Agropur announces a $130 million investment to upgrade and expand its dairy processing plants in South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Agropur has outlined a high-confidence investment strategy for the future of North American dairy, announcing a USD 130 million expansion across its Midwestern operations. The initiative focuses on scaling production of whey proteins and milk concentrates while leveraging rapid dairy growth in the US Midwest, particularly South Dakota.
A key element of the investment is a USD 60 million upgrade of Agropur’s facility in Lake Norden, positioning the plant to support the state’s accelerating milk output. South Dakota has emerged as one of the fastest-growing dairy regions in the country, driven by consistent herd expansion, a supportive regulatory climate and infrastructure development along the I-29 corridor. The state has recently entered the top tier of US milk-producing regions, recording strong annual production gains.
The Lake Norden modernisation will significantly enhance drying and processing capabilities, allowing Agropur to shift its product mix toward higher-value milk concentrates and whey protein ingredients. These products are seeing strong global demand, particularly from nutrition, functional food and performance-focused markets. State-level support for dairy expansion, combined with rapid herd growth, has strengthened South Dakota’s role as a major contributor to regional economic output.
Alongside its South Dakota expansion, Agropur is investing USD 70 million across three Wisconsin facilities located in Weyauwega, Luxemburg and Little Chute. These investments are aimed at increasing whey processing and valorisation capacity, enabling the cooperative to convert by-products into premium nutritional ingredients while improving overall plant efficiency and member returns.
The expansion programme is supported by a strong financial performance, with Agropur reporting revenue of USD 8.9 billion, reflecting year-on-year growth, alongside a notable increase in EBITDA. The cooperative also returned USD 70 million in patronage to its member dairy farmers, reinforcing its commitment to producer value.
Agropur leadership highlighted that the strategy centres on resilience and long-term competitiveness. By prioritising value-added dairy ingredients and aligning investments with strong protein demand trends, the cooperative aims to strengthen its role as a specialised ingredients partner in an increasingly competitive global dairy market.