Milk has become more expensive across several Indian markets, with leading dairy companies Amul and Mother Dairy implementing fresh price increases from November 12. The companies have raised prices by ₹2 to ₹4 per litre, citing higher costs of cattle feed, fodder, transportation, packaging and milk procurement.
The latest revision is likely to affect household budgets, particularly families that depend on packaged milk for their daily consumption. Since milk is a regular purchase for millions of households, even a small increase can add to monthly grocery expenses.
The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which sells dairy products under the Amul brand, has increased prices of its major fresh pouch milk variants by around 3-5%. The revised rates came into effect on Thursday, November 12, across the markets where the products are sold.
Amul Taaza toned milk, which contains 3% fat, has become costlier by ₹2 per litre, taking its price to ₹62. Amul Gold, containing 6% fat, has witnessed a ₹4 increase and now costs ₹80 per litre.
The latest revision marks the second milk price increase by Amul in 2026, following an earlier hike in May. The company said the decision was necessary to manage rising input costs while ensuring that dairy farmers receive better payments for their produce.
Mother Dairy also revises milk rates
Mother Dairy has announced a similar price increase of ₹2-4 per litre across its liquid milk variants, effective November 12. The revised rates apply to its products in the Delhi-NCR market.
Under the new price structure, Mother Dairy’s toned milk sold through bulk vending machines now costs ₹60 per litre, compared with ₹58 earlier. Full-cream pouch milk has become costlier by ₹4, with its price increasing from ₹72 to ₹76 per litre.
The price of toned pouch milk has risen from ₹60 to ₹62 per litre, while double-toned milk now costs ₹56 instead of ₹54. Cow milk has also become more expensive, with the price increasing from ₹62 to ₹65 per litre.
Mother Dairy sells around 35 lakh litres of milk daily in Delhi-NCR through retail outlets, general trade and online platforms. Its overall daily milk sales exceed 50 lakh litres, making it one of the major players in India’s dairy market.
The company has attributed the price increase to higher procurement costs and rising expenses across the dairy supply chain. It said the revision would help partly offset the additional financial burden on farmers and the company.
Reason for the milk price hike
Rising production costs have emerged as the main reason behind the latest milk price hike. Dairy companies have pointed to higher prices of green fodder, dry fodder, cattle feed, fuel and packaging materials.
GCMMF said the cost of producing and processing milk had increased over the past year. It specifically highlighted the rising prices of cattle feed ingredients such as maize, oil cake and molasses, along with packaging film and transportation expenses.
Uneven rainfall in Gujarat and other parts of the country has also affected fodder availability. This has increased the cost of maintaining cattle, putting additional pressure on dairy farmers.
Mother Dairy has indicated that green and dry fodder prices have increased by as much as 20% over the past year, while cattle feed costs have risen approximately 10%. Packaging, transportation and other operational expenses have also increased by up to 25%.
These increases have affected the economics of milk production, from maintaining cattle to collecting, processing and distributing fresh milk. Higher procurement prices paid to farmers have further added to the companies’ operating expenses.
Dairy farmers to benefit from price revision
Amul has maintained that the price increase is intended to support milk producers as well as manage rising operational costs.
According to GCMMF, its member dairy unions have increased procurement prices paid to farmers by 4-5% over the past year. The cooperative said better payments would help farmers manage higher expenses associated with cattle feed, fodder and animal maintenance.
Amul also highlighted its cooperative business model, under which nearly 80% of the revenue generated from consumer sales is returned to approximately 36 lakh milk producers.
The company said a significant portion of the additional revenue would reach farmers, supporting rural incomes and encouraging sustained milk production.
For dairy farmers, rising feed costs and unpredictable weather conditions have made maintaining cattle more expensive. Higher procurement payments are therefore important for keeping milk production economically viable.
Households face higher monthly expenses
The latest price increases could add to the financial pressure on households already managing higher food and grocery bills.
Milk is widely consumed across Indian households and is used in everyday preparations such as tea, coffee, breakfast, sweets and cooking. Families purchasing several litres daily will feel the impact more directly.
The latest increase also follows price revisions by other dairy brands. Karnataka Milk Federation’s Nandini brand raised milk prices by ₹8 per litre from November 1, while curd prices increased by ₹14 per litre.
Amul had also increased ghee prices by ₹50 per litre from November 2, citing higher input costs.
The repeated revisions across dairy products reflect the pressure that rising agricultural inputs and operational expenses are placing on the industry.
For consumers, the immediate concern is higher spending on an essential household product. For dairy companies, the challenge will be to balance affordability with the need to maintain adequate procurement payments and a reliable supply chain.
With fodder prices, cattle feed expenses and transportation costs continuing to influence milk production, the dairy industry will be watching consumer demand and procurement trends closely in the coming months.