EU’s raw milk production totals 160.8M tons in 2023

By Emir Yildirim

ISTANBUL (AA) – The EU’s raw milk production was up 0.8 million tons year-on-year in 2023, reaching 160.8 million tons, the regional statistical bureau Eurostat said on Monday.

The largest portion of the raw milk, 149.3 million tons, were delivered to dairies, which produced 22 million tons of drinking milk and 7.8 million tons of acidified milk products, such as yogurt.

The data showed that 10.6 million tons of cheese was produced from 58.2 million tons of whole milk and 17.4 million tons of skimmed milk, while 2.3 million tons of butter were made from 45.4 million tons of whole milk.

Among the EU, Germany made up for 19% of the total drinking milk production, and the country grabbed a share of 27% in acidified milk products, 20% in butter, and 22% in cheese production.

Spain came second with a 15% share in the drinking milk production in the EU, followed by France with 13%.

As for acidified milk products, the Netherlands followed Germany with 17% share, and Poland came third with 10%.

“France was the second largest producer of both butter and cheese (18% of the EU total for each product). Ireland ranked third in butter production (13%), while Italy was third in cheese production (13%),” said Eurostat.