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Italy: Dairy sector

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Italy has a prominent position in the European dairy industry: it is the largest producer Country of PDO Cheeses.





This Country:
  • accounts for 9,4% of EU milk deliveries (year 2023),
  • exports dairy products, converted into milk equivalent (ME) for the 38,7% of the milk deliveries,
  • accounts for 6,3% of EU dairy exports in ME (year 2023).
The orange links allow a further analysis on TESEO.


Click here to consult the
MILK SELF-SUFFICIENCY map

ITALY: DAIRY SECTOR
(1° January - 31 December)
  x 1.000 ton
RAW MATERIAL AREA 2021 2022 2023 2024 2024 2025 % Period
Cow's Milk
Dairy Farm Structure
Dairy cows ('000 head) (Al 1st December) 1.610 1.631 1.574
Slaughtered cow ('000) 562 603 512 523 44 48 +8,2% Jan 2025
Export of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head) 1.562 4.869 2.582 4.174 977 640 -34,5% Jan 2025
Import of Breeding Heifers (HS 01022110 - head) 25.497 17.847 12.207 22.847 6.386 2.328 -63,5% Jan 2025
Milk production 13.202 13.182 13.059 -
± % Over the same period of the previous year -0,2% -0,9%
Deliveries to dairies 13.193 13.010 12.911 13.127 2.238 2.206 (e) -1,4% Jan-Feb 2025
± % Over the same period of the previous year -1,4% -0,8% +1,7%
% Protein 3,44% 3,45% 3,43% 3,43% 3,49% 3,51%   Jan-Feb 2025
% Fat 3,76% 3,76% 3,77% 3,92% 4,02% 4,08%   Jan-Feb 2025
Farm-gate prices of raw milk Lombardy (€ x 100 lt, + VAT not incl.) 38,33 51,17 52,79 53,04 50,17 59,67 +18,9% Jan-Mar 2025
± % Over the same period of the previous year +33,5% +3,2% +0,5%
Buffalo's - Goat's - Sheep's Milk
Number of Buffaloes ('000) 409 416 416 437
Buffalo's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1140A) 257 254 254
Buffalo's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1140D) 233 234 232
Number of Goats ('000) 1.061 1.010 980 911
Goat's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1130A) 61 60 58
Goat's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1130D) 43 42 41
Number of Sheeps ('000) 6.728 6.568 6.497 5.390
Sheep's Milk Production (Cod.Eurostat D1120A) 477 475 471
Sheep's Milk Delivered to dairies (Cod.Eurostat D1120D) 450 449 445
Organic milk production (goat, sheep, cow) 552 500
DAIRY PRODUCTION ('000 Ton) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2024 2025 % Period
Liquid milk 2.481 2.522 2.510 2.467 221 221 0,0% Jan 2025
Cream 150 149 151 160 14 14 0,0% Jan 2025
Butter 98 101 99 104 9,2 9,2 0,0% Jan 2025
a)Cheese from cow milk 1.197 1.201 1.205 1.215 101 101 0,0% Jan 2025
of which:
PDO 495 485 497 444
b)Cheese from other milk 177 158 139
of which:
PDO 94 94 97 98
Total Cheese[a+b] 1.374 1.359 1.344
-Hard cheeses of which: 502 470 472
Grana Padano PDO 203 202 212 219 62 64 (e) +2,8% Jan-Mar 2025
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO 164 160 161 163 43 43 (e) -0,7% Jan-Mar 2025
Pecorino Romano PDO (Dairy Season) 32 33 37 39 12 13 +2,2% Oct/24-Feb/25
Other sheep cheeses PDO (Toscano, Siciliano, Filiano, Sardo) 5,3 4,7 4,7 3,1
- Semi-hard cheeses of which: 96 96 99
Provolone Valpadana PDO 15 14 14 15
Fontina PDO 4,0 3,4 3,1 3,8
- Soft cheeses of which: 193 192 215
Taleggio PDO 8,7 8,8 8,8 8,7 2,2 2,2 -1,0% Jan-Mar 2025
Gorgonzola PDO 63 61 62
- Fresh cheeses of which: 583 572 558
Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO 54 56 56 56 7,0 7,4 +4,8% Jan-Feb 2025
I° Classification
- Soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7111) 158 158 168
- Medium soft cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7112) 35 34 48
- Medium hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7113) 96 96 99
- Hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7114) 473 470 444
- Extra hard cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7115) 29 29 28
