Skimmed milk powder (SMP) in 25 kg bags: buyer's guide for West Africa and the Maghreb

Skimmed milk powder (SMP) is dried skim milk with at most 1.5% fat, at most 5% water and at least 34% protein in the non-fat solids, sold to industry in 25 kg multi-layer bags or 1,000 kg big bags. A West African or North African buyer should fix four things before asking for a price: the heat class (low, medium or high heat), the grade (extra or standard), the shelf life on arrival, and the container size (16 to 18 tonnes in a 20ft, 24 to 25 tonnes in a 40ft dry container). This guide explains each point, the documents and duties to expect, and where the world market stands in October 2026.

It goes further than our market note of 8 October (why the SMP market is tightening) and our West Africa SMP corridor page. The product sheet is here: skimmed milk powder.

1. SMP, WMP, fat-filled powder or whey: which powder do you need?

Four powders are often offered under the word "milk powder". They are not interchangeable. Price, labelling rules, customs line and end use all differ.

Sources: Codex Standard 207-1999 (FAO), U.S. Dairy Export Council, Corniaux (2023), Politico/GRAIN (2020).

Practical points:

• SMP is the base ingredient. Industry buys it to rebuild milk with its own fat (butter oil, anhydrous milk fat or vegetable fat), or to add protein to yoghurt and bakery products.
• WMP is a finished milk. It already contains the fat. It is sold mostly to consumers. It is more sensitive to oxidation than SMP because of the fat.
• FFMP is not milk powder in the legal sense. It is a blend. Research by Christian Corniaux (2023) estimates these blends cost about 30% less than pure milk powder, which explains their success in price-sensitive markets. The USDA notes that Nigerian importers prefer fat-filled powder for its retail price. Check local labelling rules before you sell FFMP as "milk".
• Whey is a by-product. It has about a third of the protein of SMP and much more lactose. It is a cost-saving ingredient, not a substitute for SMP in yoghurt or recombined milk.

ATC Group quotes all four from EU-approved plants. This guide focuses on SMP. See our dairy category for the others.

2. SMP specifications: what to put in your enquiry

Composition: the international reference

The Codex Alimentarius standard for milk powders (CXS 207-1999) sets the minimum for any product sold as skimmed milk powder:

• Milk fat: maximum 1.5%
• Water: maximum 5%
• Milk protein in milk solids-non-fat: minimum 34%

The U.S. Dairy Export Council explains the difference between SMP and nonfat dry milk (NDM): SMP is defined by Codex with a minimum of 34% protein; NDM is defined by the US FDA and has no protein standard. Typical SMP composition is 34 to 37% protein, 49.5 to 52% lactose and 8.2 to 8.6% ash.

The SMP that ATC Group supplies from EU-approved dairies is quoted at protein min. 34%, fat max. 1.25% and moisture max. 4%. Those fat and moisture limits match the "extra grade" below.

Extra grade or standard grade (ADPI)

The American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) grades SMP/NDM in two levels. Most international buyers use these limits as a reference, even for European product.

Source: ADPI Nonfat Dry Milk Standard v3.0 (2023). For both grades ADPI also sets yeast and mould at max. 100 cfu/g, Enterobacteriaceae at max. 10 cfu/g, and Salmonella, Listeria and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus not detected. The USDA grade standard uses the same chemical limits but allows up to 75,000 bacteria per gram for standard grade.

Which grade for which buyer?

• Repacking into sachets, bakery, ice cream: standard grade is usually enough.
• Yoghurt and fermented milk: standard or extra grade, but ask for low bacterial counts. A high count can disturb fermentation.
• Industrial recombination of UHT milk: extra grade. Solubility index and bacterial count are the critical figures. Insoluble particles block filters and leave sediment in the pack.

Heat class: low, medium or high heat

Heat class measures how much heat the milk received before drying. The laboratory test is undenatured whey protein nitrogen (WPN, in mg per gram of powder). The more heat, the lower the WPN.

Sources: ADPI and USDA (WPN classes), U.S. Dairy Export Council (heat treatments and uses), Tetra Pak Dairy Processing Handbook (recombination table).

The Tetra Pak handbook recommends low or medium heat SMP for recombined pasteurised milk, UHT milk and cultured milk, and high heat (or high-heat, high-stability) SMP for evaporated milk. The U.S. Dairy Export Council notes that high-heat powder matters for bread loaf volume.

