Aust'n dairy giant to air-freight fresh milk to China in bold export venture

One of Australia's largest and oldest dairy companies has announced it will export fresh milk directly to China every week beginning in 2017.

Tasmania's Van Diemen's Land (VDL) Farms, which is owned by China's Moon Lake Investments, said it plans to fly approximately 10 million liters of fresh "VAN Milk" from Hobart Airport to Ningbo every year.

Sean Shwe, managing director of Moon Lake, said the company was in negotiations with multiple airlines to initially fly weekly round trips with the hope that the frequency of the flights would grow to three times a week.

"This is an exciting venture for our company, VDL Farms and potentially for all Tasmanian producers of fresh, perishable produce such as seafood, fruit and vegetables," Shwe told News Limited in comments published on Thursday.

"A journey of one thousand miles starts with a single step.

"It will be a game-changer for Tasmania and Moon Lake and VAN are proud to be leading the charge."

The venture will be Tasmania's first regular air freight route to Asia.

Shwe said the product, which accounts for 10 percent of VDL Farms' total milk production, would be sold in Shanghai, Hangzhou and other cities once established in Ningbo. Endit