Market research

Milk and cream market in Ireland

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market for milk and cream in Ireland showed initial fluctuation, with volume dipping from 13.3 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 13.0 thousand tonnes in 2019 before recovering to 13.4 thousand tonnes in 2020.

Market volume then entered a period of expansion, rising to 13.9 thousand tonnes in 2021, supported by growing export demand which indicated strengthened production capacity. A significant surge followed in 2022, with volume reaching 15.1 thousand tonnes, primarily driven by a global milk shortage that boosted dairy prices and incentivized increased Irish production.

This growth reversed in 2023 as market volume fell to 14.9 thousand tonnes. The decline was largely due to stringent environmental regulations, including new nitrate restrictions and herd reductions, which constrained milk output. Into 2024, production challenges persisted under regulatory pressure, though improved weather conditions later in the year supported grass growth and milk collections.

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. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Ireland
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, K t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
3. 5.3. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.3.1. Global Production by Country in kind
    1. 5.3.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
    2. 5.3.1.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
    3. 5.3.1.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland 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 milk and cream in Ireland

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Ireland ranked 12th globally in terms of milk and cream production volume.

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Ireland produced 12 953 K t of milk and cream, marking a moderate 3.6% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 6.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 1.5%, while the highest increase was recorded in 2018 at 4.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.0%	(1.5%)	3.6%	2.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk and cream from Ireland

Exports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, Ireland's milk and cream export volume declined in 2020, totaling 194.0 K t, which represents a slight 1.9% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 57.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.4%. The peak export volume was reached in 2019 at 197.9 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 35.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	19.0%	35.2%	(1.9%)	16.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Kingdom was overwhelmingly the primary destination for Ireland's milk and cream exports in kind, accounting for 90.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Ireland's milk and cream exports in value terms increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 132.3 M $ US, a gradual gain of 4.3% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 70.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 19.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	62.6%	0.8%	4.3%	19.5%

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, the United Kingdom absorbed 81.9% of Ireland's total milk and cream exports in value terms, with the remainder distributed among a wide range of smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk and cream to Ireland

Imports in kind, K t

Ireland's milk and cream import volume declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, with imports totaling 769.6 K t, a 7.4% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 7.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 2.7%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 769.6 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 8.6%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 8.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.6%	(8.3%)	(7.4%)	(2.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Ireland's import partner base for milk and cream in kind was extremely narrow, with the United Kingdom alone responsible for 99.7% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Ireland's milk and cream import value declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, with imports totaling 252.8 M $ US, down 8.8% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 11.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.9%. The peak import value was recorded in 2018 at 319.6 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual increase of 12.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 13.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.3%	(13.3%)	(8.8%)	(3.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout the 2017-2020 period, the United Kingdom dominated Ireland's milk and cream import structure in value terms, consistently accounting for 98.6% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io