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EU-27: Dairy sector

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This page contains data with regard to some key indicators on the dairy sector over time.


The purpose of this table is twofold:

  • on the one hand, it highlights the complexity of the sector, where it is important the connection among many different elements: raw milk area, dairy productions, import, export, domestic consumption and self-sufficiency level,

  • on the other hand, it underlines the vibrancy of a market crossed by many trade routes of both semi-finished and finished products (from packaged milk to cheese and milk powders).

The orange links allow a further analysis on TESEO.


Click here to consult the
MILK SELF-SUFFICIENCY map

EU-27: DAIRY SECTOR
x 1.000 ton
RAW MATERIAL AREA202220232024202520252026%Period
Cow's Milk
Dairy Farm Structure
Live bovine animals ('000 Head)74.80873.76171.89671.583
of which
     Cows ('000 Head)19.80019.64018.94218.364
Slaughtered cows ('000 head)6.4046.2016.3385.9461.5301.498-2,1%Jan-Mar 2026
Export of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head)149.812192.567157.65765.95232.85146.664+42,0%Jan-May 2026
Import of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head)27257260402692+253,8%Jan-May 2026
Milk production155.216155.464156.088
± % Over the same period of the previous year+0,2%+0,4%
Raw cows' milk delivered to dairies (Cod. Eurostat D1110D)144.649144.715145.728148.23262.34664.667(e)+3,7%Jan-May 2026
± % Over the same period of the previous year0,0%+0,7%+1,7%
% Delivery on production ***93,2%93,1%93,4%
% Protein3,42%3,44%3,45%3,48%3,48%3,50% Jan-Apr 2026
% Fat4,09%4,11%4,12%4,16%4,20%4,23% Jan-Apr 2026
Farm-gate milk price (€ per 100 Kg)50,2146,9848,4152,4453,2243,29(e)-18,7%Jan-Jun 2026
± % Over the same period of the previous year-6,4%+3,1%+8,3%
Corn price (Bordeaux) (€\Ton)313232193190195203+4,1%Jan-Jul 2026
National Soybean price (Bologna) (€\Ton)632485457417419424+1,2%Jan-Jul 2026
Buffalo's - Goat's - Sheep's Milk
Buffaloes ('000)**480481500508
Buffalo's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1140A)**289(e)295(e)289(e)-
Buffalo's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1140D)**239(e)237(e)237(e)-
Goats ('000)**11.30910.57610.256-
Goat's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1130A)**2.490(e)2.452(e)2.461(e)-
Goat's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1130D)**1.791(e)1.761(e)1.786(e)-
Sheep's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1120A)**2.931(e)2.938(e)2.946(e)-
Sheep's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1120D)**2.216(e)2.238(e)2.236(e)-
DAIRY PRODUCTION202220232024202520252026%Period
Drinking milk (Cod. Eurostat D2100)22.67622.21522.43722.2457.5507.579(e)+0,4%Jan-Apr 2026
Cream for direct consumption (Cod. Eurostat D2200V)2.5252.5672.6552.653894890(e)-0,5%Jan-Apr 2026
Raw cream delivered to dairies (Cod. Eurostat D1200D)**138140137-
Acidified milk (yoghurts and other) (Cod. Eurostat D4100)7.5487.6857.9848.1482.7012.800(e)+3,6%Jan-Apr 2026
Butter (Cod. Eurostat D6000)2.0732.1111.9692.117696765(e)+10,0%Jan-Apr 2026
Rendered butter and butteroil (Cod.Eurostat D6200)**1129891-
Other Yellow Fat Dairy Products (Cod. Eurostat D6900)**211155162-
Total Cheese (Cod. Eurostat D7100)10.33410.44110.717-
I° Classificazione
- Soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7111)**1.4741.4791.487-
- Medium soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7112)**650643643-
- Medium hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7113)**1.8842.8842.902-
- Hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7114)**1.6811.6251.400-
- Extra hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7115)**324231-
- Fresh cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7116)**3.6443.6963.850-
2° Classificazione
- Cheese from cows'milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7121)**9.4929.6359.863-
- Cheese from ewes milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7122)**233228230-
- Cheese from goats milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7123)**194197168-
- Others (cheese from buffalos'milk (pure) or mixed cheese) ( Cod. Eurostat D7129)**494505502-
Cheese from cows' milk (Cod. Eurostat D7121)9.4789.6379.86810.0433.3183.418(e)+3,0%Jan-Apr 2026
Processed Cheese (Cod. Eurostat D7200)**588575591-
Concentrated milk (Cod. Eurostat D3200)894959542495
WMP - Milk and cream powders (excl. SMP) (Cod. Eurostat D3100_X_3113)685705611580194190(e)-2,2%Jan-Apr 2026
Partly Skimmed Milk Powder (Cod. Eurostat D3112)**586266-
SMP - Skimmed milk powder (SMP) (Cod. Eurostat D3113)1.3071.2381.1611.227418476(e)+13,7%Jan-Apr 2026
Buttermilk Powder (Cod. Eurostat D3130)**515053-
Drinks with a milk base (Cod. Eurostat D9100)**1.6891.6311.696-
Whey (in powder or in block)***2.1872.2142.231-
Caseins and caseinates (Cod. Eurostat D9300)**14613378-
Other fresh products (milk-based desserts, ice cream)
(Cod. Eurostat D9200)**		2.2012.1312.187-
EXPORT202220232024202520252026%Period
