Milk Powder CFR Kuwait: Skimmed and Full Cream Powder for Kuwaiti Importers
Kuwait declared 61,862 t of skimmed and full cream milk powder in 2025, worth USD 218 million CIF
Kuwait buys milk powder on two customs lines. Under HS 0402.10, skimmed powder at 1.5% fat or less, it declared 33,631 t of imports in 2025, worth USD 78.74 million, an average of USD 2,341 per tonne CIF. Saudi Arabia supplied 29,316 t (87.2%) at USD 2,214/t and Australia 3,337 t (9.9%) at USD 3,258/t; the Netherlands, Canada, France, the UAE, Belgium, Ireland and Denmark shipped lots of 41 to 277 t. Under HS 0402.21, unsweetened powder above 1.5% fat, it declared 28,231 t worth USD 139.27 million, an average of USD 4,933/t: the Netherlands 12,975 t (46.0%) at USD 6,850/t, Australia 7,674 t (27.2%) at USD 3,097/t, New Zealand 5,039 t (17.8%) at USD 3,331/t and the UAE 1,107 t (3.9%) at USD 3,799/t. The six-digit lines do not separate bulk bags from retail tins and pouches, which is why the Dutch average sits far above the Oceania figures. The exporters' own declarations also show that the two lines are not read the same way at both ends: New Zealand recorded 5,037 t and Australia 10,593 t of 2025 shipments to Kuwait under 0402.10, while Kuwait booked most of the same tonnage as full cream powder. For 2024 Kuwait's net weights are Comtrade estimates rather than declarations; its declared values were USD 6.36 million on 0402.10 and USD 144.69 million on 0402.21.
CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers food-grade skimmed milk powder by heat class and full cream powder at 26% or 28% fat CFR Kuwait, in 25 kg multiwall bags with a polyethylene liner, loaded in 20 ft or 40 ft dry containers for discharge at Shuwaikh or Shuaiba. Entry is governed by the Imported Food Regulations of the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (Ministerial Resolution No. 6 of 2023, in force from 1 September 2023). Every consignment needs the customs declaration, a certificate of origin, the delivery permit, the importer's trade licence or import permit, an original health certificate issued by the official authority of the origin and dated after production, in Arabic or English, and a packing list from the exporting plant showing package numbers and sizes, net weights, batch numbers and validity dates for each item. Food must conform to Kuwaiti technical regulations, then Gulf standards, then international standards; for milk powder the Gulf standard is GSO CODEX STAN 207:2021, the Gulf adoption of the Codex standard for milk powders, and labelling and validity dates are checked against the approved Gulf standards before release. Changing a shelf life without PAFN's prior written approval is an offence under the same regulation. Send the powder and grade (heat class or fat content, regular or instant), the quantity and monthly programme, the packing, the importer of record and its licence, the delivery window and the payment terms, and the enquiry is screened and worked against them.
Also on this lane: Whole milk powder · Fat-filled milk powder
The market in figures
- Skimmed milk powder imports, 2025 (HS 0402.10)
- 33,631 t · USD 78.74 m · USD 2,341/t CIF
- Full cream powder imports, 2025 (HS 0402.21)
- 28,231 t · USD 139.27 m · USD 4,933/t CIF
- Main origins, SMP 2025
- Saudi Arabia 29,316 t (87.2%) · Australia 3,337 t (9.9%)
- Main origins, full cream 2025
- Netherlands 46.0% · Australia 27.2% · New Zealand 17.8% · UAE 3.9%
- Documents (PAFN Resolution 6/2023)
- Health certificate dated after production · certificate of origin · packing list with batches and validity dates · import licence
- Standard
- GSO CODEX STAN 207:2021, milk powders and cream powder
- How it arrives
- 25 kg multiwall bags in dry containers, Shuwaikh or Shuaiba
- Import duty
- 5% applied MFN customs duty on HS 0402.10 and 0402.21 (2023)
Landed values are the importing country's declared CIF, not CBIL prices.
Questions buyers ask
- What documents does a milk powder consignment need for Kuwait?
- Under PAFN's Imported Food Regulations (Ministerial Resolution No. 6 of 2023), each consignment carries the customs declaration, a certificate of origin, the delivery permit, the importer's trade licence or import permit, an original health certificate and a packing list from the exporting plant. The health certificate is issued or endorsed by the official authority of the origin, written in Arabic and/or English, dated after production, and lists the packages, total weight and batches. A halal certificate from an Islamic authority accredited by Kuwait is required for foods with ingredients of animal origin, and Canada's export guidance for dairy to Kuwait states that halal certification is required.
- Which standard does milk powder have to meet?
- The regulation applies Kuwaiti technical regulations first, then Gulf standards, then international standards. For milk powder the Gulf standard is GSO CODEX STAN 207:2021, the GCC adoption of the Codex standard for milk powders and cream powder. Labels and validity dates are checked against the approved Gulf standards before release, and a shelf life cannot be changed without PAFN's prior written approval.
- Why is the declared value of full cream powder so much higher than skimmed?
- Partly fat, and partly packing. HS 0402.21 covers full cream powder in 25 kg bags and in consumer tins and pouches alike, and the Netherlands, which supplied 46.0% of the 2025 tonnage, averaged USD 6,850/t against USD 3,097/t for Australia and USD 3,331/t for New Zealand. Compare bulk offers with the Oceania figures, not with the line average.
- Which origins supply Kuwait?
- By Kuwait's 2025 declarations, Saudi Arabia supplied 87.2% of skimmed powder and Australia 9.9%; for full cream the Netherlands supplied 46.0%, Australia 27.2%, New Zealand 17.8% and the UAE 3.9%. A customs origin is the loading country, so every lot CBIL brokers carries the producer's certificate of analysis and a certificate of origin naming the plant.
- How does milk powder ship to Kuwait?
- In 25 kg multiwall bags with a polyethylene liner, floor-loaded or palletised in dry containers, discharged at Shuwaikh or Shuaiba. It is container freight, booked through the lines and forwarders on CFR or CIF terms.