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Italy: Dairy sector
Italy has a prominent position in the European dairy industry: it is the largest producer Country of PDO Cheeses.
This Country:
NOTE: Access to World Dairy Trade, which also contains the processing of Import / Export of the Italy with MONTHLY UPDATES, is reserved for Supporters of CLAL.it
This Country:
- accounts for 9,6% of EU milk deliveries (year 2024),
- exports dairy products, converted into milk equivalent (ME) for the 40,9% of the milk deliveries,
- accounts for 6,9% of EU dairy exports in ME (year 2025).
The orange links allow a further analysis on TESEO.
|
ITALY: DAIRY SECTOR
(1° January - 31 December) |
|||||||||
| x 1.000 ton | |||||||||
| RAW MATERIAL AREA | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | |
| Cow's Milk | |||||||||
| Dairy Farm Structure | |||||||||
| Dairy cows ('000 head) (Al 1st December) | 1.631 | 1.574 | 1.521 | ||||||
| Slaughtered cow ('000) | 603 | 512 | 523 | 509 | 209 | 205 | -1,8% | Jan-May 2026 | |
| Export of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head) | 4.869 | 2.582 | 4.500 | 2.857 | 1.639 | 733 | -55,3% | Jan-May 2026 | |
| Import of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head) | 17.847 | 12.207 | 23.431 | 24.434 | 11.705 | 9.957 | -14,9% | Jan-May 2026 | |
| Milk production | 13.182 | 13.059 | 13.185 | - | |||||
| ± % Over the same period of the previous year | -0,9% | +1,0% | |||||||
| Deliveries to dairies | 13.022 | 12.916 | 13.178 | 13.458 | 8.049 | 8.307 (e) | +3,2% | Jan-Jul 2026 | |
| ± % Over the same period of the previous year | -0,8% | +2,0% | +2,1% | ||||||
| % Protein | 3,45% | 3,43% | 3,51% | 3,46% | 3,48% | 3,48% | Jan-Apr 2026 | ||
| % Fat | 3,76% | 3,77% | 3,96% | 4,00% | 4,03% | 4,04% | Jan-Apr 2026 | ||
| Farm-gate prices of raw milk Lombardy (€ x 100 lt, + VAT not incl.) | 51,17 | 52,79 | 53,04 | 59,08 | 59,86 | 48,43 | -19,1% | Jan-Jul 2026 | |
| ± % Over the same period of the previous year | +3,2% | +0,5% | +11,4% | ||||||
| Buffalo's - Goat's - Sheep's Milk | |||||||||
| Number of Buffaloes ('000) | 416 | 416 | 437 | 445 | |||||
| Buffalo's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1140A) | 254 | 254 | 254 | ||||||
| Buffalo's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1140D) | 234 | 232 | 233 | ||||||
| Number of Goats ('000) | 1.010 | 980 | 911 | ||||||
| Goat's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1130A) | 60 | 58 | 58 | ||||||
| Goat's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1130D) | 42 | 41 | 41 | ||||||
| Number of Sheeps ('000) | |||||||||
| Sheep's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1120A) | 475 | 471 | 476 | ||||||
| Sheep's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1120D) | 449 | 445 | 456 | ||||||
| Organic milk production (goat, sheep, cow) | 500 | 491 | 407 | ||||||
| DAIRY PRODUCTION ('000 Ton) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | |
| Liquid milk | 2.522 | 2.510 | 2.467 | 2.525 | Cream | 149 | 151 | 160 | 169 | Butter | 101 | 99 | 104 | 112 | a)Cheese from cow milk | 1.201 | 1.205 | 1.215 | 1.218 |
| of which: | |||||||||
| PDO | 485 | 497 | 509 | 531 | b)Cheese from other milk | 158 | 139 | 143 | |
| of which: | |||||||||
| PDO | 94 | 97 | 100 | 101 | Total Cheese[a+b] | 1.359 | 1.344 | 1.359 | |
