Eurostat named the largest cheese producers in the EU

World 21.11.2023

Source: sfera.fm

Germany was the EU's largest cheese producer in 2022, accounting for 22% of total production, according to new Eurostat data. France came in second, accounting for 18% of the total, and Italy came in third.

Eurostat named the largest cheese producers in the EU

Overall, the European Union produced more than 10.4 million tonnes of cheese last year, according to the data.

Farms across the European Union produced 160 million tonnes of raw milk in 2022, down 0.3% from the year before. The data showed that the vast majority of raw milk (149.9 million tonnes) was supplied to dairies, with the remainder used directly on farms.

10 largest cheese producers in Europe

Germany
2.334 million tons

Leading the way in this segment, Germany dominated European cheese production last year with a significant output of 2.334 million tonnes. Germany was also the EU's largest producer of drinking milk and butter last year, accounting for 19% and 20% of the respective volumes.

France
1.909 million tons

With a long dairy tradition, France came in second with a production of 1.909 million tonnes, highlighting its rich tradition in cheese production.

Italy
1.359 million tons

Italy, known for its diverse cheese varieties, came in third place, producing 1.359 million tons of cheese in 2022.

Netherlands
973,580 tons

The Netherlands demonstrated its prowess in dairy production, finishing fourth and contributing significantly to cheese production with 973,580 tonnes.

Poland
925,740 tons

Poland's production last year reached 925,740 tons, making it the fifth largest producer in the European Union.

Spain
538,210 tons

Last year, with a production of 538,210 tonnes, Spain became the sixth largest cheese producer in the EU.

Denmark
466,500 tons

Cheese production in Denmark, known for its dairy products, was 466,500 tonnes last year, making it a key player in the European cheese market.

Ireland
282,500 tons

Ireland, another country known for its dairy heritage, came in eighth place with cheese production of 282,500 tonnes last year.

Greece
242,860 tons

Feta cheese's homeland of Greece produced 242,860 tonnes of cheese last year, making it the largest producer in the European Union.

Austria
222,660 tons

Austria rounds out the top ten, producing 222,660 tons of cheese last year.

Other notable countries include the Czech Republic (175,030 tons), Belgium (119,680 tons), Romania (102,790 tons), Bulgaria (97,600 tons) and Lithuania (93,980 tons).