In West Africa, medium heat is the most common all-purpose choice for repacking, yoghurt and bakery. A UHT line usually needs low or medium heat in extra grade. Write the heat class and the grade in your enquiry. Two "SMP" offers can differ by both.

Analyses to request on the certificate

For each lot, ask the plant's certificate of analysis to show at least: protein, fat, moisture, titratable acidity, solubility index, scorched particles, WPN (heat class), total plate count, coliforms, yeast and mould, Salmonella and Listeria. For UHT recombination, add spores if your process requires it.

3. Packing: 25 kg bags or big bags

25 kg multi-layer bags. The standard export pack is a multi-wall kraft paper bag with a polyethylene inner liner. ADPI describes typical packing as multiwall kraft bags with a polyolefin liner. The U.S. Dairy Export Council adds that bags should be stitched or glued, with no staples or metal fasteners. Bags are usually palletised or floor-loaded; the load plan is confirmed in each offer.

1,000 kg big bags. Big bags suit factories with a discharge station: fewer bags to open, less dust, less labour. They are not suited to a wholesaler who resells by the bag.

Customs angle. In the ECOWAS/UEMOA common external tariff, milk powder "packed in containers of 25 kg or more" has its own tariff line with a lower duty than retail packs (see section 6). Both 25 kg bags and big bags fall under that line.

4. Tonnes per container: 20ft or 40ft dry container

SMP travels in a dry container at ambient temperature, not in a reefer. There is no cold chain. What matters is moisture and heat.

These are ATC Group reference values. The exact tonnage depends on pallets or floor loading, the bag type and the shipping line's weight limits. It is stated in each offer. In big bags, the load depends on the number of big bags the container takes; we confirm it per plant.

When to choose a 20ft: a first order, a test of a new grade, a small factory, or a market where trucks to the hinterland carry less. When to choose a 40ft: regular demand, a lower freight cost per tonne.

5. Shelf life and storage

SMP from EU dairies is sold with a 12-month or 24-month best-before date depending on the producer. Our customers mostly ask for 24 months, because it leaves room for transit, storage and resale. State the minimum shelf life you need on arrival in the enquiry.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council gives 12 to 18 months for regular (non-instant) SMP, and notes that under ideal conditions it can keep its properties for at least two years. Instant powders keep 6 to 12 months; whey powder 6 to 12 months.

Storage conditions recommended by ADPI and the U.S. Dairy Export Council: cool and dry, below 27 °C and below 65% relative humidity. In a coastal West African warehouse this means:

• Keep bags off the floor, on pallets, away from walls.
• Do not store under a metal roof in direct sun without ventilation.
• Rotate stock first-expired, first-out.
• Inspect bags for caking and moisture on arrival, and record the lot numbers.

6. Documents and duties

Documents for each shipment

• Health certificate issued by the veterinary authority of the EU country of production.
• Certificate of analysis per lot from the producing plant (chemical and microbiological results).
• Certificate of origin. Where the destination has a preferential trade agreement with the EU that covers the product, a proof of preferential origin such as the EUR.1 movement certificate may be needed. EUR.1 is issued by the exporting country's customs, is valid for four months, and is being replaced by origin declarations under some agreements. Tell us if your customs broker needs one.
• Commercial set: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading.
• Halal certificate on request.
• Inspection by SGS or Bureau Veritas before loading, on request.

The plants hold their own food safety certifications (for example IFS, BRC, HACCP). Import permits, product registration and labelling rules in the destination country remain the importer's responsibility. We confirm them with you before loading.

ECOWAS and UEMOA duty: 5% today on HS 0402.10

The common external tariff splits HS 0402.10 (milk powder, fat not exceeding 1.5%) by pack size. The UEMOA 2022 schedule, chapter 4, shows:

Source: UEMOA, Tarif Extérieur Commun 2022, chapter 4. The same line also lists levies of 1%, 0.8% and 0.5% (statistical fee and community levies). VAT and other national taxes come on top and vary by country. Your forwarder confirms the full landed rate.

The debate on a duty increase

The low duty is under discussion. In an interview published by Ecofin Agency in February 2026, Bio Goura Soulé, technical adviser on livestock at ECOWAS, said the proposal is to reclassify milk powder into the fifth band of the common external tariff, at 35%. He said an agreement by June 2026 looked difficult and that December 2026 or June 2027 was a more realistic horizon. The same interview says powdered milk makes up more than 90% of the region's dairy imports. For reference, the 35% band created in 2015 already covers products such as yoghurt (Seneweb, 2014).

