Katraj Dairy, a prominent dairy cooperative in the Pune District, has announced a price increase for its toned milk, effective June 16. Consumers will now pay an additional ₹2 per liter, a move attributed by the Pune District Cooperative Milk Producers Union to a steady rise in both transportation and overall operational expenses. This adjustment signals ongoing inflationary pressures within India’s dairy sector, impacting not only consumers but also the broader dairy economics of the region.

This latest price hike marks the second such increase implemented by Katraj Dairy in recent months, reflecting a persistent challenge in maintaining stable pricing amidst escalating costs. Earlier in May, the cooperative had already raised the prices of its full cream milk and standard milk variants by ₹2 per liter. However, at that time, the price of toned milk had been kept constant, making this current increase a significant development for this popular milk category.

The decision by Katraj Dairy underscores the financial pressures faced by milk producers and processors across India. Rising fuel costs directly impact transportation, while other operational expenses, from feed to labor and processing, continue to climb. These factors cumulatively necessitate price adjustments to ensure the financial viability of dairy cooperatives and farmers, maintaining a sustainable supply of milk to the market.