- Fresh cheese ( Cod. Eurostat D7116) 583 572 558
II° Classification
- Cheese from cows'milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7121) 1.237 1.222 1.207
- Cheese from ewes milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7122) 74 74 74
- Cheese from goats milk (pure) ( Cod. Eurostat D7123) 7,1 7,2 7,4
- Others (cheese from buffalos'milk (pure) or mixed cheese) ( Cod. Eurostat D7129) 56 56 56
Processed cheese 55 56 56
Whey used for cottage cheese 852
Whey used for livestock 2.300
Concentrated whey 1.437
Whey powder and pieces 887
Milk based beverages 5,9 5,7 5,5
Other fresh products 8,1 7,8 7,1
Fermented milk (Yogurt and others) 284 287 283 265 24 24 0,0% Jan 2025
IMPORT 2021 2022 2023 2024 Jan of which Extra EU
2024
2025
%
2024
2025
%
Bulk milk (NC8 04012099+04012019+04011090) TOP exporters 664 602 856 910
70
67
-5,5%
0,0
0,0
+0,0%
Whole Milk (NC8 04012099) TOP exporters 495 431 595 628
45
43
-6,0%
-
-
-
Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012019) TOP exporters 3,3 4,0 11 10
0,8
1,3
+64,8%
-
-
-
Skimmed milk (NC8 04011090) TOP exporters 166 167 250 272
24
23
-6,8%
0,0
0,0
+0,3%
Milk packed (NC8 04011010+04012011+04012091) TOP exporters 258 238 213 202
19
18
-6,6%
0,0
0,0
+23,8%
Whole Milk (NC8 04012091) TOP exporters 101 89 75 72
6,7
5,9
-11,8%
0,0
0,0
-4,3%
Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012011) TOP exporters 130 121 115 106
11
9,8
-8,3%
0,0
0,0
+41,5%
Skimmed milk (NC8 04011010) TOP exporters 28 27 23 24
1,9
2,3
+20,4%
-
-
-
Condensed milk (NC8 040291+040299) TOP exporters 35 34 34 41
2,7
2,7
+0,2%
0,0
0,0
+20,5%
Bulk Cream 1) TOP exporters 58 64 70 80
4,4
3,4
-21,6%
0,1
0,1
+3,6%
Packed Cream 2) TOP exporters 12 13 14 13
1,0
1,3
+25,8%
-
-
-
Yogurt (HS 040310) TOP exporters 174 167 171 198
15
16
+10,0%
0,0
0,0
-0,9%
Fermented milk (HS 040390) TOP exporters 95 101 108 120
9,5
10
+8,2%
0,0
0,0
-3,3%
Butter (HS 0405) TOP exporters 69 68 67 73
5,7
6,9
+21,0%
0,4
0,6
+3,3%
of which:
Butter 82% (NC8 04051019) TOP exporters 18 18 20 19
1,5
1,7
+9,9%
0,0
0,0
+1,1%
Cheese (HS 0406) TOP exporters 516 535 566 612
51
49
-3,7%
1,2
1,4
+1,1%
Edam cheese(NC8 04069023) TOP exporters 26 26 28 30
2,2
2,3
+6,3%
-
-
-
Emmental (NC8 04069013) TOP exporters 20 23 21 23
1,5
2,0
+28,1%
0,1
0,2
+0,2%
Hard cheeses (not PDO) (NC8 04069069) TOP exporters 26 25 28 28
2,7
2,5
-6,3%
-
-
-
Fresh cheeses (NC8 04061020)3 TOP exporters 198 215 236 257
21
20
-3,8%
0,3
0,5
+3,4%
Processed cheeses (NC8 040630) TOP exporters 34 35 32 32
3,1
2,0
-34,6%
0,0
0,1
+3,5%
Full fat cheeses (NC8 04069087)5 TOP exporters 31 28 30 32
2,7
2,9
+6,3%
0,1
0,1
+6,8%
WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229) TOP exporters 34 35 34 32
3,1
2,5
-19,7%
-
-
-
SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) TOP exporters 83 89 87 89
6,4
6,5
+1,6%
-
-
-
Whey powder (HS 0404) TOP exporters 131 132 146 183
8,2
22
+163,7%
0,0
0,1
+12,5%
of which:
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) TOP exporters 89 89 111 144
6,3
20
+210,5%
0,0
0,1
+12,5%
Casein (HS 350110) TOP exporters 10 7,2 5,6 7,8
0,8
0,4
-48,8%
-
-
-
Caseinates (HS 350190) TOP exporters 2,2 1,9 1,6 1,7
0,1
0,1
-6,3%
-
-
-
Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) TOP exporters 15 15 15 18
1,3
1,4
+2,1%
0,0
0,0
+0,0%
Lactose edible (HS 170219) TOP exporters 1,1 2,7 1,8 1,6
0,1
0,1
+3,1%
0,0
0,0
+17,5%
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) TOP exporters 65 89 88 84
7,0
6,5
-7,2%
7,0
6,5
-0,6%
Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220) TOP exporters 2,5 4,0 3,1 2,7
0,1
0,3
+158,6%
0,1
0,3
+7,3%
Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %) 21 15 13 0,0
0,0
2,7
+inf%
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%)
based on nuts, cereals or seeds 		16 31 32 0,0
0,0
1,0
+inf%