| -Hard cheeses of which: | 470 | 472 | 491 | Grana Padano PDO | 202 | 212 | 219 | 236 | 161 | 163 (e) | +1,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | Parmigiano Reggiano PDO | 160 | 161 | 163 | 168 | 100 | 105 (e) | +5,6% | Jan-Jul 2026 | Pecorino Romano PDO (Dairy Season) | 31 | 37 | 39 | 39 | 33 | 32 | -0,7% | Oct/25-May/26 | Other sheep cheeses PDO (Toscano, Siciliano, Filiano, Sardo) | 4,7 | 4,7 | 4,8 | 4,2 | - Semi-hard cheeses of which: | 96 | 99 | 97 | Provolone Valpadana PDO | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 2,6 | 2,2 | -14,7% | Jan-Apr 2026 | Fontina PDO | 3,4 | 3,1 | 3,8 | 3,4 | - Soft cheeses of which: | 192 | 215 | 199 | Taleggio PDO | 8,8 | 8,8 | 8,7 | 8,7 | 4,6 | 4,7 | +1,4% | Jan-Jul 2026 | Gorgonzola PDO | 61 | 62 | 63 | 65 | 36 | 36 (e) | -0,1% | Jan-Jul 2026 | - Fresh cheeses of which: | 572 | 558 | 572 | Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO | 56 | 56 | 56 | 58 | 35 | 37 | +3,7% | Jan-Jul 2026 |
| I° Classification | - Soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7111) | 158 | 168 | 159 | - Medium soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7112) | 34 | 48 | 40 | - Medium hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7113) | 96 | 99 | 97 | - Hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7114) | 470 | 444 | 462 | - Extra hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7115) | 29 | 28 | 29 | - Fresh cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7116) | 572 | 558 | 572 |
| II° Classification | - Cheese from cows'milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7121) | 1.222 | 1.207 | 1.222 | - Cheese from ewes milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7122) | 74 | 74 | 73 | - Cheese from goats milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7123) | 7,2 | 7,4 | 7,3 | - Others (cheese from buffalos'milk (pure) or mixed cheese) ( Cod. Eurostat D7129) | 56 | 56 | 56 | Processed cheese | 56 | 56 | 57 | Whey used for cottage cheese | Whey used for livestock | Concentrated whey | Whey powder and pieces | Milk based beverages | 5,7 | 5,5 | 5,4 | Other fresh products | 7,8 | 7,1 | Fermented milk (Yogurt and others) | 287 | 283 | 265 | 280 |
| IMPORT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Jan-May | of which Extra EU | |||
|
2025
2026
%
|
2025
2026
%
| ||||||||
| Bulk milk (NC8 04012099+04012019+04011090) |
|
602 | 856 | 889 | 821 |
315
255
-19,0% |
1,0
1,4
+39,0% |
||
| Whole Milk (NC8 04012099) |
|
431 | 595 | 599 | 592 |
219
184
-16,1%
|
0,9
1,3
+45,5%
|
||
| Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012019) |
|
4,0 | 11 | 12 | 2,6 |
1,5
0,3
-80,9%
|
-
-
-
|
||
| Skimmed milk (NC8 04011090) |
|
167 | 250 | 277 | 226 |
94
71
-24,9%
|
0,1
0,1
-6,5%
|
||
| Milk packed (NC8 04011010+04012011+04012091) |
|
238 | 213 | 203 | 206 |
85
80
-5,7% |
0,0
0,0
-10,5% |
||
| Whole Milk (NC8 04012091) |
|
89 | 75 | 71 | 82 |
33
35
+7,5%
|
0,0
0,0
+22,2%
|
||
| Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012011) |
|
121 | 115 | 104 | 101 |
42
36
-14,3%
|
0,0
0,0
-31,9%
|
||
| Skimmed milk (NC8 04011010) |
|
27 | 23 | 28 | 23 |
9,9
8,6
-13,3%
|
-
-
-
|
||
| Condensed milk (NC8 040291+040299) |
|
34 | 34 | 39 | 46 |
19
20
+6,7% |
-
-
-
|
||
| Bulk Cream 1) |
|
64 | 70 | 76 | 72 |
28
37
+31,6% |
0,4
0,6
+39,7% |
||
| Packed Cream 2) |
|
13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
6,2
5,6
-9,6% |
-
-
-
|
||
| Yogurt (HS 040310) |
|
167 | 171 | 192 | 214 |
88
94
+6,3% |
0,0
0,0
+14,5% |
||
| Fermented milk (HS 040390) |
|
101 | 108 | 120 | 147 |
59
