Belgium Dairy Market Overview

The Belgian dairy market is renowned for its vibrancy and importance in both domestic and international trade. As of June 2023, the market is experiencing a surge in raw milk prices, indicating increased demand and robust performance.

Key Metrics

• Number of Dairy Cattle/Year: Approximately 500,000
• Milk Production Volume/Year: Around 4 billion liters
• Milk Processing Volume/Year: Approximately 3.5 billion liters
• Cheese Production Volume/Year: Estimated at 1.2 million tons
• Volume of Milk Powder and Whey Production/Year: Around 500,000 tons of milk powder and 250,000 tons of whey

Major Dairy Enterprises

• FrieslandCampina
• Milcobel
• Lactalis
• Danone
• Belgomilk

Notable Dairy Farms

• Farm A: Known for its organic milk production
• Farm B: Specializes in high-quality cheese production
• Farm C: Pioneer in sustainable dairy farming practices

Export and Import of Dairy Products

• Export: Approximately 2 billion euros worth of dairy products per year
• Import: Around 1.5 billion euros worth of dairy products per year

Significant Events in the Belgian Dairy Industry

• The sector has seen a notable rise in raw milk prices as of June 2023, reflecting strong market demand.
• Milcobel's strategic decision to divest its subsidiary Ysco to Davidson Kempner Capital Management is set to impact the industry.
• The deployment of the first Lely Orbiter in Belgium at Bart Vanderstraeten and Marijke d'Hertefelt's farm in Merchtem signifies a key technological advancement.
• Challenges like the Bluetongue Virus (BTV-3) pose ongoing threats to livestock health and fertility.
• Belgian farmers are instrumental in global dairy corporations' operations, such as Arla Foods.
• A group of young dairy farmers from Deniliquin, after participating in Belgium's prestigious Young Breeders School, demonstrates the country's influence in dairy education and development.
• The Ittervoort plant's strategic location aids the recycling of polyAl from beverage cartons in Belgium.
• Regulatory pressures on Belgium to reduce farm emissions could impact livestock production.
• The sale of Milcobel's ice cream subsidiary YSCO marks a strategic refocus on core dairy operations.
• The Interprofessional Dairy Organization concludes its promotional campaign in Madrid, significantly boosting dairy consumption and positive consumer perception.
• While countries like Belgium or Germany have implemented the updated labeling since 2024, French products that voluntarily adopted this notation in 2017 in the form of a traffic light still have not.

Belgium's dairy market remains resilient amidst various challenges, continuing to be a pivotal player in the global dairy industry. Belgium is among the countries involved in the new Arla and DMK Group entity. FrieslandCampina has dairy farms in Belgium.

Modified: 2025/04/21

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