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Italy: Dairy sector

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Italy has a prominent position in the European dairy industry: it is the largest producer Country of PDO Cheeses.





This Country:
  • accounts for 9,4% of EU milk deliveries (year 2023),
  • exports dairy products, converted into milk equivalent (ME) for the 38,7% of the milk deliveries,
  • accounts for 6,3% of EU dairy exports in ME (year 2023).
The orange links allow a further analysis on TESEO.


Click here to consult the
MILK SELF-SUFFICIENCY map

ITALY: DAIRY SECTOR
(1° January - 31 December)
  x 1.000 ton
RAW MATERIAL AREA 2020 2021 2022 2023 2023 2024 % Period
Cow's Milk
Dairy Farm Structure
Dairy cows ('000 head) (Al 1st December) 1.638 1.610 1.631 1.574
Slaughtered cow ('000) 526 562 603 512 420 433 +3,1% Jan-Oct 2024
Export of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head) 896 1.562 4.869 2.582 2.368 3.316 +40,0% Jan-Oct 2024
Import of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head) 41.100 25.497 17.847 12.207 9.313 19.903 +113,7% Jan-Oct 2024
Milk production 12.712 13.202 13.182 13.059
± % Over the same period of the previous year +3,9% -0,2% -0,9%
Deliveries to dairies 12.668 13.081 13.010 12.911 12.911 13.106 (e) +1,5% Jan-Dec 2024
± % Over the same period of the previous year +3,3% -0,5% -0,8%
% Protein 3,45% 3,44% 3,45% 3,43% 3,43% 3,50%   Jan-Nov 2024
% Fat 3,77% 3,76% 3,76% 3,77% 3,77% 3,95%   Jan-Nov 2024
Farm-gate prices of raw milk Lombardy (€ x 100 lt, + VAT not incl.) 37,13 38,33 51,17 52,79 52,79 53,04 +0,5% Jan-Dec 2024
± % Over the same period of the previous year +3,3% +33,5% +3,2%
Buffalo's - Goat's - Sheep's Milk
Number of Buffaloes ('000) 407 409 416 416
Buffalo's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1140A) 254 257 254 254
Buffalo's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1140D) 229 233 234 232
Number of Goats ('000) 1.066 1.061 1.010 980
Goat's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1130A) 61 61 60 58
Goat's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1130D) 44 43 42 41
Number of Sheeps ('000) 7.034 6.728 6.568 6.497
Sheep's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1120A) 482 477 475 471
Sheep's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1120D) 453 450 449 445
Organic milk production (goat, sheep, cow) 588 552 500
DAIRY PRODUCTION ('000 Ton) 2020 2021 2022 2023 2023 2024 % Period
Liquid milk 2.449 2.481 2.522 2.510 2.291 2.255 -1,6% Jan-Nov 2024
Cream 145 150 149 151 137 147 +7,1% Jan-Nov 2024
Butter 92 98 101 99 89 96 +7,1% Jan-Nov 2024
a)Cheese from cow milk 1.213 1.197 1.201 1.205 1.105 1.115 +0,9% Jan-Nov 2024
of which:
PDO 489 494 484 497
b)Cheese from other milk 132 177 158 139
of which:
PDO 88 94 94 97
Total Cheese[a+b] 1.345 1.374 1.359 1.344
-Hard cheeses of which: 493 502 470 472
Grana Padano PDO 204 203 202 212 212 219 (e) +3,3% Jan-Dec 2024
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO 157 164 160 161 161 164 (e) +1,6% Jan-Dec 2024
Pecorino Romano PDO (Dairy Season) 30 34 33 37 37 39 +7,1% Oct/23-Jul/24
Other sheep cheeses PDO (Toscano, Siciliano, Filiano, Sardo) 5,8 5,3 4,7 4,7
- Semi-hard cheeses of which: 91 96 96 99
Provolone Valpadana PDO 15 15 14 14 6,4 6,8 +6,9% Jan-Nov 2024
Fontina PDO 4,0 4,0 3,4 3,1
- Soft cheeses of which: 188 193 192 215
Taleggio PDO 8,4 8,7 8,8 8,8 8,8 8,7 -1,1% Jan-Dec 2024
Gorgonzola PDO 61 63 61 62 62 63 (e) +1,9% Jan-Dec 2024
- Fresh cheeses of which: 573 583 572 558
Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO 51 54 56 56 56 56 +0,2% Jan-Dec 2024
I° Classification
- Soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7111) 154 158 158 168
- Medium soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7112) 34 35 34 48
- Medium hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7113) 91 96 96 99
- Hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7114) 466 473 470 444
- Extra hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7115) 27 29 29 28