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats
derived from milk or milk products 		2,8 3,9 3,8 0,0
0,0
0,4
+inf%
EXPORT 2021 2022 2023 2024 Jan of which Extra EU
2024
2025
%
2024
2025
%
Milk packed (NC8 04011010+04012011+04012091) TOP Importers 36 30 30 29
2,3
2,9
+27,0%
0,9
1,6
+83,0%
Whole Milk (NC8 04012091)
TOP Importers
23 15 12 9,3
0,6
1,0
+67,1%
0,3
0,7
+120,3%
Semi-skimmed milk (NC8 04012011)
TOP Importers
9,9 8,4 7,7 8,3
0,8
1,2
+54,6%
0,5
0,8
+71,7%
Skimmed milk (NC8 04011010)
TOP Importers
3,5 6,0 9,9 12
0,9
0,7
-21,2%
0,1
0,1
+12,6%
Bulk milk (NC8 04012099+04012019+04011090) TOP Importers 14 17 6,8 6,6
0,5
0,5
+11,5%
0,1
0,0
-91,0%
Condensed milk (NC8 040291+040299) TOP Importers 4,6 2,0 2,1 2,1
0,2
0,4
+180,2%
0,0
0,4
+693,1%
Bulk Cream 1) TOP Importers 17 17 16 14
1,9
1,7
-8,3%
0,9
0,9
+0,2%
Packed Cream 2) TOP Importers 8,4 14 8,8 12
0,9
1,2
+43,2%
0,4
0,9
+96,4%
Yogurt (HS 040310) TOP Importers 5,8 6,1 6,6 6,9
0,5
0,6
+17,3%
0,1
0,1
+17,5%
Fermented milk (HS 040390) TOP Importers 3,6 2,6 2,8 2,9
0,2
0,3
+23,1%
0,0
0,1
+242,2%
SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) TOP Importers 8,2 8,1 10 6,0
0,3
0,7
+109,4%
0,0
0,3
+695,8%
Butter (HS 0405) TOP Importers 18 13 18 15
1,2
1,1
-1,6%
0,1
0,3
+146,6%
Cheese (HS 0406) TOP Importers 536 566 594 658
47
51
+8,2%
15
15
+5,3%
Asiago (NC8 04069075)
TOP Importers
1,9 1,8 1,7 1,6
0,2
0,1
-21,2%
0,1
0,1
-9,7%
Fiore sardo, Pecorino (NC8 04069063)
TOP Importers
22 20 19 20
1,7
1,9
+10,3%
1,3
1,4
+12,1%
Fresh cheeses (NC8 04061020)3
TOP Importers
189 204 216 243
16
17
+10,3%
4,2
4,6
+8,0%
Grated or powdered cheeses (NC8 04062090)4
TOP Importers
56 63 68 75
5,9
6,4
+8,2%
1,4
1,4
-0,6%
Gorgonzola (NC8 04064050)
TOP Importers
25 25 25 26
2,1
2,2
+3,5%
0,3
0,3
-7,0%
G.Padano DOP e P.Reggiano DOP (NC8 04069061)
TOP Importers
106 107 112 122
9,4
9,8
+3,7%
4,2
4,2
+1,5%
Provolone (NC8 04069073)
TOP Importers
8,9 8,8 7,9 9,1
0,7
0,8
+13,0%
0,2
0,2
-16,8%
Whey powder (HS 0404) TOP Importers 317 226 201 231
17
22
+30,9%
1,2
2,1
+80,3%
of which:
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) TOP Importers 302 216 196 213
16
20
+21,7%
1,1
2,1
+79,7%
Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) TOP Importers 30 28 26 26
1,9
3,1
+67,7%
1,0
2,2
+108,6%
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) TOP Importers 67 69 65 69
5,0
5,3
+6,1%
5,0
5,3
+6,1%
Soya-based beverages (protein content >=2,8 %) 35 24 29 0,0
0,0
2,6
+inf%
0,0
0,5
+inf%
Soya-based beverages (protein content of <2.8%)
based on nuts, cereals or seeds 		272 295 262 0,0
0,0
16
+inf%
0,0
3,0
+inf%
Non-alcoholic beverages containing < 0,2% fats
derived from milk or milk products 		1,4 1,3 1,4 0,0
0,0
0,1
+inf%
0,0
0,1
+inf%
APPARENT DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION 2021 2022 2023 2024 2024 2025 % Period
Butter 150 155 148 162
Cheese 1.355 1.328 1.316
of which:
Fresh cheeses 591 583 579
Fermented milk (Yogurt and other) 543 547 552 573
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION (Kg) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2024 2025 % Period
Butter 2,5 2,6 2,5 inf
Cheese 23 22 22 nan
of which:
Fresh cheeses 9,9 9,8 9,7
Fermented milk (Yogurt and other) 9,1 9,2 9,3 inf
% Self-sufficiency 95,9% 97,1% 96,4% 97,5%
SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS 2021 2022 2023 2024 2024 2025(f) % Period
GDP (gross domestic product) 8,81% 4,97% 0,81% 0,50% 0,50% 0,70% Jan-Dic 2025
CPI (consumer price index) 1,94% 8,74% 5,90% 1,10% 1,10% 2,00% Jan-Dic 2025
Population ('000) 59.236 59.030 58.997 58.971
GDP per capita (U.S. dollars) 35.842 (e) 34.113 (e) 36.812 (e)
GDP per capita (€) * 30.304(e) 32.395(e) 34.045(e)
(e): estimated
* Per capita GDP in Euro is calculated by using the yearly average exchange rate
Informative Note
(f): forecast
n.a.: not available

