Milk and cream market in the Netherlands

Earlier Report Observations

The market for not concentrated, not sweetened milk and cream in the Netherlands showed consistent growth, expanding from 17 735 thousand tonnes in 2018 to over 20 000 thousand tonnes by 2022. This period of increase was followed by a stabilization in 2023, with the market volume settling at 20 057 thousand tonnes.

In 2018, the evolution of butter production technology, marked by the introduction of continuous processes and recombination techniques, influenced product segments within the milk and cream category. Later, policy developments aimed at sustainability, CO₂ reduction, and animal welfare in dairy farming began to affect production and market access, coinciding with the market's stabilization in 2023.

Production milk and cream in the Netherlands

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands was one of the world's top producers of milk and cream, ranking 8th globally by production volume.

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, the Netherlands produced 18 218 K t of milk and cream, showing little change from the previous year. Production reached its lowest point in 2018 at 17 733 K t, while the peak occurred in 2019 with 18 316 K t. The most significant decline was recorded in 2018 at 2.1%, followed by the largest increase in 2019 at 3.3%.

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

Exports milk and cream from the Netherlands

Exports in kind, K t

Exports of milk and cream from the Netherlands declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 591.5 K t, marking a 32.7% drop compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 40.4%, with an annualized decline rate of 15.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium and Germany together accounted for 86.6% of total milk and cream exports from the Netherlands in volume terms, with other countries forming a diverse but smaller share.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Exports of milk and cream from the Netherlands in value terms declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 646.9 M $ US, down 22.4% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 32.2%, equivalent to an annualized decrease of 12.1%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 978.6 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 2.6%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Belgium and Germany dominated the value of milk and cream exports from the Netherlands, jointly representing 80.6% of total flows, while other countries held much smaller shares.

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

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

Imports milk and cream to the Netherlands

Imports in kind, K t

After rising for two years, milk and cream imports into the Netherlands declined. In 2020, imports reached 819.0 K t, a 14.8% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 6.8%, with an annualized decline of 2.3%. The peak was in 2019 at 960.8 K t, which also recorded the largest increase of 4.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany and Belgium were the primary sources for milk and cream imports into the Netherlands in volume terms, jointly accounting for 95.1% of total flows, with the remainder distributed among other markets.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Imports of milk and cream into the Netherlands in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 527.6 M $ US, showing an 11.0% drop compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 13.2%, with an annualized decline of 4.6%. The highest value was in 2018 at 666.2 M $ US, which saw the largest increase of 9.7%, while the largest decline of 11.0% occurred in 2019.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Germany and Belgium together accounted for 94.6% of total milk and cream imports into the Netherlands in value terms, with the remaining volume spread across a wide range of other countries.

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

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