Yoghurt market in Belgium

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the Belgian yoghurt market volume remained above 100 000 tonnes annually, peaking at 105 377 tonnes in 2019 before stabilizing at 103 624 tonnes in 2020. Domestic production gradually declined from 51 410 tonnes to 48 360 tonnes over the same period.

A sharp contraction occurred in 2021, with market volume falling to 49 559 tonnes, and it continued to edge down to 47 400 tonnes in 2022. Production followed a similar path, dropping to 48 020 tonnes in 2021 and 47 400 tonnes in 2022. The market rebounded in 2023, with volume recovering to 52 330 tonnes alongside a rise in production to the same level.

In 2024, new Belgian royal decrees and a law modified hygiene standards with specific temperature and sampling rules for yoghurt production, introduced mandatory labeling for sweeteners and added sugars, and placed limits on single-use plastic packaging, directly affecting manufacturing practices and product formulations.

Production yoghurt in Belgium

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium maintained the 22nd position globally in terms of yoghurt production volume.

Top producers of yoghurt, 2017-2020

World map of production of yoghurt, 2017-2020

Yoghurt production in Belgium declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Belgium produced 48.4 K t of yoghurt, marking a 4.4% decrease compared to 2019. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 51.4 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 4.9%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Yoghurt production in Belgium declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 55 345 K $ US, reflecting a significant drop of 12.9% compared to the previous year. The peak value occurred in 2018 at 64 079 K $ US, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 13.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports yoghurt from Belgium

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Belgium exported 44 296 t of yoghurt, representing a solid uptick of 13.4% compared to the previous year. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 39 049 t, which saw the largest annual decline of 7.7%. From 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 7.3%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 2.4%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, the Netherlands (68.7% of exports in kind), Luxembourg (8.0% of exports in kind), and Italy (7.9% of exports in kind) formed the core group of markets for Belgium's yoghurt exports, together representing 84.6% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Belgium exported 50.7 M $ US worth of yoghurt, showing a 3.4% increase over the previous year. The highest export value was recorded in 2018 at 52.7 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual increase of 11.1%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 7.1%. 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 Belgium in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over 2017–2020, the Netherlands (59.9% of exports in value terms), Luxembourg (15.9% of exports in value terms), and Italy (8.1% of exports in value terms) were the primary buyers of yoghurt from Belgium, jointly accounting for 83.9% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports yoghurt to Belgium

Imports in kind, t

Yoghurt imports into Belgium increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totalled 99 560 t, equivalent to an uptick of 6.1% compared to the previous year. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 87 136 t, which saw the largest annual decline of 6.6%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 7.7%. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 6.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2%.

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

In 2017–2020, France (45.5% of imports in kind), Germany (31.3% of imports in kind), and the Netherlands (10.5% of imports in kind) were the main sources in the geographical breakdown of yoghurt imports to Belgium, with a combined share of 87.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, yoghurt imports into Belgium amounted to 151.1 M $ US, showing an uptick of 10.2% compared to the previous year. The lowest import value was recorded in 2019 at 137.1 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual decline of 3.8%. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 7.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6%.

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

In 2017–2020, France (44.3% of imports in value terms), Germany (29.5% of imports in value terms), and the Netherlands (12.9% of imports in value terms) continued to head the list of suppliers of yoghurt to Belgium, jointly taking 86.8% of total imports in value terms.

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

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