Mother Dairy has announced a price hike of up to ₹2 per litre for milk in the Delhi-NCR region, effective April 30, 2025. The increase comes as the company struggles to absorb a steep rise in procurement costs, largely driven by the early arrival of summer and a severe heatwave affecting milk supply chains.
According to a company official, the cost of procuring milk from farmers has surged by ₹4–5 per litre over recent months. In response, the company has opted for a partial price pass-through to consumers to balance both farmer support and customer affordability. The official emphasized that despite the hike, the company remains committed to ensuring consistent supply and quality.
Mother Dairy currently sells around 35 lakh litres of milk daily in the Delhi-NCR market through its booths, retail partners, and online platforms. The company highlighted that while the price revision may affect households, it is necessary to sustain operations amid rising input expenses.
Revised milk prices across variants
The new pricing structure reflects an increase across multiple milk variants. Toned milk sold through vending machines will now cost ₹56 per litre, up from ₹54. Full cream milk in pouches has gone up by ₹1 to ₹69 per litre. Similarly, the price of pouched toned milk has been revised from ₹56 to ₹57.
Double toned milk will now be available at ₹51 per litre, compared to the previous ₹49, while cow milk has also seen a ₹2 increase, reaching ₹59 per litre. These changes represent a partial adjustment rather than a full reflection of procurement costs.
Heatwave pressures and cost balancing
Industry watchers say such price hikes could become more common if high temperatures persist and affect cattle productivity further. With increased expenses in transportation, fodder, and energy, dairy firms are under mounting pressure. For Mother Dairy, the latest move is seen as a step to strike a balance between maintaining affordable consumer pricing and supporting dairy farmers who are hit hardest by the weather extremes.
While consumers may feel the pinch, the company’s messaging highlights a broader strategy of navigating unpredictable climate impacts and inflationary pressures without entirely shifting the burden to end users.