Cheese (0406) TOP importers1.3261.3841.3851.420571595+4,1%Jan-May 2026
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (190190) TOP importers1.1441.1011.1101.144450464+3,2%Jan-May 2026
Whey (0404) TOP importers781791850862354339-4,2%Jan-May 2026
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) and WPC (040410) TOP importers662693744762312294-5,9%Jan-May 2026
SMP (040210) TOP importers7077767167960,00,00,0%Jan-May 2026
Latte Confezionato (04011010+04012011+04012091) TOP importers823784662654252275+9,2%Jan-May 2026
Whole (04012091) TOP importers563543466486186200+7,5%Jan-May 2026
Semi-Skimmed (04012011) TOP importers1621661321104648+3,7%Jan-May 2026
Skimmed (04011010) TOP importers987464582027+38,4%Jan-May 2026
Yogurt and buttermilk (0403) TOP importers509501540594240254+5,8%Jan-May 2026
Infant milk formula (190110) TOP importers575487481469197195-0,9%Jan-May 2026
Condensed Milk (040291+040299) TOP importers294319319290121115-5,4%Jan-May 2026
Butter And Other Fats (0405) TOP importers252287272271105143+35,8%Jan-May 2026
Anhydrous Milk Fat (040590) TOP importers252723218,311+35,3%Jan-May 2026
Cream (040130+040140+040150) TOP importers260250268234104100-4,6%Jan-May 2026
Lactose Pharmaceutical (170211) TOP importers22823025322910289-12,5%Jan-May 2026
Latte Sfuso (04011090+04012019+04012099) TOP importers2311972402108684-2,4%Jan-May 2026
Whole (04012099) TOP importers1671462211958378-6,1%Jan-May 2026
Semi-skimmed (04012019) TOP importers135,61,91,70,70,5-23,9%Jan-May 2026
Skimmed (04011090) TOP importers504517132,25,3+147,0%Jan-May 2026
WMP (040221+040229) TOP importers2342602091777677+1,6%Jan-May 2026
Other Product 1531441511586067+12,4%Jan-May 2026
Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %)545049592520-17,8%Jan-May 2026
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%)
based on nuts, cereals or seeds		405373354362144144-0,4%Jan-May 2026
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats
derived from milk or milk products		98981061184949+0,4%Jan-May 2026
IMPORT202220232024202520252026%Period
Latte Sfuso (04011090+04012019+04012099) TOP exporters594663694685318248-22,1%Jan-May 2026
Whole (04012099) TOP exporters584654672671313238-24,0%Jan-May 2026
Semi-skimmed (04012019) TOP exporters8,98,19,0125,04,7-5,6%Jan-May 2026
Skimmed (04011090) TOP exporters1,20,9131,40,25,3>1000%Jan-May 2026
Cheese (0406) TOP exporters1871741872008288+7,2%Jan-May 2026
Whey (0404) TOP exporters937477823438+12,2%Jan-May 2026
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) and WPC (040410) TOP exporters927274793337+15,1%Jan-May 2026
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (190190) TOP exporters787175773130-2,5%Jan-May 2026
Butter And Other Fats (0405) TOP exporters695336722629+8,9%Jan-May 2026
Anhydrous Milk Fat (040590) TOP exporters252322341412-16,9%Jan-May 2026
Latte Confezionato (04011010+04012011+04012091) TOP exporters484966673027-9,9%Jan-May 2026
Whole (04012091) TOP exporters272739411916-14,0%Jan-May 2026
Semi-Skimmed (04012011) TOP exporters151818197,47,4-0,2%Jan-May 2026
Skimmed (04011010) TOP exporters6,24,08,97,53,22,9-8,1%Jan-May 2026
Condensed Milk (040291+040299) TOP exporters384043582525+0,5%Jan-May 2026
Cream (040130+040140+040150) TOP exporters312926482214-36,0%Jan-May 2026
Yogurt and buttermilk (0403) TOP exporters875145471619+17,3%Jan-May 2026
Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (350220) TOP exporters32333644189,5-47,7%Jan-May 2026
Lactose Pharmaceutical (170211) TOP exporters354945341712-28,6%Jan-May 2026
WMP (040221+040229) TOP exporters201815179,35,3-43,5%Jan-May 2026
Other Product 595357615,65,7+1,6%Jan-May 2026
Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %)108,110115,43,5-35,2%Jan-May 2026
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%)
based on nuts, cereals or seeds		263440331413-5,7%Jan-May 2026
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats
derived from milk or milk products		6,57,310,0156,66,3-5,1%Jan-May 2026
DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION (Source: FAS-USDA)202220232024202520252026%Period
Cheese9.2009.3419.5859.6059.6059.630+0,3%Jan-Dec 2026
Butter1.9101.8951.8561.9001.9001.910+0,5%Jan-Dec 2026
SMP8467407737237237230,0%Jan-Dec 2026
WMP402403426446446451+1,1%Jan-Dec 2026
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTIONS (kg)202220232024202520252026%Period
Cheese21212121
Butter4,34,24,14,2
SMP1,91,71,71,6
WMP0,90,90,91,0
% Self-sufficiency rate114,6%116,4%115,0%114,9%112,9%Jan-May 2026
SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS 2022 2023 2024 2025 2025 2026(f) % Period
GDP (gross domestic product) 3,61% 0,52% 1,05% 1,61% 1,61% 0,90% Jan-Dic 2026
CPI (consumer price index) 9,19% 6,36% 2,61% 2,46% 2,46% 3,20% Jan-Dic 2026
Population ('000) 445.999 447.695 449.483 450.647
Informative Note
(f): forecast
(e): estimated
* Per capita GDP in Euro is calculated by using the yearly average exchange rate
** Only the production of the EU countries that officially declared the data are considered.
*** source: agridata.ec.europa.eu

