Lactose and lactose syrup market in Finland

Earlier Report Observations

The market for lactose and lactose syrup in Finland exhibited significant volatility in physical volume between 2018 and 2024. The period opened with a strong expansion, as market size grew from 1 789 t in 2018 to 2 445 t in 2019. This upward trend reversed over the next two years, with volume declining to 2 159 t in 2020 and then to 1 881 t in 2021.

A notable recovery brought the market volume to 2 230 t in 2022, marking the second-highest point in the period. This was followed by a sharp contraction to 1 554 t in 2023, before a modest recovery to 1 666 t in 2024. In monetary terms, the market value displayed a different trajectory, rising consistently from 3 069 thousand US dollars in 2018 to a peak of 5 007 thousand in 2022, despite the volume drop in 2023.

The disparity between the physical and value trends suggests that factors such as price changes or shifts in the composition of trade influenced the market's financial turnover independently of consumption volume. The overall period was characterized by alternating phases of growth and decline without a clear sustained direction.

Production lactose and lactose syrup in Finland

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Finland's production of lactose and lactose syrup declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, output was valued at 597 K $ US, marking a sharp 34.3% drop from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 28.7%, with an annualized decline rate of 10.7%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 072 K $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 28.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Finland in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Finland ranked as the 15th largest producer of lactose and lactose syrup globally.

Top producers of lactose and lactose syrup, 2017-2020

World map of production of lactose and lactose syrup, 2017-2020

Finland's production volume of lactose and lactose syrup decreased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output totaled 560 t, representing a steep 38.3% decline year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, production dropped by 30.5%, equivalent to an annualized decrease of 11.4%. The peak volume was reached in 2018 at 1 139 t, which also experienced the largest increase of 41.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Finland in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports lactose and lactose syrup from Finland

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Export volumes reached their highest point in 2019 at 12 t, then plummeted to a low of 0.0 t in 2020, a 753-fold variation. In 2020, cross-border shipments from Finland amounted to 0.0 t, indicating a dramatic 99.9% decrease compared to the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 1 163.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Finland in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Finland's exports of lactose and lactose syrup were almost entirely concentrated in Switzerland, which accounted for 94.7% of the total volume.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Export values peaked in 2018 at 30 K $ US and dropped to a minimum of 0.0 K $ US in 2020, representing a 1 739-fold shift. In 2020, cross-border shipments from Finland were valued at 0.0 K $ US, which is 99.9% lower than the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2018 at 98.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Finland in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, Switzerland was the primary buyer of lactose and lactose syrup from Finland, accounting for 89.7% of total export value, while other partners held relatively modest shares.

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

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

Imports lactose and lactose syrup to Finland

Imports in kind, t

Finland's imports of lactose and lactose syrup increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 599 t, showing a gradual 3.3% rise compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 162.6%, equating to an annualized increase of 38.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Finland in kind, 2017-2020, t

Over the 2017-2020 period, the Netherlands and Germany were the dominant sources for Finland's imports of lactose and lactose syrup, jointly accounting for 92.6% of total volume, with the remainder distributed among smaller markets.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Finland's imports of lactose and lactose syrup increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 3 304 K $ US, indicating a 17.3% rise over the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 57.8%, with an annualized increase of 16.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 2 027 K $ US, which saw the largest decline of 3.2%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 38.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Finland in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the import structure in value terms was primarily shaped by the Netherlands and Germany, which together accounted for 90.0% of total flows, with other markets forming a long tail.

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

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