69
+17,2% |
0,0
0,0
-48,3% |
||
| Butter (HS 0405) |
|
68 | 67 | 67 | 82 |
32
32
-1,7% |
3,1
2,3
-10,6% |
||
| of which: | |||||||||
| Butter 82% (NC8 04051019) |
|
18 | 20 | 18 | 22 |
8,2
8,4
+3,1% |
0,0
0,1
+67,4% |
||
| Cheese (HS 0406) |
|
535 | 566 | 580 | 635 |
256
252
-1,8% |
8,3
9,1
+4,5% |
||
| Edam cheese(NC8 04069023) |
|
26 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
11
12
+9,2%
|
-
-
-
|
||
| Emmental (NC8 04069013) |
|
23 | 21 | 21 | 23 |
9,5
9,6
+0,9%
|
0,8
0,7
-6,0%
|
||
| Hard cheeses (not PDO) (NC8 04069069) |
|
25 | 28 | 28 | 31 |
13
13
+2,0%
|
0,0
0,0
+inf%
|
||
| Fresh cheeses (NC8 04061020)3 |
|
215 | 236 | 247 | 259 |
105
100
-4,2%
|
2,6
1,8
-16,1%
|
||
| Processed cheeses (NC8 040630) |
|
35 | 32 | 30 | 33 |
15
13
-13,1%
|
0,3
0,2
-4,5%
|
||
| Full fat cheeses (NC8 04069087)5 |
|
28 | 30 | 32 | 38 |
15
17
+17,8%
|
0,8
2,1
+60,3%
|
||
| WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229) |
|
35 | 34 | 29 | 31 |
13
15
+15,1% |
0,0
3,0
+192,4% |
||
| SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) |
|
89 | 87 | 81 | 88 |
35
43
+23,9% |
0,1
0,1
+13,8% |
||
| Whey powder (HS 0404) |
|
132 | 146 | 177 | 184 |
99
53
-46,2% |
0,6
0,5
-12,9% |
||
| of which: | |||||||||
| Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) |
|
89 | 111 | 137 | 146 |
87
42
-52,1% |
0,6
0,5
-12,9% |
||
| Casein (HS 350110) |
|
7,2 | 5,6 | 7,3 | 6,7 |
2,9
3,3
+13,7% |
-
-
-
|
||
| Caseinates (HS 350190) |
|
1,9 | 1,6 | 1,8 | 1,7 |
0,7
0,7
+1,8% |
-
-
-
|
||
| Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) |
|
15 | 15 | 17 | 18 |
7,1
7,6
+7,0% |
0,1
0,2
+45,2% |
||
| Lactose edible (HS 170219) |
|
2,7 | 1,8 | 1,3 | 1,2 |
0,8
0,2
-74,1% |
0,0
0,0
+6,4% |
||
| Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) |
|
89 | 88 | 83 | 82 |
34
33
-1,5% |
34
33
-0,6% |
||
| Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220) |
|
4,0 | 3,1 | 2,6 | 4,5 |
1,7
1,6
-8,3% |
1,7
1,6
-3,1% |
||
| Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %) | 15 | 13 | 16 | 23 |
9,5
7,4
-22,6%
|
||||
|
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%) based on nuts, cereals or seeds |
31 | 32 | 22 | 19 |
6,1
8,7
+42,6%
|
0,0
0,2
+4.903,9%
|
|||
|
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats derived from milk or milk products |
3,9 | 3,8 | 4,1 | 5,1 |
1,8
3,6
+97,6%
|
0,1
0,0
-76,5%
|
|||
| EXPORT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Jan-May | of which Extra EU | |||
|
2025
2026
%
|
2025
2026
%
| ||||||||
| Milk packed (NC8 04011010+04012011+04012091) |
|
30 | 30 | 29 | 26 |
12
15
+27,6% |
5,3
6,7
+26,6% |
||
| Whole Milk (NC8 04012091) |
|
15 | 12 | 9,3 | 8,9 |
4,3
5,6
+29,5%
|
2,9
4,0
+39,3%
|
||
| Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012011) |
|
8,4 | 7,7 | 8,2 | 9,3 |
3,6
4,2
+15,7%
|
2,0
2,0
-2,0%
|
||
| Skimmed milk (NC8 04011010) |
|
6,0 | 9,9 | 12 | 8,1 |
3,7
5,0
+37,0%
|
0,4
0,8
+78,4%
|
||
| Bulk milk (NC8 04012099+04012019+04011090) |
|
17 | 6,8 | 6,7 | 8,4 |
3,1
5,9
+93,8% |
0,1
0,1
-41,6% |
||
| Condensed milk (NC8 040291+040299) |
|
2,0 | 2,1 | 2,1 | 3,9 |
1,5
2,7
+82,0% |
0,9
1,5
+67,1% |
||
| Bulk Cream 1) |
|
17 | 16 | 14 | 11 |
5,6
7,0
+24,8% |
2,8
3,0
+8,1% |
||
| Packed Cream 2) |
|
14 | 8,8 | 11 | 14 |
6,5
6,8
+5,9% |
4,3
4,6
+5,6% |
||
| Yogurt (HS 040310) |
|
6,1 | 6,6 | 7,2 | 6,9 |
2,9
3,5
+20,1% |
0,5
0,7
+28,8% |
||
| Fermented milk (HS 040390) |
|
2,6 | 2,8 | 3,2 | 3,3 |
1,6
1,8
+13,6% |
0,8
0,8
+3,5% |
