From Gujarat to the Gulf: Indian Mozzarella Becomes Hot Global Commodity

New Delhi: India—long known for its milk and ghee—has quietly broken into a global cheese segment once dominated by Europe and the United States. Mozzarella exports from India have skyrocketed by over 1,200%, driven by surging global pizza consumption and India’s unique advantage: buffalo milk, the preferred base for pizza-grade mozzarella.

According to government trade data reviewed by Mint, India’s mozzarella shipments jumped from virtually zero in FY23 to:

• $0.71 million in FY24
• $2.29 million in FY25
• $3.29 million in just April–September 2025

Overall dairy exports soared to $493 million in FY25, up 80% year-on-year, a sign that India is finally moving beyond commodities like milk powder and stepping into value-added dairy exports.

Buffalo Milk: India’s Unlikely Superpower in Cheese

Unlike Europe, where mozzarella is made predominantly from cow milk, India’s variant relies on buffalo milk, which has:

• Higher fat content
• A firmer texture
• Better melt characteristics—ideal for pizza chains

“India’s buffalo-milk mozzarella has a differentiated texture that buyers are recognising,”
said Tarun Shridhar, former secretary, animal husbandry & dairying.

With 109.85 million buffaloes, the world’s largest population, India has a natural supply advantage that few competitors can match.

Pizza Boom + PLI Scheme = Export Takeoff

Industry analysts say India’s mozzarella boom is fueled by three simultaneous tailwinds:

1. Global Pizza Demand

From the Middle East to Southeast Asia, pizza chains are expanding aggressively—driving demand for mozzarella with reliable texture and cost efficiency.

2. Competitive Pricing

Buffalo milk and strong cooperative networks allow India to offer mozzarella at globally competitive prices.

3. PLI Scheme Boost

The inclusion of mozzarella in the 2021 Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme triggered capacity expansion and modernisation across dairy firms.

A government official said the scheme helped scale up production rapidly.
Amul alone has invested ₹200 crore to manufacture and export buffalo-milk mozzarella.

“India now has surplus cheese capacity, and our butter and cheese prices are globally competitive,”
said R.S. Sodhi, president, Indian Dairy Association.

Who’s Buying India’s Mozzarella?

India’s mozzarella exports have rapidly diversified, with major buyers in:

• Saudi Arabia – $2.38 million (up from zero last year)
• Sri Lanka – $0.47 million (up from $0.07m)
• Bangladesh – $0.14 million
• Japan
• Nigeria
• Bhutan
• Bahrain

Saudi Arabia has emerged as the single largest market, driven by a boom in restaurant chains and ready-to-eat food demand.

Key exporters leading the charge include:

• Amul
• Milky Mist
• Schreiber Dynamix

Mozzarella Beats Cheddar in India’s Export Story

While India also exports cheddar, mozzarella is proving far easier to scale because:

• Cheddar requires months of aging
• Storage and branding costs are higher
• Market competition is tougher

Mozzarella, however, is faster to produce, easier to brand, and directly aligned with the fastest-growing global food segment—pizza and QSR chains.

“Buffalo-milk mozzarella gives India a unique position in a fast-growing global market,”
Shridhar noted.

India’s Dairy Sector Finally Moves Up the Value Chain

Experts say this surge marks a turning point.

“Mozzarella is still small, but it’s a sign that value-added dairy exports can flourish globally,”
said Ajay Srivastava, Global Trade Research Initiative.

“Cooperatives can compete globally when they invest in technology and quality systems,”
added Binod Anand of the World Cooperation Economic Forum.

India’s dairy exports—just 0.25% of global dairy trade—have been historically low despite being the world’s largest milk producer. But the mozzarella boom suggests that India’s dairy industry may finally be transitioning from volume to value.

Big Picture: India’s Milk Output Rising Steadily

India Ratings projects milk output to grow 5% annually, reaching:

• 263 million tonnes in FY26
• 277 million tonnes in FY27

More milk + more processing capacity + global demand = a long runway for India’s dairy exports.

PLI: The Silent Catalyst Behind India’s Dairy Export Rise

Launched in 2021 with a ₹10,900 crore outlay, the PLI scheme has supported modernisation, global branding, and export readiness—covering:

• Ready-to-eat foods
• Marine products
• Fruits and vegetables
• Organic foods
• Dairy, including mozzarella

The result? India’s dairy export volumes have nearly doubled in two years.

Conclusion: India’s Mozzarella Moment Has Arrived

What began as a quiet experiment has turned into a global breakthrough. With rising capacity, competitive pricing, and a product uniquely suited to the world’s pizza boom, India’s buffalo-milk mozzarella is on track to become a star of global dairy trade.

And for the first time, India’s dairy exporters see a world asking not just for milk powder — but for premium, value-added Indian cheese.