1) up to 2011/12/31 NC8 04013019+04013039+04013099; from 2012/01/01 NC8 04014090+04015019+04015039+04015099.
2) up to 2011/12/31 NC8 04013011+04013031+04013091; from 2012/01/01 NC8 04014010+04015011+04015031+04015091.
3) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04061020; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04061030 + 04061050;
4) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04062090; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04062000;
5) up to 2014/12/31 NC8 04069087; from 2015/01/01 NC8 04069074 + 04069089;
6) up to 2021/12/31 HS 040310; from 2022/01/01 HS 040320;

NOTE:
     - Apparent domestic consumption are calculated using the following formula: Production + Import - Export
     - Per capita consumption are obtained dividing the apparent consumption by the population (Source Eurostat)
     - The self-sufficiency rate is calculated, up to 2024, on the total deliveries of cow’s milk + production of buffalo, sheep and goat’s milk. For 2025 it is calculated only on deliveries of cow’s milk.

SOURCES
Raw material area: Dairy cows: ISTAT; Deliveries to dairies: AGEA; Milk Production, % Protein and % Fat: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_colm); Import/Export di Breeding Heifers: ISTAT; Farm-gate milk price in Lombardy: Processed by CLAL; Number of Goats, Sheeps and Bufaloes: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mt_lsgoat, apro_mt_lssheep, apro_mt_lscatl ); Milk Delivered to dairies: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_pobta); Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: apro_mk_farm); Organic Milk Production: Eurostat (dataset: org_aprod);
Dairy production: Processed by CLAL on ISTAT and Protection Consortium data;
Import: ISTAT
Export: ISTAT
GDP and CPI: Intesa Sanpaolo
GDP per capita: International Monetary Found
Population: Eurostat
Note: Self-sufficiency rate = Milk deliveries/(Domestic use in milk equivalent ME)
Domestic use in milk equivalent (ME) = Milk deliveries + Import in ME - Export in ME
The Self-sufficiency rate does not consider the trade of FFMP (fat-filled milk powder) - HS 190190 and the infant milk formula.

Last update: 23-04-2025
NOTE: Access to World Dairy Trade, which also contains the processing of Import / Export of the Italy with MONTHLY UPDATES, is reserved for Supporters of CLAL.it