||
| SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) |
|
8,1 | 10 | 5,3 | 8,4 |
3,0
4,6
+54,5% |
0,8
0,5
-39,7% |
||
| Butter (HS 0405) |
|
13 | 18 | 14 | 16 |
6,8
9,1
+32,7% |
1,5
4,7
+205,1% |
||
| Cheese (HS 0406) |
|
566 | 594 | 649 | 679 |
278
283
+1,8% |
82
81
-0,8% |
||
| Asiago (NC8 04069075) |
|
1,8 | 1,7 | 1,7 | 1,6 |
0,7
0,6
-13,0%
|
0,4
0,3
-23,0%
|
||
| Fiore sardo, Pecorino (NC8 04069063) |
|
20 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
8,8
7,8
-11,4%
|
6,5
5,4
-16,1%
|
||
Fresh cheeses (NC8 04061020)3
|
|
204 |
216 |
240 |
258 |
|
103
105
+2,4%
|
24
23
-4,8%
| ||
Grated or powdered cheeses (NC8 04062090)4
|
|
63 |
68 |
75 |
79 |
|
33
34
+1,7%
|
7,1
7,5
+5,3%
| ||
| Gorgonzola (NC8 04064050) |
|
25 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
11
10
-4,0%
|
1,5
1,4
-9,0%
|
||
| G.Padano DOP e P.Reggiano DOP (NC8 04069061) |
|
107 | 112 | 121 | 123 |
51
51
+1,4%
|
21
22
+2,7%
|
||
| Provolone (NC8 04069073) |
|
8,8 | 7,9 | 9,0 | 9,1 |
3,9
4,0
+4,4%
|
1,1
1,2
+8,4%
|
||
| Whey powder (HS 0404) |
|
226 | 201 | 217 | 263 |
115
122
+6,0% |
16
13
-16,6% |
||
| of which: | |||||||||
| Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) |
|
216 | 196 | 206 | 224 |
100
110
+10,0% |
16
13
-17,0% |
||
| Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) |
|
28 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
13
10,0
-22,4% |
8,5
6,2
-26,7% |
||
| Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) |
|
69 | 65 | 69 | 73 |
31
32
+2,9% |
31
32
+2,9% |
||
| Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %) | 24 | 29 | 30 | 32 |
14
15
+5,5%
|
3,0
2,7
-8,0%
|
|||
|
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%) based on nuts, cereals or seeds |
295 | 262 | 227 | 226 |
85
91
+7,4%
|
20
21
+4,6%
|
|||
|
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats derived from milk or milk products |
1,3 | 1,4 | 1,7 | 2,6 |
0,8
2,9
+269,8%
|
0,7
1,5
+108,9%
|
|||
| APPARENT DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | |
| Butter | 155 | 148 | 157 | 178 | |||||
| Cheese | 1.328 | 1.316 | 1.289 | ||||||
| of which: | |||||||||
| Fresh cheeses | 583 | 579 | 579 | ||||||
Fermented milk (Yogurt and other)
|
547 |
552 |
567 |
630 |
| | ||||
| PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION (Kg) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | |
| Butter | 2,6 | 2,5 | 2,6 | 3,0 | |||||
| Cheese | 22 | 22 | 22 | ||||||
| of which: | |||||||||
| Fresh cheeses | 9,8 | 9,7 | 9,7 | ||||||
Fermented milk (Yogurt and other)
|
9,2 |
9,3 |
9,6 |
11 |
| | ||||
| % Self-sufficiency | 97,1% | 96,4% | 99,8% | 98,4% | |||||
| SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026(f) | % | Period | |
| GDP (gross domestic product) | 4,97% | 1,02% | 0,59% | 0,66% | 0,66% | 0,44% | Jan-Dic 2026 | ||
| CPI (consumer price index) | 8,75% | 5,91% | 1,08% | 1,63% | 1,63% | 3,10% | Jan-Dic 2026 | ||
| Population ('000) | 59.030 | 58.997 | 58.971 | 58.943 | |||||
| GDP per capita (U.S. dollars) | 35.672 | 39.074 | 40.224 (e) | 41.091 (e) | |||||
| GDP per capita (€) * | 33.875 | 36.137 | 37.150(e) | 36.365(e) | |||||
(e): estimated
* Per capita GDP in Euro is calculated by using the yearly average exchange rate
* Per capita GDP in Euro is calculated by using the yearly average exchange rate
Informative Note
(f): forecast
n.a.: not available
1) up to 2011/12/31 NC8 04013019+04013039+04013099; from 2012/01/01 NC8 04014090+04015019+04015039+04015099.
