Cheese and curd market in Lithuania

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the Lithuanian cheese and curd market grew steadily, supported by significant investments in production capacity. Major player Rokiškio sūris expanded its export plans to Asian countries and invested in new production lines for curd at its Ukmergė facility, increasing domestic supply. While consumer price sensitivity rose as food inflation exceeded the EU average, the market volume continued to expand. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a temporary dip in processing output, but stable domestic demand and growing imports helped the overall market volume reach 60.3 thousand tons.

The period from 2021 to 2022 saw the market face new constraints. A shortage of labor in curd cheese production emerged ahead of the 2021-2022 season, potentially limiting output growth. Consumer preferences shifted toward cheaper packaged dairy products, affecting sales mixes. In 2022, sharp food price inflation, driven by global increases in raw milk procurement prices and logistics costs, put significant pressure on consumer purchasing power. This led to a noted contraction in sales volumes for items like curd and cheese, contributing to a slight stabilization of the total physical market size at 62.5 thousand tons that year, even as market value rose substantially.

Following this period of adjustment, the market resumed its growth trajectory. The volume increased to 64.2 thousand tons in 2023 and further to 69.4 thousand tons in 2024, marking an 8.1% increase from the 2022 level and reflecting the market's underlying expansion over the full period from 2018.

Production cheese and curd in Lithuania

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

In 2021, Lithuania's cheese and curd production was valued at 447.7 million US dollars, representing a strong increase of 13.7% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production grew by 15.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2020, when production fell by 1.9%.

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

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of cheese and curd, 2018-2021

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

In 2021, Lithuania produced 101.9 thousand tonnes of cheese and curd, showing a modest increase of 3.4% from the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, production rose by 5.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.7%. The largest decline was in 2020, with a drop of 3.1%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, with growth of 5.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Lithuania in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Exports cheese and curd from Lithuania

Exports in kind, t

In 2021, Lithuania's cheese and curd export volume reached 58 073 tonnes, marking an increase of 5.2% from the previous year. The lowest volume was recorded in 2020 at 55 227 tonnes, while the highest was in 2019 at 61 496 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2020, with a decrease of 10.2%, and the largest increase was in 2019, with growth of 7.3%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, the main destinations for Lithuania's cheese and curd exports in volume terms were Italy, accounting for 45.5% of exports, Latvia with 11.0%, and the United States with 7.9%. Together, these three countries made up 64.4% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2021, Lithuania's cheese and curd exports in value terms reached 253.5 million US dollars, showing a substantial increase of 13.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports grew by 12.4%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 4.0%. The lowest value was in 2020 at 223.3 million US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 6.8%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Italy was the leading buyer of Lithuanian cheese and curd in value terms, accounting for 41.7% of exports, followed by Latvia with 10.6%, and the United States with 8.3%. Combined, these three countries represented 60.6% of total export value.

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

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

Imports cheese and curd to Lithuania

Imports in kind, t

Lithuania's cheese and curd import volume increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports amounted to 19 829 tonnes, corresponding to a significant rise of 16.3% compared to 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports grew by 36.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 10.9%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Poland was the primary supplier of cheese and curd to Lithuania in volume terms, accounting for 51.8% of imports, followed by Germany with 12.8%, and Latvia with 8.8%. Together, these three countries made up 73.4% of total import volume.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Lithuania's cheese and curd imports increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, import value amounted to 85.0 million US dollars, which is 22.0% higher than the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports grew by 44.8%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 13.1%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Poland remained the leading source of cheese and curd imports to Lithuania in value terms, accounting for 42.9% of imports, followed by Germany with 13.6%, and Latvia with 10.7%. Together, these three countries accounted for 67.1% of total import value.

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

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