Milk and cream market in Denmark

Earlier Report Observations

The Danish milk and cream market began the period at 450 thousand tons in 2018, a level supported by robust growth in organic milk, which reached a 32.5% share of drinking milk sales. Market volume then fell to 355 thousand tons in 2019 amid unusual dairy sector conditions where high demand and prices were not met by increased production, while exports rose. After a recovery to 375 thousand tons in 2020, the market contracted sharply to 296 thousand tons in 2021.

A shift in consumer preference toward whole milk and cream for their fuller, natural taste, coupled with increased milk yield per cow, helped drive production higher and lifted market volume to 304 thousand tons in 2022. The market continued to expand, reaching 327 thousand tons in 2023, as sales of organic drinking milk recovered, supported by consumer willingness to pay for values such as grass-fed cows. By 2024, the market volume had decreased to 269 thousand tons.

Production milk and cream in Denmark

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

After two years of contraction, Denmark's milk and cream production volume increased. In 2021, output was valued at 596.0 million US dollars, marking a modest advance of 1.9% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production decreased by 5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 585.0 million US dollars, while the largest decline occurred in 2019 at 5.7%.

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

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2018-2021

World map of production of milk and cream, 2018-2021

Denmark's milk and cream production declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, 559.3 thousand tonnes were produced, representing a decrease of 0.9% year-over-year. Between 2018 and 2021, production fell by 9.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.2%.

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

Exports milk and cream from Denmark

Exports in kind, K t

In 2021, Denmark's milk and cream exports reached 339.7 thousand tonnes, showing a dramatic rise of 26.2% compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports increased by 36.2%, with an annualized rate of 10.9%. The largest decline was recorded in 2020 at 16.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 29.7%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Germany was the dominant buyer of milk and cream from Denmark, accounting for 82.9% of total exports in kind, with other countries sharing the remaining volume.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Denmark exported 266.2 million US dollars worth of milk and cream in 2021, showing a dramatic advance of 31.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports increased by 19.8%, with an annualized rate of 6.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 202.0 million US dollars, and the largest decline in that year was 9.6%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Germany, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates together accounted for 72.2% of total exports in value terms, with Germany at 53.7%, Sweden at 12.5%, and the UAE at 6.0%, remaining the main destinations for milk and cream from Denmark.

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

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

Imports milk and cream to Denmark

Imports in kind, K t

In 2021, Denmark's milk and cream imports totalled 76.3 thousand tonnes, marking a fall of 4.4% versus the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 8.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.0%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 5.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2020 at 0.7%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Germany absorbed 88.8% of total imports in kind of milk and cream to Denmark, with the balance spread across a wide range of smaller destinations.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Milk and cream shipments to Denmark from abroad increased for the second consecutive year. In 2021, Denmark imported approximately 129.2 million US dollars of milk and cream, corresponding to a solid gain of 12.0% versus the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports increased by 20.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 100.3 million US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 6.5% and the largest increase in 2020 at 14.9%.

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

Over the period from 2018 to 2021, Germany remained the dominant partner for imports in value terms of milk and cream to Denmark, with a share of 85.1% of total flows, while other markets formed a long tail.

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

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