Butter, dairy spreads and milk fats market in Montenegro

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats in Montenegro increased from 1 730 tons in 2018 to 2 031 tons in 2023, representing overall growth of 17% over the six-year period. This expansion was characterized by volatility, with a significant contraction in 2020 when consumption fell to 1 708 tons before recovering in subsequent years.

Domestic production followed a similar pattern, rising from 930 tons to a peak of 1 056 tons in 2020 before settling at 997 tons in 2023. Imports, which are essential to supply the market, varied considerably, dropping sharply to 652 tons in 2020 but then climbing to over 1 000 tons by 2023 to meet demand.

By the end of the period, the market's reliance on imported products had intensified, with imports accounting for a growing share of total supply. Both local production and import volumes concluded the period higher than their starting points in 2018, supporting the overall market growth.

Production butter, dairy spreads and milk fats in Montenegro

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of butter, dairy spreads and milk fats, 2017-2020

World map of production of butter, dairy spreads and milk fats, 2017-2020

Montenegro's production of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 1 K t of these products, marking a moderate 4.1% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 20.5%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 6.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Montenegro in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports butter, dairy spreads and milk fats from Montenegro

Exports in kind, t

The export market for these products showed significant volatility during this period. In 2019, exports reached their peak at 0.1 t, but then plummeted to 0.0 t in 2020, representing a sharp 89.1% year-over-year decline. The gap between these years was substantial, with 2020 exports being 9.2 times lower than in 2019. The largest increase occurred in 2019, when exports surged by 431.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Montenegro in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Italy, Norway, and Panama—collectively accounted for 55.6% of Montenegro's total exports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats in volume terms.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Montenegro in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values followed an unstable pattern over these years. In 2019, they hit a high of 1 K $ US, but dropped sharply to 0.1 K $ US in 2020, an 88.3% decrease from the previous year. This swing represented an 8.5-fold difference between the two years. The most significant increase was in 2019, with a rise of 96.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Montenegro in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017–2020, Italy, Norway, and Panama were the top destinations for Montenegro's exports in value terms. Italy contributed 17.7% of the total, Norway 9.7%, and Panama 8.3%, together making up 35.8% of all export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Montenegro in value, 2017-2020

Imports butter, dairy spreads and milk fats to Montenegro

Imports in kind, t

Montenegro's imports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats saw a dramatic decline in 2020, falling to 652.2 t, which was 26.8% lower than the previous year. The peak import volume was in 2019 at 890.7 t. Over the entire period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 20.3%, averaging a 7.3% annual drop. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with an 11.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Montenegro in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Serbia and Croatia dominated Montenegro's imports in volume terms, consistently representing 92.4% of the total. This high concentration was complemented by a range of smaller markets.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Montenegro in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Montenegro's imports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats in value terms declined in 2020. Imports totaled 3 506 K $ US that year, down 23.7% from 2019's peak of 4 596 K $ US. The largest increase was recorded in 2018, with a 16.0% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Montenegro in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Serbia and Croatia together accounted for 93.0% of Montenegro's total import value for these products, with the remaining share distributed among various smaller markets.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Montenegro in value, 2017-2020