- Fresh cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7116) 573 583 572 558
II° Classification
- Cheese from cows'milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7121) 1.213 1.237 1.222 1.207
- Cheese from ewes milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7122) 73 74 74 74
- Cheese from goats milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7123) 6,8 7,1 7,2 7,4
- Others (cheese from buffalos'milk (pure) or mixed cheese) ( Cod. Eurostat D7129) 53 56 56 56
Processed cheese 54 55 56 56
Whey used for cottage cheese 853 852
Whey used for livestock 2.282 2.300
Concentrated whey 1.440 1.437
Whey powder and pieces 872 887
Milk based beverages 5,0 5,9 5,7 5,5
Other fresh products 7,1 8,1 7,8 7,1
Fermented milk (Yogurt and others) 279 284 287 283 260 242 -6,8% Jan-Nov 2024
IMPORT 2020 2021 2022 2023 Jan-Oct of which Extra EU
2023
2024
%
2023
2024
%
Bulk milk (NC8 04012099+04012019+04011090) TOP exporters 985 664 602 856
712
763
+7,1%
0,1
4,5
+4.211,6%
Whole Milk (NC8 04012099) TOP exporters 683 495 431 595
504
528
+4,9%
0,0
4,4
+inf%
Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012019) TOP exporters 11 3,3 4,0 11
8,6
9,1
+5,2%
-
-
-
Skimmed milk (NC8 04011090) TOP exporters 292 166 167 250
200
225
+12,8%
0,1
0,1
+4,3%
Milk packed (NC8 04011010+04012011+04012091) TOP exporters 322 258 238 213
178
169
-5,0%
0,0
0,0
+69,7%
Whole Milk (NC8 04012091) TOP exporters 122 101 89 75
63
61
-3,9%
0,0
0,0
+20,5%
Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012011) TOP exporters 170 130 121 115
96
88
-7,8%
0,0
0,0
+133,1%
Skimmed milk (NC8 04011010) TOP exporters 29 28 27 23
19
20
+5,1%
-
-
-
Condensed milk (NC8 040291+040299) TOP exporters 29 35 34 34
28
33
+20,4%
0,0
0,0
+2.393,5%
Bulk Cream 1) TOP exporters 69 58 64 70
57
67
+18,2%
0,8
0,6
-27,6%
Packed Cream 2) TOP exporters 10,0 12 13 14
12
11
-6,7%
0,1
0,0
-63,8%
Yogurt (HS 040310) TOP exporters 167 174 167 171
149
171
+15,3%
0,0
0,0
+45,5%
Fermented milk (HS 040390) TOP exporters 94 95 101 108
91
104
+14,2%
0,1
0,0
-21,5%
Butter (HS 0405) TOP exporters 60 69 68 67
56
60
+6,9%
3,9
4,4
+8,9%
of which:
Butter 82% (NC8 04051019) TOP exporters 15 18 18 20
15
15
+0,1%
0,0
0,2
+342,3%
Cheese (HS 0406) TOP exporters 494 516 535 566
476
517
+8,7%
13
14
+8,6%
Edam cheese(NC8 04069023) TOP exporters 23 26 26 28
24
26
+9,5%
-
-
-
Emmental (NC8 04069013) TOP exporters 23 20 23 21
17
19
+11,6%
2,1
1,9
-7,3%
Hard cheeses (not PDO) (NC8 04069069) TOP exporters 25 26 25 28
23
24
+2,7%
0,0
0,0
+inf%
Fresh cheeses (NC8 04061020)3 TOP exporters 194 198 215 236
200
218
+8,7%
2,3
3,7
+52,9%
Processed cheeses (NC8 040630) TOP exporters 34 34 35 32
27
27
-2,2%
0,5
0,5
+4,5%
Full fat cheeses (NC8 04069087)5 TOP exporters 31 31 28 30
25
27
+8,2%
1,3
0,9
-25,2%
WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229) TOP exporters 31 34 35 34
29
27
-5,8%
0,0
0,6
+998,3%
SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) TOP exporters 74 83 89 87
72
75
+4,1%
0,3
0,0
-83,6%
Whey powder (HS 0404) TOP exporters 114 131 132 146
126
157
+24,7%
0,2
0,1
-44,2%
of which:
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) TOP exporters 72 89 89 111
96
123
+28,7%
0,2
0,1
-44,2%
Casein (HS 350110) TOP exporters 11 10 7,2 5,6
4,2
6,6
+57,6%
0,1
0,0
-30,5%
Caseinates (HS 350190) TOP exporters 1,7 2,2 1,9 1,6
1,4
1,4
+3,9%
-
-
-
Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) TOP exporters 16 15 15 15
13
16
+19,3%
0,6
0,4
-37,2%
Lactose edible (HS 170219) TOP exporters 1,9 1,1 2,7 1,8
1,7
1,3
-21,5%
0,0
0,0
-46,3%
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) TOP exporters 58 65 89 88
74
72
-3,3%
74
72
-2,8%
Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220) TOP exporters 1,7 2,5 4,0 3,1
2,7
2,3
-13,8%
2,7
2,3
-12,2%
Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %) 24 21 15 13
11
12
+4,2%
0,0
0,0
+4.107,0%
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%)
based on nuts, cereals or seeds
15 16 31 32
27
19
-29,9%
0,2
0,0
-76,5%
