BEIJING: In a significant move, Chinese company Royal JW Foods, located in Lahore, is flexing muscles to make a head start to export mozzarella cheese to China. It also plans to export it to Europe and Middle East soon.
If all goes well Royal JW Foods, JV partner of Royal Cell Biotechnology, will be credited first company to be exporting mozzarella cheese from Pakistan. All test trails have been successful meeting all required credentials essentially necessitated for the stages from preparation, processing, packaging till branding and logistic prerequisites.
Regarding China, as soon as export protocols are finalized, export of mozzarella cheese will kick in forthwith, Royal JW Foods senior official Dr Nassar told Gwadar pro in an interview.
“In terms of European and middle east countries, relevant certifications or standardizations have been attained through due process. After the rest of criteria is aligned, export will make a headway accordingly,” he added. Mozzarella cheese, a popular type of cheese known for its smooth, creamy texture and mild flavor, is being made of buffalos’ milk produced by its own herd of buffalos in Punjab, he replied to a query.
When asked he responded that Pakistan can be transformed as a big exporter of mozzarella cheese milk producer of 43 million metric tonnes annually. According to Economic Survey 2024-2025, during the nine months of the fiscal year 2025, buffalo population reached 47.7 million. During July-March 2025, Pakistan’s gross milk production remained 72.34 million tonnes, reflecting a 3.2 per cent annual increase, driven by higher yields and increased livestock population.
Pakistan Livestock Association official Jallil Rehman said that export of Mozzarella Cheese to China will prove to be another feather in the cap of Pak-China trade relations. During China National Day holidays and Mid-Autum Festival, mozzarella cheese commonly used in pizza, pasta, and salads and sandwiches, was in good demand by Chinese people who savoured their meals with their loved ones, he mentioned. He appreciated Chinese company JW Foods for making mozzarella cheese using Pakistani water buffalos milk known for its high fat and protein content, both of which contribute to the rich and creamy texture of authentic buffalo mozzarella. The milk is sourced from water buffaloes raised in Punjab region, where the animals graze on lush pastures, giving the cheese its distinct flavor. Mozzarella cheese is a reliable source of several essential nutrients like calories, protein, fat and Calcium.
The Chinese Mozzarella Cheese Market is emerging as a dynamic segment within the broader dairy industry, reflecting shifting dietary patterns, rising disposable incomes, and growing demand for Western-style cuisines. Once considered a niche product, mozzarella is now a mainstream ingredient in pizzas, pastas, snacks, and consumer-packaged foods. The market’s expansion reflects evolving consumer behaviors and the rapid modernization of China’s food sector.
In China, mozzarella’s growth is tied closely to expanding urban middle classes, Western food culture, and increasing interest in at-home cooking.
According to the 2021 China Dairy Index, most adults in China — roughly one billion people — are lactose intolerant. This high prevalence is largely due to the genetic factors common among Asian populations. However, this doesn’t mean Chinese people don’t consume dairy products at all. In fact, they do but just in smaller amounts or they turn to dairy products with lower lactose like cheese. In 2024, the cheese market in China reached RMB 87.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7%. As Chinese consumers become more open to Western dishes and incorporate cheese into their desserts and meals, the cheese market is projected to continue growing, reaching RMB 153 billion by 2032. –Agencies
