Market research

Ice cream market in Western Europe

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Western Europe" region includes following countries:

Austria

Belgium

France

Germany

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Monaco

the Netherlands

Switzerland

Earlier Report Observations

The West European ice cream market volume grew from 969 thousand tons in 2018 to 1.2 million tons in 2022, after a sharp contraction to 704 thousand tons in 2020. Market value increased from $6.3 billion to $7.5 billion over the same period, highlighting a shift toward higher-value products.

Market recovery after 2020 was fueled by the entry of new players and continuous innovation in premium and plant-based segments, exemplified by partnerships like Unilever with Perfect Day for lactose-free offerings. Growing consumer preference for natural ingredients and artisanal ice cream supported value growth, even as volume slightly dipped to 1.1 million tons in 2023, partly due to lower sales in France.

In 2024, key trends included the launch of new vegan and gourmet products, a strong consumer shift toward at-home consumption, and rising prices for artisanal gelato in Italy, reflecting ongoing premiumization and diversification in the region.

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, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Western Europe
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Western Europe in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Austria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Austria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Austria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Austria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Austria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Austria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Austria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Austria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Austria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Austria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Austria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Austria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Austria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Austria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Austria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Austria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
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 ice cream in Western Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of ice cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of ice cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2019, Western Europe's ice cream production reached its peak at 1,321.3 thousand tonnes, representing a 15.4% increase from the previous year. However, production declined significantly in 2020 to 876.2 thousand tonnes, marking a sharp 33.7% decrease compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production fell by 24.1%, with an average annual decline rate of 8.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.9%)	15.4%	(33.7%)	(8.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two consecutive years of growth, Western Europe's ice cream production value experienced a downturn. In 2019, production reached its highest value at 5,270 million US dollars, reflecting a 17.0% increase. The following year, in 2020, production value dropped to 3,598 million US dollars, showing a substantial 31.7% decline compared to 2019. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 9.7%, with an average annual decline of 3.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	13.1%	17.0%	(31.7%)	(3.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports ice cream from Western Europe

Exports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, Western Europe's ice cream exports in volume terms rebounded in 2020. The lowest point was recorded in 2019 at 463.2 thousand tonnes, representing a 2.5% decrease. In 2020, exports increased to 481.0 thousand tonnes, marking a 3.9% rise compared to the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.8%)	(2.5%)	3.9%	0.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Western Europe's ice cream export destinations were highly diversified. The top three markets - the United Kingdom (13.9% of export volume), Spain (6.6%), and Italy (3.6%) - collectively accounted for only 24.0% of total export flows, indicating a broad distribution across numerous markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Western Europe's ice cream export value showed mixed performance between 2017 and 2020. The strongest growth occurred in 2018 with a 13.2% increase, while 2019 saw a modest 1.2% decline. In 2020, export value reached 1,975 million US dollars, representing a 6.9% increase from the previous year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, export value grew by 19.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	13.2%	(1.2%)	6.9%	6.1%

Source: SHEV.io

The value-based export structure from 2017 to 2020 reveals a highly diversified partner portfolio. The three largest destinations - the United Kingdom (13.5% of export value), Spain (6.7%), and Italy (3.8%) - together represented just 24.0% of total flows. The remaining 76.0% was distributed across numerous smaller markets, demonstrating broad market diversification.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports ice cream to Western Europe

Imports in kind, K t

Following two years of contraction, Western Europe's ice cream imports in volume terms expanded in 2020. The lowest point was recorded in 2019 at 235.7 thousand tonnes, representing a significant 21.3% decline. In 2020, imports surged to 309.3 thousand tonnes, marking a substantial 31.2% increase from 2019. However, over the entire 2017-2020 period, import volume decreased by 7.9%, with an average annual decline of 2.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(10.8%)	(21.3%)	31.2%	(2.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Western Europe sourced ice cream imports from a wide range of suppliers. The top three source countries - Italy (7.3% of import volume), Poland (6.7%), and the United Kingdom (4.5%) - collectively accounted for only 18.5% of total import volume. The remaining 81.5% came from numerous other markets, indicating highly diversified sourcing.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Western Europe's ice cream import value showed varied trends between 2017 and 2020. The strongest growth occurred in 2018 with a 15.7% increase, while 2019 experienced a 2.7% decline. In 2020, import value reached 1,315 million US dollars, representing a 3.4% increase from the previous year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, import value grew by 16.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.7%	(2.7%)	3.4%	5.2%

Source: SHEV.io

The value-based import structure from 2017 to 2020 demonstrates broad market diversification. The three largest suppliers - Italy (9.4% of import value), Poland (6.2%), and Hungary (4.0%) - together accounted for just 19.5% of total import flows. The remaining 80.5% was distributed across numerous other countries, reflecting a wide supplier base.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io