Concentrated or sweetened milk and cream market in Hungary

Earlier Report Observations

The market for concentrated or sweetened milk and cream in Hungary opened the period at 101 458 tons in 2018 before falling sharply to 51 991 tons in 2019. It began recovering in 2020, reaching 73 232 tons. This recovery phase coincided with the extension of the mandatory monthly market data reporting obligation to companies outside the membership of the Tej Szakmaközi Szervezet és Terméktanács, a measure initially introduced in 2018 to improve market transparency and regulation.

Market volume continued its upward trajectory to 86 404 tons in 2021, supported by a 14% increase in imports of these products and a significant simultaneous rise in their exports. Intensifying market competition also made packaging and product quality increasingly important for consumer choice. In 2022, volume stabilized at 88 228 tons. This occurred despite a 37% year-on-year increase in raw milk prices and the tightening of the public health product tax, which necessitated product reformulation to reduce sugar and salt content.

A contraction to 74 934 tons followed in 2023, a year marked by significant surplus production on the European dairy market, which pressured Hungarian milk processing enterprises to adapt and improve efficiency. The mandatory reporting framework was further extended this year to strengthen oversight. Subsequent trends indicate that summer heat stress could pressure raw milk supply, while growing health awareness is shifting some consumer preference toward plant-based alternatives, albeit under strict naming rules. By 2025, amendments to the Hungarian Food Code and ministerial decrees introduced stricter composition and naming rules for dairy products, particularly for sour cream, aiming to enhance consumer trust and market competitiveness.

Production concentrated or sweetened milk and cream in Hungary

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of concentrated or sweetened milk and cream, 2018-2021

World map of production of concentrated or sweetened milk and cream, 2018-2021

Hungary's production of concentrated or sweetened milk and cream has increased for the second year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 75 thousand tonnes, marking an 18.9% rise compared to 2020. However, looking at the broader period from 2018 to 2021, production actually fell by 20.2%, which translates to an average annual decline of 7.2%. The lowest output was recorded in 2019 at 42 thousand tonnes, when production dropped sharply by 55.4%. This was followed by a significant rebound in 2020, with a 50.5% increase.

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

Exports concentrated or sweetened milk and cream from Hungary

Exports in kind, t

The export data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market. Exports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 142 tonnes, with a 66.0% decline that year. They then surged by 869.5% in 2020, reaching a peak of 1 872 tonnes in 2021—a 35.5% jump from the previous year. Overall, from the trough in 2019 to the peak in 2021, exports expanded by a factor of 13.1.

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

From 2018 to 2021, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania consistently dominated Hungary's exports of concentrated or sweetened milk and cream in volume terms, together accounting for 73.8% of the total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values also exhibited irregular movements, reflecting market volatility. The lowest point was in 2019 at 380 thousand US dollars, when values fell by 59.0%. A dramatic recovery followed in 2020 with a 714.2% increase, leading to a peak of 5 574 thousand US dollars in 2021—up 80.2% from 2020. Between the 2019 trough and 2021 peak, export values grew by a factor of 14.7.

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

Throughout 2018–2021, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania remained the top markets for Hungary's exports of concentrated or sweetened milk and cream in value terms. The Netherlands led with 46.8% of exports, followed by Poland at 19.8% and Romania at 7.7%, collectively making up 74.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports concentrated or sweetened milk and cream to Hungary

Imports in kind, t

Hungary's imports of concentrated or sweetened milk and cream have risen for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports totaled 13 686 tonnes, a 15.3% increase year-on-year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports grew by 61.7%, averaging an annual growth rate of 17.4%.

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

Between 2018 and 2021, Italy, the Netherlands, and Czechia were the largest sources of Hungary's imports in volume terms. Italy accounted for 24.5% of imports, the Netherlands for 15.1%, and Czechia for 14.4%, together representing 54.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of concentrated or sweetened milk and cream into Hungary have increased for the third year in a row. In 2021, the import value reached 25 642 thousand US dollars, up 19.3% from 2020. From 2018 to 2021, import values rose by 33.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.2%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, the Netherlands, Czechia, and Poland were the leading sources in Hungary's import structure by value. The Netherlands contributed 22.9% of imports, Czechia 16.5%, and Poland 14.0%, combining for 53.5% of total flows.

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

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