle East during periods of supply-chain stress.
According to a report by The Times of India, Amul exported around 2,700 metric tons of SMP to Dubai during the peak crisis period, compared with virtually no shipments in the same period a year earlier.
“That represents 120% volume growth over last year, even in such an adverse global environment,” Jayen Mehta, managing director of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets the Amul brand, told The Times of India.
The surge came despite severe logistical bottlenecks. Cargo movement was effectively halted between late February and mid-March, with containers stranded at multiple points in the supply chain. Once restrictions eased, shipments accelerated rapidly.
GCMMF moved 245 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) after March 15, Mehta said, including consignments routed through Khorfakkan, the UAE’s key transshipment hub on the Gulf of Oman. Those shipments included 171 dry containers and 74 refrigerated containers carrying perishable dairy products.
Exports gained momentum through March and April, peaking in the second half of April as importers across the Gulf sought to bolster inventories. Additional consignments were shipped to Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Iraq, highlighting robust regional demand.
Amul’s established presence in the Gulf helped it respond quickly. The cooperative operates its own warehouse in Dubai and has an extensive distribution network across the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
Its branded products—ranging from ghee and butter to paneer and cheese—have built a strong following among expatriate communities and local consumers alike. Brand Finance ranked Amul among the top 20 food brands in the UAE in 2025.
The export gains come as Amul also posts strong growth at home. GCMMF recently surpassed 1 trillion rupees ($12 billion) in brand turnover for fiscal 2025/26, up 11% from the previous year.
The farmer-owned cooperative, which represents about 3.6 million producers, handles daily milk procurement of nearly 31 million litres and exports dairy products to more than 50 countries.
