Global exports of milk reached US$36.4 billion in 2025, reflecting steady growth in international dairy trade.

Compared with US$34.6 billion recorded in 2021, worldwide milk exports increased by 5.1% over the five-year period. On a year-over-year basis, export revenues rose 4.6%, up from US$34.8 billion in 2024.

The largest milk-exporting countries by value in 2025 were New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and the United States. Combined, these five major suppliers generated 53.3% of total global milk export sales, highlighting their importance in the international dairy market.

Milk Exports by Region

Europe remained the dominant exporting region, accounting for 55.4% of worldwide milk exports during 2025.

Supported by New Zealand’s powerful dairy industry, Oceania ranked second with a 24.6% share of global milk trade.

· Other regional contributions included:

· Asia: 7.0%

· North America: 6.8%

· Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico): 5.4%

· Africa: 0.7%

Major Categories of Milk Traded Internationally

Milk products are generally classified under two primary Harmonized System (HS) codes:

· HS Code 0401 – Milk and cream that are not concentrated and contain no added sugar or sweeteners.

· HS Code 0402 – Concentrated milk and cream, including products with added sugar or other sweetening ingredients.

In 2025, exports under HS Code 0401 totaled US$13.6 billion, representing 37.4% of worldwide milk exports.

Meanwhile, products classified under HS Code 0402 generated US$22.8 billion, accounting for 62.6% of global milk export value, slightly higher than the 62.5% share recorded in 2024.

Top Milk Exporting Countries

The following countries recorded the highest export values for milk products in 2025, including both sweetened and unsweetened varieties:

1.New Zealand — US$7.7 billion (21.2%)

2.Netherlands — US$3.5 billion (9.5%)

3.Germany — US$3.3 billion (9.2%)

4.Belgium — US$2.6 billion (7.2%)

5.United States — US$2.3 billion (6.3%)

6.France — US$2.0 billion (5.6%)

7.Poland — US$1.3 billion (3.5%)

8.Australia — US$1.2 billion (3.4%)

9.United Kingdom — US$968.8 million (2.7%)

10.Ireland — US$926.4 million (2.5%)

11.Czech Republic — US$769.5 million (2.1%)

12.Uruguay — US$737.7 million (2.0%)

13.Argentina — US$677.0 million (1.9%)

14.Saudi Arabia — US$618.4 million (1.7%)

15.Austria — US$564.8 million (1.6%)

Together, these 15 countries supplied 80.3% of all milk exported worldwide during 2025.

Fastest-Growing Milk Exporters

Several countries achieved notable export growth compared with 2021. The strongest performers included:

· Czech Republic: +52.8%

· Netherlands: +47.2%

· United Kingdom: +37.2%

· Austria: +35.6%

These countries significantly expanded their dairy export activities and increased their share of the global market.

Countries Experiencing Export Declines

A few major exporters reported lower milk export revenues compared with 2021:

· United States: -17.8%

· Australia: -10.5%

· New Zealand: -1.6%

Although export values declined, these countries remained among the world's leading dairy suppliers.

Major Milk Exporting Companies in 2025

According to Tendata export data, the following companies ranked among the leading milk exporters worldwide in 2025: >>Find More Milk Exporters through Tendata

1.FONTERRA LIMITED — 3.21% market share (US$397.45 million)

2.DARIGOLD — 2.00% (US$248.45 million)

3.OPEN COUNTRY DAIRY LIMITED — 1.62% (US$200.54 million)

4.EAGLE PASS — 1.06% (US$131.39 million)

5.FONTERRA INGREDIENTS — 1.03% (US$128.22 million)

6.SYNLAIT MILK LIMITED — 0.98% (US$121.41 million)

7.HOOGWEGT INTERNATIONAL B.V. — 0.94% (US$116.66 million)

8.CALIFORNIA DAIRIES — 0.92% (US$113.85 million)

9.INTERFOOD — 0.91% (US$112.97 million)

10.ARLA FOODS AMBA — 0.91% (US$112.24 million)

These companies were among the most influential participants in the international dairy trade, supplying milk and milk-based products to markets around the world throughout 2025.