Dairy product imports 'to witness sharp rise'

Industry hit by reliance on overseas and inadequate domestic supply

China's imported dairy products will exceed 20 percent growth in 2014 as continued urbanization pushes up demand and a lack of large dairy farms limits supply, a bank report said on Tuesday.

The number of domestic manufacturers will increase to make up 30 percent of the country's raw milk supply in 2016, a rise from less than 20 percent this year, according to a study by Rabobank Nederland.