2) up to 2011/12/31 NC8 04013011+04013031+04013091; from 2012/01/01 NC8 04014010+04015011+04015031+04015091.
3) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04061020; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04061030 + 04061050;
4) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04062090; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04062000;
5) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04069087; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04069074 + 04069089;
6) up to 2021/12/31 HS 040310; from 2022/01/01 HS 040320;
NOTE:
- Apparent domestic consumption are calculated using the following formula: Production + Import - Export
- Per capita consumption are obtained dividing the apparent consumption by the population (Source Eurostat)
- The self-sufficiency rate is calculated, up to 2025, on the total deliveries of cow’s milk + production of buffalo, sheep and goat’s milk. For 2026 it is calculated only on deliveries of cow’s milk.
SOURCES
Raw material area: Dairy cows: ISTAT; Deliveries to dairies: AGEA; Milk Production, % Protein and % Fat: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_colm); Import/Export di Breeding Heifers: ISTAT; Farm-gate milk price in Lombardy: Processed by CLAL; Number of Goats, Sheeps and Bufaloes: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mt_lsgoat, apro_mt_lssheep, apro_mt_lscatl ); Milk Delivered to dairies: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_pobta); Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_farm); Organic Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: org_aprod);
Dairy production: Processed by CLAL on ISTAT and Protection Consortium data;
Import: ISTAT
Export: ISTAT
GDP and CPI: Intesa Sanpaolo
GDP per capita: International Monetary Found
Population: Eurostat
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: 08-09-2026
n.a.: not available
1) up to 2011/12/31 NC8 04013019+04013039+04013099; from 2012/01/01 NC8 04014090+04015019+04015039+04015099.
2) up to 2011/12/31 NC8 04013011+04013031+04013091; from 2012/01/01 NC8 04014010+04015011+04015031+04015091.
3) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04061020; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04061030 + 04061050;
4) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04062090; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04062000;
5) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04069087; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04069074 + 04069089;
6) up to 2021/12/31 HS 040310; from 2022/01/01 HS 040320;
NOTE:
- Apparent domestic consumption are calculated using the following formula: Production + Import - Export
- Per capita consumption are obtained dividing the apparent consumption by the population (Source Eurostat)
- The self-sufficiency rate is calculated, up to 2025, on the total deliveries of cow’s milk + production of buffalo, sheep and goat’s milk. For 2026 it is calculated only on deliveries of cow’s milk.
SOURCES
Raw material area: Dairy cows: ISTAT; Deliveries to dairies: AGEA; Milk Production, % Protein and % Fat: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_colm); Import/Export di Breeding Heifers: ISTAT; Farm-gate milk price in Lombardy: Processed by CLAL; Number of Goats, Sheeps and Bufaloes: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mt_lsgoat, apro_mt_lssheep, apro_mt_lscatl ); Milk Delivered to dairies: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_pobta); Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_farm); Organic Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: org_aprod);
Dairy production: Processed by CLAL on ISTAT and Protection Consortium data;
Import: ISTAT
Export: ISTAT
GDP and CPI: Intesa Sanpaolo
GDP per capita: International Monetary Found
Population: Eurostat
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: 08-09-2026
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