Market research

Cheese and curd market in Estonia

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, the Estonian cheese and curd market built on traditional production techniques and the popularity of homemade curd cheese (sõir). It expanded from 35 220 tonnes to 41 819 tonnes by 2024, driven by product innovation such as new cheese creams launched in 2019 and sustained investments in milk quality and new cheese varieties from 2020 onward.

Shifting consumer preferences toward domestic products, emphasizing quality and origin, led producers to adjust marketing and product development. Updated national nutrition recommendations and stricter labeling regulations for sweetened dairy products, implemented in 2021-2022, further influenced product composition and consumer awareness, particularly in the curd cream segment.

After a minor correction in 2022, market volume surged by 12% in 2023 to 41 075 tonnes and continued to grow to 41 819 tonnes in 2024. This growth phase reflects the cumulative impact of earlier quality improvements and strengthened demand for local cheese and curd.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2024
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2024
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2024
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2024
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Estonia
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2024, t
  2. 5.1.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
3. 5.3. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.3.1. Global Production by Country in kind
    1. 5.3.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
    2. 5.3.1.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
    3. 5.3.1.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Estonia in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Estonia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Estonia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Estonia in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Estonia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Estonia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Estonia in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Estonia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Estonia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Estonia in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Estonia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Estonia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Estonia by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cheese and curd in Estonia

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Estonia's cheese and curd production has grown for the second year in a row. In 2021, output reached 196.8 million US dollars, showing a modest 7.0% increase from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, production rose by 7.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 178.8 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Estonia in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.5%)	2.9%	7.0%	2.4%

Source: SHEV.io

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of cheese and curd, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cheese and curd, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, Estonia produced 50 295 tonnes of cheese and curd, a slight 1.5% increase from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production grew by 7.2%, with an average annual rate of 2.3%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 5.6%, while 2020 saw no significant change.

Annual dynamics of production in Estonia in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.6%	0.0%	1.5%	2.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cheese and curd from Estonia

Exports in kind, t

Cheese and curd exports from Estonia have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, exports reached 22 943 tonnes, showing minimal change compared to 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, exports rose by 15.4%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 4.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Estonia in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.6%	4.7%	0.5%	4.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Finland, Italy, and Latvia were the core markets for Estonia's cheese and curd exports in volume terms. Finland accounted for 34.3% of exports, Italy for 17.3%, and Latvia for 13.3%, together making up 64.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Estonia in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Estonia's cheese and curd exports have grown for the third year in a row. In 2021, exports were valued at 96.156 million US dollars, a 7.9% increase from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports rose by 22%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Estonia in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.2%	2.6%	7.9%	6.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Finland, Italy, and Latvia were the main destinations for Estonia's cheese and curd exports in value terms. Finland represented 32.1% of exports, Italy 20.5%, and Latvia 12.3%, together accounting for 64.8% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Estonia in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cheese and curd to Estonia

Imports in kind, t

Estonia's cheese and curd imports have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2021, imports totaled 9 479 tonnes, a 1.1% rise from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports grew by 15.8%, with an average annual rate of 5.0%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 8 131 tonnes, which saw a 0.7% decline, while the largest increase of 15.3% occurred in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Estonia in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.7%)	15.3%	1.1%	5.0%

Source: SHEV.io

The partner structure for cheese and curd imports to Estonia from 2018 to 2021 was fragmented. Germany accounted for 16.0% of imports in volume, the Netherlands for 15.6%, and Lithuania for 15.3%, together representing only 46.9% of total flows, with no single country holding a dominant share.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Estonia in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Estonia's cheese and curd imports have grown for the second year in a row. In 2021, imports amounted to 50.816 million US dollars, a 15.2% increase from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports rose by 25%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.7%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 40.094 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 1.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Estonia in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.4%)	10.0%	15.2%	7.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Estonia imported cheese and curd from many countries. Even the largest sources—Lithuania, Germany, and the Netherlands—together accounted for only 48.2% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Estonia in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io