EU Milk Output : Dairy Sector Faces Changing Trends

Milk production across the European Union reached an estimated 161.8 million tonnes in 2024, marking a modest gain of 0.9 million tonnes compared to 2023 and an increase of 12.1 million tonnes from 2014’s level of 149.7 million tonnes. The figures underline a steady upward trend in raw milk output over the past decade.

Of the total 2024 volume, around 150.8 million tonnes were delivered to dairies and allocated for processing into a variety of dairy products. Cheese production consumed approximately 59.9 million tonnes of whole milk and 17.0 million tonnes of skimmed milk, yielding about 10.8 million tonnes of cheese. Meanwhile, the production of butter and similar “yellow products” absorbed some 44.2 million tonnes of whole milk and generated 2.3 million tonnes of butter, along with 41.5 million tonnes of skimmed milk.

In the ranking of EU producers by dairy-product category, Germany stood out, accounting for 18.8 % of total drinking-milk production, 27.1 % of acidified-milk products, 20.6 % of butter, and 22.5 % of cheese. Spain followed Germany in drinking-milk production (15.2 %), then France (12.7 %). In butter production, France held 17.2 % and Ireland 14.8 % of EU shares; in cheese, France had 17.8 %.

The data suggest that while growth in milk production is modest year-to-year, the overall decade-long trajectory remains positive. With rising volumes directed into value-added dairy products, the report highlights underlying structural stability in the EU dairy sector even amid cost pressures and environmental concerns.

As Luxembourg monitors regional trends in agriculture and food production, this EU-wide increase may offer context for national dairy-policy review and market-positioning decisions. For Luxembourg’s dairy producers and policymakers, the broader EU figures serve as a benchmark for assessing domestic production strategies and export opportunities in a steadily evolving dairy landscape.

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