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats
derived from milk or milk products
4,0 2,8 3,9 3,8
3,2
3,6
+11,9%
0,0
0,0
+96,2%
EXPORT 2020 2021 2022 2023 Jan-Oct of which Extra EU
2023
2024
%
2023
2024
%
Milk packed (NC8 04011010+04012011+04012091) TOP Importers 34 36 30 30
24
25
+0,8%
12
10
-18,2%
Whole Milk (NC8 04012091)
TOP Importers
21 23 15 12
10
8,0
-21,3%
7,7
5,3
-30,7%
Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012011)
TOP Importers
9,5 9,9 8,4 7,7
6,2
6,9
+11,5%
3,7
4,0
+6,7%
Skimmed milk (NC8 04011010)
TOP Importers
3,3 3,5 6,0 9,9
8,1
9,8
+20,3%
1,0
0,8
-16,0%
Bulk milk (NC8 04012099+04012019+04011090) TOP Importers 14 14 17 6,8
6,0
5,7
-5,8%
0,9
0,6
-33,3%
Condensed milk (NC8 040291+040299) TOP Importers 1,2 4,6 2,0 2,1
1,6
1,8
+10,9%
0,5
0,9
+94,7%
Bulk Cream 1) TOP Importers 9,8 17 17 16
14
12
-13,7%
8,6
7,4
-14,5%
Packed Cream 2) TOP Importers 12 8,4 14 8,8
7,2
9,9
+37,6%
4,1
5,6
+35,8%
Yogurt (HS 040310) TOP Importers 5,0 5,8 6,1 6,6
5,6
5,8
+3,3%
0,9
1,1
+20,9%
Fermented milk (HS 040390) TOP Importers 3,8 3,6 2,6 2,8
2,2
2,4
+8,3%
0,7
0,9
+35,0%
SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) TOP Importers 7,2 8,2 8,1 10
8,7
4,7
-45,8%
0,8
0,8
-7,2%
Butter (HS 0405) TOP Importers 15 18 13 18
15
12
-17,1%
2,4
2,1
-16,1%
Cheese (HS 0406) TOP Importers 471 536 566 594
499
555
+11,2%
143
159
+10,9%
Asiago (NC8 04069075)
TOP Importers
1,8 1,9 1,8 1,7
1,4
1,4
-0,3%
0,8
0,8
+2,7%
Fiore sardo, Pecorino (NC8 04069063)
TOP Importers
19 22 20 19
15
16
+4,9%
11
12
+7,8%
Fresh cheeses (NC8 04061020)3
TOP Importers
167 189 204 216
186
209
+12,4%
44
49
+12,5%
Grated or powdered cheeses (NC8 04062090)4
TOP Importers
52 56 63 68
57
63
+11,3%
12
14
+11,5%
Gorgonzola (NC8 04064050)
TOP Importers
24 25 25 25
21
22
+5,1%
2,9
2,9
+3,3%
G.Padano DOP e P.Reggiano DOP (NC8 04069061)
TOP Importers
99 106 107 112
93
102
+9,4%
39
43
+10,6%
Provolone (NC8 04069073)
TOP Importers
7,1 8,9 8,8 7,9
6,6
7,7
+16,3%
2,0
2,3
+17,6%
Whey powder (HS 0404) TOP Importers 353 317 226 201
170
189
+11,1%
21
20
-5,4%
of which:
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) TOP Importers 312 302 216 196
166
176
+5,7%
21
20
-5,3%
Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) TOP Importers 30 30 28 26
22
21
-5,3%
15
13
-13,0%
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) TOP Importers 59 67 69 65
55
58
+6,6%
55
58
+6,6%
Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %) 46 35 24 29
25
26
+2,6%
4,4
4,8
+9,0%
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%)
based on nuts, cereals or seeds
210 272 295 262
223
196
-12,4%
33
35
+5,5%
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats
derived from milk or milk products
1,6 1,4 1,3 1,4
1,2
1,5
+23,9%
1,0
1,3
+29,4%
APPARENT DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION 2020 2021 2022 2023 2023 2024 % Period
Butter 137 150 155 148
Cheese 1.368 1.355 1.328 1.316
of which:
Fresh cheeses 601 591 583 579
Fermented milk (Yogurt and other) 530 543 547 552
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION (Kg) 2020 2021 2022 2023 2023 2024 % Period
Butter 2,3 2,5 2,6 2,5
Cheese 23 23 22 22
of which:
Fresh cheeses 10 9,9 9,8 9,7
Fermented milk (Yogurt and other) 8,9 9,1 9,2 9,3
% Self-sufficiency 90,6% 95,9% 97,1% 96,4%
SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS 2020 2021 2022 2023 2023 2024(f) % Period
GDP (gross domestic product) -8,95% 8,79% 4,81% 0,79% 0,79% 0,50% Jan-Dic 2024
CPI (consumer price index) -0,15% 1,94% 8,74% 5,90% 5,90% 1,10% Jan-Dic 2024
Population ('000) 59.641 59.236 59.030 58.997 58.997 58.971 0,0% Jan-Dic 2024
GDP per capita (U.S. dollars) 31.785 35.842 (e) 34.113 (e) 36.812 (e)
GDP per capita (€) * 27.809 30.304(e) 32.395(e) 34.045(e)
(e): estimated
* 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 2023, on the total deliveries of cow’s milk + production of buffalo, sheep and goat’s milk. For 2024 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: 13-02-2025
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