At an ECOWAS dairy conference in Saly, Senegal, in May 2026, the regional PAOLAO programme presented work on "TEC impact and taxation" and a possible regional directive on incorporating local milk.

What this means for a buyer: no decision was published as of mid-October 2026. A change would apply from a date set in the act. Contracts with long shipment schedules into 2027 should take the risk into account. Check the rate in force with your forwarder before each vessel arrives.

7. The world SMP market in 2026: public price ranges

ATC Group does not publish prices. The figures below are public market references, dated, from open sources. They are FOB or ex-works prices in the exporting region. A CIF price in Abidjan, Dakar or Algiers adds freight, insurance and the seller's costs; duties and taxes come after.

What the sources say:

• SMP is now dearer than WMP. After the 6 October auction, SMP traded above WMP for the third auction in a row, with a gap of 6.7%. SMP gained about 22.5% over six auctions (UkrAgroConsult, 9 October 2026).
• European spot stocks are tight. USDA Dairy Market News (8 October 2026) reports strong demand in Europe, growing interest from other regions, tight spot inventories, and lighter SMP production as milk output declines seasonally. It adds that European SMP remains competitive against US product.
• The EU is the price-competitive origin for SMP. The Commission's dashboard notes that the EU is more competitive on SMP, the US on butter and cheddar, and Oceania on WMP.
• Supply outlook. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (Dairy: World Markets and Trade, July 2026) forecasts EU SMP production at 1.48 million tonnes in 2026 and EU exports up 5% to 840,000 tonnes. World SMP exports are forecast at about 2.4 million tonnes.

For a buyer, this means firm offers have short validity, and the plant confirms volume when the contract is signed. Plan Ramadan and year-end volumes several weeks ahead.

8. Main African importers: what the figures show

Algeria

Algeria is one of the main SMP importers tracked by the USDA. The USDA describes the state agency ONIL as a key SMP buyer that tends to build stocks when world prices are low. Reconstituted milk made from imported SMP and milk fat is sold in one-litre bags at a fixed price of DZD 25. Private processors use imported powder for UHT milk, yoghurt and cheese spreads (USDA FAS, Nov. 2024).

Nigeria

Nigeria was the largest destination of EU dairy exports to West Africa in 2020, with 32% (Le Soleil, Jan. 2025). Imported powder and cream are reconstituted into a range of products, and fat-filled powder is popular for its retail price (USDA FAS). Note that ATC Group currently serves Nigeria for fish only; contact us before planning dairy shipments there.

Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire

Senegal's dairy imports rose from 178 million litres-equivalent in 2021 to 286 million in 2022, according to ANSD figures reported by Le Soleil. In Côte d'Ivoire, milk powder is about half of the dairy import bill (DG Trésor). Abidjan is also the gateway to Mali and Burkina Faso. See our Côte d'Ivoire market page.

Morocco

A 2018 statement by the Ministry of Agriculture, reported by Finances News, says powder is banned in pasteurised fresh milk and allowed in fermented milks, yoghurts, cheeses and dairy desserts. The tariff quotas reported by the USDA target biscuit, chocolate and confectionery makers. Duty treatment changes by decree; check the rate before each contract.

9. How African industry uses SMP

Recombination and reconstitution

The Tetra Pak Dairy Processing Handbook distinguishes two processes:

• Reconstituted milk: water is added to SMP, WMP or a blend.
• Recombined milk: water is added to SMP, and fat (milk fat or another fat) is added separately to reach the target fat content.

Key process figures from the handbook:

• Water of drinking quality, hardness preferably below 100 mg/l CaCO3.
• Dissolve the powder at about 40 to 60 °C, ideally around 55 °C. Do not exceed 65 °C, which denatures whey proteins.
• Allow about 20 minutes of hydration at 40 to 50 °C. Short hydration gives a chalky taste or sediment.
• Do not hold the mix more than about 3 hours at recombination temperature.

Filled milks, in which vegetable oil replaces milk fat, use refined oils such as coconut, palm or soybean oil (same source).

Yoghurt and fermented milk

SMP raises the dry matter and protein of the yoghurt mix, which improves texture. Low or medium heat is preferred. Ask for a low bacterial count. In ECOWAS, imported yoghurt already pays the 35% band, which protects local production from powder.

