Castilla y León now makes one in three cheeses produced in Spain
Regional president Alfonso Fernández Mañueco said Castilla y León accounts for one in every three cheeses made in Spain, with dairy exports up 53% in five years to more than €376 million in 2025. Cheese exports reached 47,000 tonnes worth over €235 million, or 27% of Spain's total. The figures were presented at the opening of the third Fromago Cheese Experience fair in Zamora.
Castilla y León produces one in every three cheeses made in Spain, the president of the regional government, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, said on Thursday at the opening of the third edition of the Fromago Cheese Experience international cheese fair in Zamora. According to sorianoticias.com, he put the regional dairy industry at around €3 billion in annual turnover and said its export sales had reached a record.
Dairy exports up 53% in five years
Overseas sales of dairy products from Castilla y León grew 53% over the past five years, exceeding €376 million in 2025, agrodigital.com reported. Cheese made up the bulk of that total: exports reached 47,000 tonnes worth more than €235 million, equivalent to 27% of all Spanish cheese export sales. That share makes the region the single largest contributor to Spain's cheese trade despite accounting for a much smaller slice of national milk collection.
The dairy business represents 18% of the total turnover of the region's agrifood sector and sustains more than 6,100 jobs, most of them anchored in rural areas, according to sorianoticias.com. Castilla y León is Spain's leading producer of sheep milk, with Zamora the most prominent province, and ranks second nationally in cow milk output.
Sheep milk underpins the processing base
The region concentrates 70% of Spain's sheep cheese production, 15% of cow's milk cheese and 40% of blended varieties, according to both outlets. Its output is covered by six protected quality designations:
- Queso Zamorano
- Queso Castellano
- Queso de Valdeón
- Los Beyos
- Queso de Burgos
- Queso Arribes de Salamanca
A wider range of cheeses and dairy items is marketed under the regional Tierra de Sabor guarantee label. Seven of Spain's ten largest cheese manufacturers have operations in Castilla y León, making it the country's most concentrated cheese processing hub and the reference point for buyers sourcing sheep and blended-milk varieties.
Regional aid and the CAP question
Mañueco said public support for livestock farmers and processors is channelled through the Strategic Agro-industry Plan, direct grants for modernisation and innovation, and a dedicated funding line for milk collection in mountain areas, where logistics costs put small farms at a disadvantage. He described the sector as a strategic pillar of the regional economy.
He added that the regional government will step up support through higher direct payments to farmers, simplified administrative procedures and commercial transparency measures, and will continue to defend the ring-fencing of Common Agricultural Policy funds to keep farms viable. The Junta has also honoured its commitment to double its financial contribution to Fromago, which both sorianoticias.com and agrodigital.com describe as Spain's most important cheese fair and one of the sector's main international events. The regional administration said it will keep backing the fair to attract investors, generate commercial contacts and lift exports.
Cincho awards go to France, the US and Valladolid
The opening ceremony also hosted the Cincho Awards. The three Grandes Cinchos de Oro went to Colette Nature of France, Rogue River Bleu of the United States and Granoro Cabra from the province of Valladolid. Among the Cinchos de Honor, the Escuela Internacional de Industrias Lácteas was recognised for international projection, La Faya founder Alonso Santos de Pedro for his professional career, and Rubén Valbuena of Granja Cantagrullas received this year's special mention.
