Monthly average retail prices for selected products, for Canada and provinces. Prices are presented for the current month and the previous four months. Prices are based on transaction data from Canadian retailers, and are presented in Canadian current dollars.

The average retail price for homogenized milk hit an all-time high with 6.53 Canadian dollars per four liters in February 2022 in Canada.

What is homogenized milk?

Homogenization is the process of breaking down the fat molecules within milk to ensure that they do not separate. This prevents the fat molecules rising to the top and creating a layer of cream, therefore creating a more consistent product with a longer shelf life. Homogenization generally occurs after pasteurization, which is a heating process to eliminate bacteria.

The Canadian milk market

The volume of milk produced in Canada has steadily risen year-on-year to reach approximately 93.24 million hectoliters in 2020. Quebec and Ontario are the provincial frontrunners in milk production, both producing over 30 million hectoliters in that year. Quebec and Ontario are also home to the largest number of certified organic milk producers in Canada.

In 2021, the retail price of one liter of milk in Canada was on average 1.68 Canadian dollars, with some regional differences. For instance, in Quebec, one liter of milk cost 2.06 Canadian dollars on average, while it cost 1.56 Canadian dollars in Ontario.

Milk production in Canada

Canada featured among the leading producers of cow milk worldwide, with a production volume exceeding 10 million metric tons in 2021. Although this production volume pales in comparison to that of the EU-27 or the United States, Canada’s dairy farming industry is among the most important agricultural sectors in the country. Dairy farms in Canada were home to more than 990,000 milk cows in 2021. In addition to being the provinces with the largest number of milk cows in the country, Quebec and Ontario also produced the largest volume of milk in Canada in 2020, at around 33 million and 31 million hectoliters, respectively.

Milk consumption in Canada

Since 2004, consumption of milk per capita in Canada has been steadily declining, with a significant decrease of more than twenty liters per capita between 2004 and 2019. This can be attributed to the emergence of new consumption habits and the rise of non-dairy substitutes for milk such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk and others, which appeal primarily but not exclusively to people following plant-based diets. It was estimated that the milk substitute market in Canada would generate approximately 367 million U.S. dollars in revenues in 2022.

This statistic shows the producer price of whole fresh milk in Canada from 2010 to 2020. In 2020, the average price received by farmers in Canada amounted to 764 Canadian dollars per metric ton of milk.

In October 2022, milk price for Ontario was 877 dollars per kilolitre. Though Ontario milk price fluctuated substantially in recent months, it tended to increase through November 2021 - October 2022 period ending at 877 dollars per kilolitre in October 2022.

In 2023, purchases abroad of whole fresh milk decreased by -1.2% to 56K tons, falling for the second consecutive year after two years of growth.

This statistic shows the average retail price for 4 liters of partly skimmed milk in Canada from January 2016 to February 2022. The retail price stayed fairly constant for most of 2021, at around 5.5 Canadian dollars, but jumped up to 5.9 Canadian dollars in February 2022.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products: Fresh Milk data was reported at 180.200 2002=100 in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 178.200 2002=100 for Jan 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products: Fresh Milk data is updated monthly, averaging 74.000 2002=100 from Jan 1949 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 914 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 180.200 2002=100 in Feb 2025 and a record low of 10.900 2002=100 in Mar 1949. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products: Fresh Milk data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I002: Consumer Price Index: 2002=100.

The Canadian milk market shrank slightly to $12.6B in 2024, flattening at the previous year. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.7% over the period from 2012 to 2024; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations in certain years. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when the market value increased by 9.4% against the previous year. Milk consumption peaked at $12.7B in 2021; however, from 2022 to 2024, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Milk price of Quebec climb by 2.94% from 907 dollars per kilolitre in 2024M9 to 933 dollars per kilolitre in 2024M10. Since the 0.30% decrease in 2024M8, milk price jumped by 6.20% in 2024M10.

Powdered Milk Price in Canada - 2023. Find the latest marketing data on the IndexBox platform.

Milk decreased 0.06 USD/CWT or 0.32% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Milk - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.

This table contains 289 series, with data for years 1956 - 1997 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and was last released on 2000-02-18. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (6 items: Canada; Ontario; Atlantic Region; Quebec ...), Commodities (279 items: Meat; fish and dairy products; Meat products; Beef; veal; mutton and pork; fresh or frozen; Primary meat products ...).

Explore the diverse milk options and pricing strategies at Walmart Canada, from cow's milk to plant-based alternatives. Learn about regional variances, promotional discounts, and factors influencing milk prices, including government regulations and seasonal changes. Discover how Walmart's Great Value brand provides competitive pricing and how customers can take advantage of Rollback promotions and online grocery services for convenient shopping.

This statistic shows the annual consumer price index of dairy products and eggs in Canada from 2003 to 2024. The annual consumer price index for dairy products and eggs was measured at 172.7 in 2024.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products: Cheese data was reported at 157.700 2002=100 in Feb 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 157.700 2002=100 for Jan 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products: Cheese data is updated monthly, averaging 107.700 2002=100 from Jan 1985 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 482 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 158.300 2002=100 in Jun 2024 and a record low of 66.300 2002=100 in Jul 1985. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products: Cheese data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I002: Consumer Price Index: 2002=100.

The consumption of milk has gradually declined in Canada in recent years – in 2022, consumption hit a new low of around 58.2 liters per capita. This is a decrease of over ten liters per capita since 2015. Around half of the volume of milk consumed per capita was milk with a two percent butterfat content, making it the most popular type of milk to drink in Canada.

Why is milk consumption decreasing?

Milk consumption is following a similar trend to red meat consumption in Canada - the intake of pork and beef have generally seen decreases in recent years. The number of vegetarians and vegans in Canada, recorded at 2.3 million and 850,000 respectively, is likely to be a reason behind the decline. The average retail price for homogenized milk has experienced only a minor increase in Canada, suggesting that price is not a cause of declining consumption.

Milk industry in Canada

Over 90 million hectoliters of milk are produced annually in Canada. As of December 2022, there were 76 milk manufacturing establishments located across Canada to support this production, with the majority located in Ontario and Quebec.

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products data was reported at 171.400 2002=100 in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 169.900 2002=100 for Jan 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products data is updated monthly, averaging 72.900 2002=100 from Jan 1949 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 914 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 171.400 2002=100 in Feb 2025 and a record low of 11.500 2002=100 in Aug 1950. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: PS: DP: Dairy Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I002: Consumer Price Index: 2002=100.

This statistic shows the average retail price for evaporated milk in Canada from January 2015 to February 2022. In February 2022, the average retail price for evaporated milk in Canada was 1.96 Canadian dollars per 385 milliliters.

Canada IPPI: Meat, Fish and Dairy Products data was reported at 110.000 2002=100 in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 108.400 2002=100 for 2011. Canada IPPI: Meat, Fish and Dairy Products data is updated yearly, averaging 104.500 2002=100 from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2012, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 110.000 2002=100 in 2012 and a record low of 99.300 2002=100 in 2006. Canada IPPI: Meat, Fish and Dairy Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I018: Industrial Product Price Index: 2002=100: Annual.