Market research

Whey market in Europe

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Europe" region includes following countries:

Albania

Andorra

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia

Gibraltar

Greece

the Holy See

Italy

Malta

Montenegro

Portugal

San Marino

Serbia

Slovenia

Spain

North Macedonia

Bulgaria

Belarus

Czechia

Hungary

Moldova

Poland

Romania

Russia

Slovakia

Ukraine

Denmark

Estonia

Faroe Islands

Finland

Åland Islands

Iceland

Ireland

Latvia

Lithuania

Norway

Sweden

the United Kingdom

Isle of Man

Austria

Belgium

France

Germany

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Monaco

the Netherlands

Switzerland

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2022, the European whey market volume grew from 9.1 million tons to 13.4 million tons, with market value rising from 13.8 billion USD to 24.9 billion USD. This expansion was supported by the 2021 launch of Eurial Ingredients & Nutrition's new sweet whey protein concentrate in France, which targeted the rising demand for high-quality ingredients. Continued growth in consumer health awareness and the trend towards clean-label products further underpinned the market's upward trajectory through 2022.

In 2023, the market volume sharply contracted to 7.4 million tons, while value fell to 14.1 billion USD. This decline coincided with significant global supply chain pressures, rising production costs, and whey price increases that reflected a demand-supply imbalance. Concurrently, European dairy cooperatives invested in modular fractionation units to produce whey protein isolates for sports nutrition, and new EU labeling regulations enhanced traceability requirements, indicating a market shift towards specialized, higher-value segments amidst broader economic constraints.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Europe
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Europe in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. 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 Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Albania 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 Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Albania 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 Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania 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 Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Albania 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 Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Albania 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 Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania 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 Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Albania 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 Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Albania 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 Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania 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 Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Albania 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 Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Albania 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 Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania 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 whey in Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of whey, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of whey, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Europe's whey production has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Europe produced 12 554 K t of whey, marking a 1.7% year-over-year rise. The lowest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 10 351 K t, which saw the largest decline of 18.6%. The following year, 2019, experienced the largest increase at 19.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(18.6%)	19.2%	1.7%	(0.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Whey production in Europe has risen for the second year in a row. In 2020, the output was valued at 19 572 M $ US, representing a 4.8% increase from 2019. The minimum value occurred in 2018 at 14 571 M $ US, with the largest decline of 24.6% that year. The largest increase was in 2019 at 28.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(24.6%)	28.2%	4.8%	0.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports whey from Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Whey exports from Europe have grown for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Europe exported 1 680 K t of whey, showing a modest gain of 4.7% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 6.8%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.4%	0.7%	4.7%	2.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, no single market dominated whey exports from Europe. China accounted for 9.6% of exports in kind, Indonesia for 3.1%, and Malaysia for 2.4%, together making up only 15.1% of total exports. Many smaller partners each held modest individual shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Whey deliveries from Europe have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 2 620 M $ US, up by 7.8% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 9.6%, with a CAGR of 3.1%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 2 245 M $ US, which saw the largest decline of 6.1%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 8.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.1%)	8.2%	7.8%	3.1%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, whey from Europe was supplied to numerous markets, with no single destination dominating. Even the largest ones—China, Special Categories, and Indonesia—together represented only 22.9% of total exports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports whey to Europe

Imports in kind, K t

Whey imports into Europe have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Europe imported 816 K t of whey, indicating a significant improvement of 63.5% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports surged by 99.6%, with a CAGR of 25.9%. The minimum value was in 2018 at 329 K t, which experienced the largest decline of 19.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(19.6%)	51.9%	63.5%	25.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Switzerland played the leading role in whey imports to Europe in kind, accounting for 2.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Europe's volume of whey imports has risen for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 1 505 M $ US, representing a slight increase of 2.9% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 6.6%, with a CAGR of -2.2%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 1 427 M $ US, which saw the largest decline of 11.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(11.4%)	2.5%	2.9%	(2.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017-2020, the United States (1.2% of imports in value terms), Switzerland (1.0%), and Argentina (0.6%) formed the main cluster of markets for whey imports into Europe, with a combined share of 2.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io