Market research

Milk market in the United Kingdom

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2021, the UK milk market volume expanded from 14.7 million tonnes to 15.4 million tonnes, supported by a steady rise in domestic production from 15.3 million tonnes to 15.9 million tonnes.

In 2022, market growth slowed as volume reached 15.5 million tonnes. This period saw milk prices hit record highs due to surging energy and fertilizer costs, along with supply chain disruptions, which pressured farm margins. Concurrently, consumer preferences shifted from liquid milk towards value-added dairy products like cheese and yogurt, sustaining overall demand for milk as a raw material. By 2023, the market stabilized at 15.5 million tonnes, with production growth driven by yield improvements despite a 0.9% decline in herd size and ongoing cost pressures from straw, fertilizer, fuel, and labor.

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, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in the United Kingdom
  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. 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 the United Kingdom in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United Kingdom in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 the United Kingdom, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 the United Kingdom in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United Kingdom in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 the United Kingdom, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 the United Kingdom in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United Kingdom in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 the United Kingdom, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 the United Kingdom in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United Kingdom in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 the United Kingdom, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United Kingdom by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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, 2018-2025
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 in the United Kingdom

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Globally, the United Kingdom ranked as the 10th largest milk producer during the period from 2018 to 2021.

Top producers of milk, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Milk production in the United Kingdom grew for the third consecutive year. In 2021, the country produced 15 891 thousand tonnes of milk, marking a 1.3% increase compared to 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production rose by 3.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in the United Kingdom in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.4%	0.1%	1.3%	1.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk from the United Kingdom

Exports in kind, K t

Milk exports from the United Kingdom fell for the second year in a row. In 2021, exports totaled 872 thousand tonnes, down 7.0% from 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, exports declined by 14.1%, corresponding to an average annual decrease of 4.9%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 037 thousand tonnes, which saw a 2.2% increase. The sharpest drop occurred in 2020, with a 9.6% decline.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.2%	(9.6%)	(7.0%)	(4.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Ireland was the primary destination for milk exports from the United Kingdom, accounting for 84.1% of total export volume, while other countries made up the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the United Kingdom in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

The value of milk exports from the United Kingdom decreased for the second consecutive year. In 2021, exports amounted to 706.5 million US dollars, a 2.8% drop from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, export value fell by 10.4%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 3.6%. The peak value was reached in 2019 at 801.6 million US dollars, which experienced a 1.7% increase. The most significant decrease occurred in 2020, with a 9.3% fall.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.7%	(9.3%)	(2.8%)	(3.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, the main markets for UK milk exports by value were Ireland (47.2% of total export value), the Netherlands (11.8%), and China (9.3%). Together, these three countries accounted for 68.3% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the United Kingdom in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk to the United Kingdom

Imports in kind, K t

Following a two-year decline, milk imports into the United Kingdom rebounded. In 2021, import volume reached 419 thousand tonnes, a sharp 32.4% rise compared to 2020. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2020 at 316 thousand tonnes, after a 21.6% decrease in 2019.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(21.6%)	(4.2%)	32.4%	(0.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018-2021, the leading sources of milk imports by volume for the United Kingdom were Ireland (65.8% of total import volume), Germany (8.9%), and the Netherlands (5.6%). Combined, these three countries represented 80.3% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the United Kingdom in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

After two years of contraction, the value of milk imports into the United Kingdom increased. In 2021, imports totaled 450.8 million US dollars, showing a 14.1% year-on-year uptick. Over the 2018-2021 period, import value decreased by 6.5%, with an average annual decline of 2.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 395.2 million US dollars, following a 16.1% drop in 2019.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.1%)	(2.3%)	14.1%	(2.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the top suppliers of milk to the United Kingdom by value were Ireland (48.2% of total import value), the Netherlands (12.1%), and Germany (11.6%). These three countries together accounted for 71.9% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the United Kingdom in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io