In 2023, global milk exports reached a value of US$32.1 billion, reflecting a 7.5% increase from 2019 when the value stood at $29.8 billion. However, there was a 16.7% decline in exports compared to the previous year, which saw a value of $38.5 billion in 2022.

The top exporters of milk globally in 2023 were New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, the United States, and Belgium. Together, these countries accounted for over half of global milk exports, contributing 56.3% of total milk exports that year.

Europe dominated the milk export market, accounting for 57.2% of the total value of global milk exports.

Oceania, led by New Zealand, was the second-largest region, exporting 24.8% of the world's milk.

North America contributed 8.8%, while Asia accounted for 5% of the global milk exports.

Other regions, including Latin America (4.5%, excluding Mexico), Africa (1%), and Caribbean countries, made up smaller shares.

Milk Export Product Classification

Milk exports are classified into two categories under the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS):

HTS code 0401: Milk and cream that is not concentrated and contains no added sugar or other sweeteners. These exports amounted to $11.1 billion or 34.5% of the global total.

HTS code 0402: Milk and cream that is concentrated or contains added sugar or sweetening matter. Exports of sweetened milk amounted to $21 billion, representing 65.5% of global milk exports.

Top 15 Milk Exporting Countries in 2023

Here are the top 15 milk exporters by dollar value in 2023:

1. New Zealand: $6.8 billion (21.2% of global exports)

2. Germany: $3.5 billion (10.8%)

3. Netherlands: $2.9 billion (8.9%)

4. United States: $2.6 billion (8.1%)

5. Belgium: $2.31 billion (7.2%)

6. France: $2.03 billion (6.3%)

7. Australia: $1.14 billion (3.5%)

8. Poland: $1.08 billion (3.4%)

9. Ireland: $1.07 billion (3.3%)

10. United Kingdom: $838.2 million (2.6%)

11. Czech Republic: $662.4 million (2.1%)

12. Uruguay: $608.1 million (1.9%)

14. Spain: $494 million (1.5%)

15. Austria: $484.1 million (1.5%)

Together, these countries accounted for 83.7% of the world's milk exports in 2023.

Fastest-Growing Milk Exporters

The countries that saw the fastest growth in their milk exports from 2019 to 2023 include:

· Ireland (up 52.2%)

· Czech Republic (up 44.3%)

· United States (up 35.5%)

· Uruguay (up 32.2%)

On the other hand, the countries with the slowest growth were:

· United Kingdom (up 4.6% from 2022)

· New Zealand (up 8.9%)

Leading Milk Exporting Companies

According to global trading platform Tendata, several prominent companies are involved in the international milk trade, including:

1. COOPERATIVA DE PRODUCTORES DE LECHE DOS PINOS RL: $393.02 million (14.33% of global milk exports)

2. CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN SỮA VIỆT NAM: $202.28 million (7.37%)

3. COOPERATIVA DE PRODUCTORES DE LECHE DOS: $115.69 million (4.22%)

4. LECHE GLORIA SOCIEDAD ANONIMA GLORIA S: $83.7 million (3.05%)

5. PT INDO WORLD: $69.07 million (2.52%)

6. CÔNG TY TNHH THẾ GIỚI VIỆT: $68.5 million (2.5%)

7. CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN TETRA PAK BÌNH DƯƠNG: $67.67 million (2.47%)

8. NESTLE LANKA PLC: $40.31 million (1.47%)

9. FERRERO: $40.04 million (1.46%)

10. CÔNG TY TNHH THƯƠNG MẠI VÀ XUẤT NHẬP KHẨU MAI PHƯƠNG HÀ NAM: $30.28 million (1.1%)

>>>Get A Free Demo from Tendata<<<

Conclusion

The global milk export market continues to evolve, with New Zealand, Germany, and the Netherlands leading the charge in terms of total export value. The growth of countries such as Ireland and Uruguay indicates expanding opportunities in emerging markets. The data suggests that while Europe remains dominant, Oceania and North America are also significant players. Leading milk exporters are well-positioned to meet global demand, with companies like Dos Pinos and Nestlé taking up prominent positions in the industry.