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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 table contains 110 series, with data for years 1965 - 1975 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and is no longer being released. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (10 items: Canada;Prince Edward Island;Nova Scotia;New Brunswick; ...); Type of dairy product sold by farmers (11 items: Cream for butter, sold by farmers;Milk for butter;Milk for cheese;Milk for ice cream mix and concentration; ...).

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.

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.

Skim milk imports into Canada surged to 11K tons in 2023, rising by 145% on the previous year.

Price for Powdered, Condensed or Evaporated Milk in Canada - 2023. Find the latest marketing data on the IndexBox platform.

This table contains 6 series, with data for years 1940 - 1964 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and is no longer being released. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 item: Canada); Type of dairy product (6 items: Creamery butter-fat;Cheese milk;Milk for concentrated whole milk products;Milk for ice cream mix; ...).

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.

Skim powdered milk exports from Canada reduced modestly to 26K tons in 2023, which is down by -2.1% compared with the previous year.

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 10 series, with data for years 1920 - 1976 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and is no longer being released. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (10 items: Canada;Prince Edward Island;Nova Scotia;New Brunswick; ...); Farm value (1 item: Farm value of total milk production).

Yoghurt and fermented milk exports from Canada surged to 19K tons in 2023, jumping by 30% compared with the previous year.