EU farms have witnessed a notable steadiness in their raw milk production, reaching an estimated 160 million tonnes in 2022. Despite a slight decline of 0.3 million tonnes compared to the previous year, this comes in contrast to the consistent growth observed since 2010. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, recently released data on milk and milk products, shedding light on the various aspects of this vital industry.
Diverse Utilization of Raw Milk:
The majority of raw milk, accounting for 149.9 million tonnes, was entrusted to dairies, while the remaining portion found direct use on farms. These significant quantities of raw milk served as the basis for the production of an extensive range of fresh and manufactured dairy products within the EU.
Product Highlights:
Among the standout findings from the Eurostat report, we observe that dairies produced 22.5 million tonnes of drinking milk in 2022. Moreover, acidified milk products emerged from 6 million tonnes of whole milk and 1.7 million tonnes of skimmed milk, resulting in a production of 7.7 million tonnes. Butter production derived from 46.4 million tonnes of whole milk accounted for 2.3 million tonnes. Furthermore, cheese production involved 59.2 million tonnes of whole milk and 16.9 million tonnes of skimmed milk, resulting in a cumulative output of 10.4 million tonnes. Impressively, these figures indicate that cheese and butter production consumed a significant 70% of all the whole milk utilized by dairies in the EU.
Major Players:
Germany emerges as the leading producer among EU countries across multiple dairy product categories. It secured the title for being the largest producer of drinking milk, butter, and acidified milk products like yoghurts, accounting for 19%, 20%, and 29% respectively, of the EU’s total output in each category. France follows closely as the second-largest producer of both butter and cheese, contributing 18% to the total in each sector.
Collaborative Production:
Germany, along with Spain, France, Italy, and Poland, played a crucial role as two-thirds of the total drinking milk production in the EU for 2022. These countries collectively showcased their ability to meet the demanding dairy needs of the European market. Moreover, other EU nations contributed significantly to the production of valuable dairy products. The Netherlands emerged as the second-largest producer of acidified milk products within the EU, accounting for 15% of the total. Additionally, it ranked fourth in terms of cheese production (9%) and fifth regarding butter production (10%). Ireland, meanwhile, secured the third position in butter production, contributing 13% to the EU total, and the fifth position in acidified milk products, accounting for 7%.
The recent Eurostat data on milk and milk products provides valuable insights into the dynamic European dairy industry. Despite a small decrease in raw milk production in 2022, EU farms demonstrate relative stability. As key players like Germany and France dominate various milk product categories, their collective efforts, along with other EU nations, ensure a consistent supply of dairy products to meet the demands of the European market.
Market Capital Research 