Bakery and confectionery

High heat SMP supports bread volume (U.S. Dairy Export Council). Sweet whey powder is a cheaper option where protein is not critical.

Repacking into sachets

Many West African wholesalers repack 25 kg bags into consumer sachets. Retail packs pay 10% duty instead of 5% (UEMOA TEC), so repacking locally keeps the lower duty. Check the country's labelling and food safety rules for repackers.

10. Halal

A halal certificate for SMP is available on request, issued by the certification body that audits the producing plant. Ask for it at enquiry stage: not every plant holds one, and it narrows the choice of producers.

11. How to buy SMP with ATC Group

1. Send your specification: grade, heat class, analyses required, shelf life on arrival, packing (25 kg bags or big bags), container (20ft or 40ft), port, halal or not.
2. Quote within 24 working hours, CIF by default, CFR or FOB on request. See our guide to CIF, CFR and FOB.
3. Contract. Payment by irrevocable letter of credit at sight or by bank transfer (TT), according to the terms agreed in each contract.
4. Loading 10 to 21 days after confirmation, with the certificate of analysis for each lot. SGS or Bureau Veritas inspection on request.
5. Shipping. Indicative transit Poland to Abidjan: 23 to 26 days on the fastest direct service (MSC), 35 to 47 days with transshipment depending on the line. Other ports quoted case by case: Dakar, Tema, Lomé, Cotonou, Conakry, Nouakchott and others.

FAQ

What is the difference between SMP and NDM? Both are dried skim milk with at most 1.5% fat. SMP is defined by Codex with a minimum of 34% protein in the non-fat solids. Nonfat dry milk (NDM) is a US definition with no protein minimum. For West Africa and the Maghreb, ask for SMP with 34% minimum protein.

Which heat class should I order for yoghurt? Low or medium heat. Medium heat is the common choice in West Africa for yoghurt, repacking and bakery. Add a low bacterial count to the specification.

Which grade do I need to recombine UHT milk? Extra grade, low or medium heat. The figures to watch are the solubility index (max. 1.2 ml in extra grade) and the bacterial count (max. 10,000 cfu/g in ADPI extra grade).

How many 25 kg bags fit in a 40ft container? About 960 to 1,000 bags, or 24 to 25 tonnes net, in a dry container. A 20ft holds 16 to 18 tonnes (640 to 720 bags). The exact figure is in each offer.

Does SMP need a reefer container? No. SMP travels in a dry container at ambient temperature. Protect it from heat and humidity in storage: below 27 °C and 65% relative humidity.

What duty will I pay in Côte d'Ivoire or Senegal? Under the common external tariff, milk powder in packs of 25 kg or more (line 0402.10.10.00) pays 5% customs duty, plus statistical and community levies, plus national VAT. Retail packs pay 10%. A move to 35% is under discussion with no decision published as of mid-October 2026.

Can I get a price list? No. SMP prices change at every GDT auction and plants quote volume by volume. We send a firm offer for your specification within 24 working hours. Public market references are listed in section 7.

Is halal SMP available? Yes, on request. Not every plant holds a halal certificate, so state it in your enquiry.

Request an offer

Send your specification (grade, heat class, shelf life, packing, container, port) through our enquiry form or on WhatsApp: +48 501 351 121. We reply within 24 working hours. More answers in our FAQ.

Related pages: Skimmed milk powder · Dairy products · SMP for West Africa · Côte d'Ivoire