SOURCES
Raw material area: Sheep and Goat Milk Deliveries: Eurostat (annual data dataset: apro_mk_pobta); Milk Deliveries, % Protein e % Fat: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_colm); Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: agr_r_milkpr); Number of cows: Eurostat (dataset: agr_r_animal -the data were calculated as the difference between codes 'A2300F' and 'A2410'); Number of Goats, Sheeps and Bufaloes: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mt_lsgoat, apro_mt_lssheep, apro_mt_lscatl ); Sheep and Goat Milk Production: Eurostat (annual data dataset: apro_mk_farm); Farm-gate milk price: Milk Market Observatory; Import/Export of Breeding Heifers: IHS ; Organic Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: org_aprod);
Dairy production: (annual data dataset: apro_mk_pobta, monthly data dataset: apro_mk_colm)
Export: Eurostat
Import: Eurostat
Consumption: FAS-USDA
GDP and CPI: Intesa Sanpaolo
GDP per capita: International Monetary Found
Population: Eurostat

*** MILK DELIVERIES AND MILK PRODUCTION
  • Milk deliveries (apro_mk_colm): milk collected by dairies (located in the Member State) from the agricultural holdings (within or outside the Member State).
  • Milk production (agr_r_milkpr): milk produced by agricultural holdings (located in the Member State) and a part of this milk is delivered to dairies (within or outside the Member State).

Note: Self-sufficiency rate = Milk deliveries/(Domestic use in milk equivalent ME)
Domestic use in milk equivalent (ME) = Milk deliveries + Import in ME - Export in ME
The Self-sufficiency rate does not consider the trade of FFMP (fat-filled milk powder) - HS 190190 and the infant milk formula.

Last update: 18-07-2026
NOTA: Access to Dairy World Trade, which also contains the processing of Import / Export of the EU-27 with MONTHLY UPDATES, is reserved for Supporters of CLAL.it