Concentrated milk and cream market in Southern Europe

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for concentrated milk and cream in Southern Europe expanded from 234 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 288 thousand tonnes in 2023, with the most notable increases occurring in 2020 and 2021. This growth coincided with the implementation of key regulatory measures designed to modernize and stabilize the dairy sector.

In 2019, Royal Decree 95/2019 established new contracting conditions and transparency rules for the dairy industry, which improved supply chain coordination. The following year, Royal Decree 1086/2020 introduced stricter hygiene and mandatory labeling requirements for raw milk, enhancing product traceability and safety standards, factors that supported sustained market demand.

External pressures, including rising production costs and drought, began impacting domestic output from 2022 onward. Concurrent regulatory actions, such as Royal Decrees 374/2022 and 989/2022, further reinforced contractual transparency and supply-chain controls. These measures, coupled with a consistent rise in import volumes, enabled the market to reach its peak in 2022 before stabilizing in 2023.

Production concentrated milk and cream in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of concentrated milk and cream, 2017-2020

World map of production of concentrated milk and cream, 2017-2020

Concentrated milk and cream production in Southern Europe has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, production reached 122.1 K t, marking a 4.6% increase compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 39.9%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 11.8%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

After two years of growth, the value of concentrated milk and cream production in Southern Europe declined. In 2020, output was valued at 235.8 M $ US, showing a gradual decrease of 8.2% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 20.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 256.7 M $ US, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 16.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports concentrated milk and cream from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Southern Europe exported 52.2 K t of concentrated milk and cream in 2020, up by 29.2% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 43.5%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 12.8%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 12.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, France (16.6% of exports in kind), Saudi Arabia (13.9% of exports in kind), and the United Kingdom (9.3% of exports in kind) were among the largest buyers of concentrated milk and cream from Southern Europe. However, together they accounted for just 39.8% of total exports in kind, indicating a broadly diversified partner base.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Southern Europe exported 100.8 M $ US of concentrated milk and cream in 2020, up by 13.4% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 23.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 10.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 22.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the buyer portfolio for concentrated milk and cream from Southern Europe was broad. France (20.1% of exports in value terms), Saudi Arabia (13.2% of exports in value terms), and the United Kingdom (10.8% of exports in value terms) together contributed only 44.1% of total exports in value terms, with many other countries holding smaller but non-negligible shares.

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

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

Imports concentrated milk and cream to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

Southern Europe imported 195.8 K t of concentrated milk and cream in 2020, up by 15.2% year-on-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 12.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 169.9 K t, which also saw the largest decline at 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (51.9% of imports in kind), the Netherlands (18.1% of imports in kind), and France (8.3% of imports in kind) led the import structure in kind, together representing 78.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Foreign supplies of concentrated milk and cream to Southern Europe have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 256.5 M $ US, showing an uptick of 14.6% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 19.9%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 6.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (47.6% of imports in value terms), the Netherlands (22.6% of imports in value terms), and Belgium (6.9% of imports in value terms) were the main sources in the geographical breakdown of imports in value terms for concentrated milk and cream to Southern Europe, with a combined share of 77.1% of total flows.

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

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