Sources

• FAO / Codex Alimentarius, Standard for Milk Powders and Cream Powder (CXS 207-1999): https://fao.org/4/i2085e/i2085e00.pdf
• ADPI, Nonfat Dry Milk Standard v3.0 (2023): https://adpi.org/ingredient-resources/nonfat-dry-milk/
• USDA AMS, U.S. Standards for Grades of Nonfat Dry Milk (Spray Process): https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Nonfat_Dry_Milk_(Spray_Process)_Standard%5B1%5D.pdf
• U.S. Dairy Export Council, Nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder: https://www.thinkusadairy.org/products/milk-powders/milk-powder-categories/non-fat-dry-milk-and-skim-milk-powder
• U.S. Dairy Export Council, Sweet whey powder: https://www.thinkusadairy.org/products/whey-protein-and-ingredients/whey-categories/sweet-whey-powder
• Tetra Pak Dairy Processing Handbook, chapter 20, Recombined milk products: https://dairyprocessinghandbook.tetrapak.com/chapter/recombined-milk-products
• Farmel, Milk powder (product range and packing): https://farmel.nl/en/milk-powder
• UEMOA, Tarif Extérieur Commun 2022, chapter 4: https://e-docucenter.uemoa.int/sites/default/files/2024-09/Chapitre-4-Lait-produits-laiterie.pdf
• Ecofin Agency, interview with Bio Goura Soulé (ECOWAS), 9 February 2026: https://www.ecofinagency.com/insights/0902-52717-policy-and-trade-barriers-an-interview-on-the-future-of-local-milk-production-in-west-africa
• ECOWAS / ARAA, presentation at the Saly dairy conference, May 2026: https://lait-vecteur-developpement.hub.inrae.fr/Media/files/2026/conferences/c7
• Seneweb, ECOWAS CET 35% band, 11 June 2014: https://www.seneweb.com/en/news/Economie/les-droits-de-douane-fixes-a-35-pour-plusieurs-produits-agroalimentaires_n_127984.html
• UkrAgroConsult, GDT index rises 1.2%, 7 October 2026: https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/gdt-dairy-price-index-rises-1-2/
• UkrAgroConsult, SMP prices on GDT at highest since 2022, 9 October 2026: https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/skim-milk-powder-prices-on-gdt-rise-to-highest-level-since-2022/
• USDA AMS Dairy Market News, Skim Milk Powder - Europe, report 41, 8 October 2026: https://ams-prod.azureedge.us/mnreports/ams_1035.pdf
• USDA AMS Dairy Market News, International Dairy Market News price summary, 8 October 2026: https://ams-prod.azureedge.us/mnreports/ams_1591.pdf
• European Commission, Milk Market Observatory dashboard (consulted 16 October 2026): https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/agri/redirection/item/50211
• European Commission, Milk Market Observatory dashboard, 2 September 2026: https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/document/download/413a6600-3082-4a9a-82a0-b9f6048b5449_en
• USDA FAS, Dairy: World Markets and Trade, July 2026: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/dairy.pdf
• USDA FAS Algiers, Algeria Dairy and Products Annual, November 2024: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-General/Trade-Market-reports/USDA-Algeria-Dairy-and-Products-Report-November-2024.pdf
• USDA FAS, Nigeria: Overview of the Dairy Market: https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/nigeria-overview-dairy-market-and-us-export-opportunities
• DairyNews, Africa's dairy deficit keeps milk prices high, 17 August 2026: https://dairynews.today/news/africa_s_dairy_deficit_keeps_milk_prices_high_8353410.html
• Le Soleil, Le Sénégal 2e plus grand importateur de lait en Afrique de l'Ouest, 10 January 2025: https://lesoleil.sn/actualites/economie/le-senegal-2e-plus-grand-importateur-de-lait-en-afrique-de-louest-3-5/
• DG Trésor, Côte d'Ivoire, panorama des échanges agricoles et agroalimentaires, February 2025: https://www.tresor.economie.gouv.fr/Articles/2025/02/01/cote-d-ivoire-panorama-des-echanges-agricoles-et-agroalimentaires
• USDA FAS, Morocco: New TRQs established for wheat, sugar, milk powders: https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/morocco-new-trqs-established-wheat-sugar-milk-powders
• Global Trade Alert, Morocco: temporary suspension of import duties on milk powder and butter: https://globaltradealert.org/state-act/69440-morocco-temporary-suspension-of-import-duties-and-internal-taxation-on-powder-milk-and-butter
• Finances News Hebdo, filière laitière et poudre de lait, 13 June 2018: https://fnh.ma/article/laquotidienne/filiere-laitiere-l-utilisation-de-la-poudre-de-lait-dans-toutes-sortes-d-aliments-ne-represente-aucun-enjeu-sanitaire
• Corniaux C., The rise of fat-filled dairy blends in European dairy exports to West Africa, November 2023: https://repository.africarxiv.org/items/af835190-ee84-47dc-af97-db3e7668cf26/full
• Politico / GRAIN, The EU milk lookalike that is devastating West Africa's dairy sector, August 2020: https://bilaterals.org/the-eu-milk-lookalike-that-is?lang=es
• The Trade Hub, EUR.1 glossary: https://www.thetradehub.eu/en/glossary/eur-1