Spain's Dairy Market: A Comprehensive Overview

Spain is a notable player in the global dairy industry, leveraging its strong infrastructure and production capabilities to maintain its position. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Spain's dairy sector, focusing on production volumes, key companies, and dynamic market trends.

Milk Production and Dairy Cattle

Spain hosts approximately 800,000 dairy cattle, which are fundamental to its dairy production efforts. These cattle contribute to an estimated milk production volume of 7 million tonnes annually, cementing Spain's stature within the dairy sector.

Dairy Processing and Products

The dairy processing industry in Spain is highly sophisticated, transforming raw milk into a wide array of products:

• Milk Processing Volume: Over 6 million tonnes per year
• Cheese Production Volume: 320,000 tonnes per year
• Milk Powder and Whey Production: 100,000 tonnes per year

Key Enterprises and Dairy Farms

Spain's market is supported by several notable dairy plants and farms:

Dairy Plants

• Capsa Food
• Innolact
• Lactalis Iberia
• Danone España
• Central Lechera Asturiana

Dairy Farms

• Agropecuaria Jabugo
• Torre de Núñez
• Granja Cantagrullas

Export and Import Dynamics

Spain is an active participant in the global dairy trade:

• Export of Dairy Products: Around 400,000 tonnes per year
• Import of Dairy Products: Approximately 300,000 tonnes per year

Significant Events in the Dairy Industry

• Milk Deliveries: Anticipated growth of 0.4% year-on-year in 2024, driven by higher yields and price stability (EU Short-Term Outlook).
• Raw Milk Prices: Stability observed with no changes from May of the current year.
• Capsa Food Acquisition: Acquired a 40% stake in Innolact, indicating industry consolidation and growth.
• Curd Snacks Demand: Rising interest across European countries, including Spain, projected for 2024.
• Danone's Strategy: Relocating part of its yogurt production to Romania, affecting local farmers.
• Dairy Export Challenges: Global demand shifts, with EHD impacting exports.
• Lactalis Innovations: Introduction of sustainable packaging for the Puleva line.
• Protests: Edu H. Nualart's involvement highlights broader industry issues.

Sources: EU Short-Term Outlook 2024, Local news, and industry reports. Spain's support for the EU-Mercosur agreement, changes in milk prices, and EHD impacts are significant. Additionally, the closure of LAR cooperative influenced León-based dairy firms to support affected farmers. Researchers from the Department of Animal Production at the University of León's Veterinary Faculty and the Mountain Livestock Institute (CSIC-ULE) have identified biomarkers for feed efficiency within the transcriptome found in sheep milk. The price of cow's milk in Asturias, Spain, has decreased by 4.8% over the last year. A team of European researchers, led by Ángel Gómez-Martín and the ProVaginBIO group from the CEU Cardinal Herrera University in Spain, unveiled a pioneering approach to managing reproductive health in dairy sheep using high-concentration probiotics.

The UCCL emphasizes the need for structural changes to prevent the sector from disappearing, causing irreparable damage to rural areas in Spain.

Modified: 2025/02/04

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