Indore’s dairy market is witnessing an exceptional spike in demand, with loose milk consumption crossing 12 lakh litres per day, driven by an unusually heavy wedding calendar and a sharp rise in institutional orders. This surge has left the city with almost no surplus milk, despite the current flush season that typically boosts supply.
According to the Indore Dugdh Vikreta Sangh, the city’s total milk collection has risen to around 13 lakh litres daily, most of which is being consumed within Indore itself. “Every caterer and hotel is asking for extra milk, paneer, and cream. In a normal flush season, we send surplus outside Indore, but this time everything is getting consumed locally,” said Bharat Mathurawala, president of the Sangh.
Packaged milk sales have also increased, with Sanchi leading the surge. Meanwhile, dairy processors report a significant jump in demand for paneer, khoa, ghee, and sweet-making variants, fuelled by large banquet functions, community events, and festive gatherings. Ghanshyam Yadav, who runs a dairy and sweets unit, notes: “Demand has shot up in the last two to three weeks. Weddings and corporate events are driving higher volumes.”
Institutional buyers are feeling the pressure too. Hostels and educational trusts have raised consumption by nearly 20%, prompting suppliers to request advance confirmations. “We are stretched due to wedding-related demand and need prior notice to manage supply,” said Amit Verma, a supplier to a local education trust. With peak wedding season still underway, dairy operators expect the tight supply-demand balance to continue, keeping Indore’s milk market unusually active for this time of year.
