Performance review: Declines in cheese production, explosive growth in butter production and the impact of imported raw milk

In light of recent data on the dairy industry in Romania, the year 2023 witnessed significant changes in the collection and processing of cow's milk

This analysis of data National Institute of Statistics.  aims to explore the evolution of the dairy market during November and highlight notable trends compared to previous periods.

November 2023 vs. October 2023: Declines and Increases

In November 2023, the amount of cow's milk collected by processing plants decreased by 7.5%. This downward trend was particularly observed in cheese production, which recorded a significant decrease of 5.6%. In contrast, butter production experienced a remarkable increase of 15.3%. Also, imports of raw milk increased by 9.9% in November compared to October 2023.

November 2023 vs. November 2022: Change from previous year

Comparing November 2023 with the same month the previous year, cow's milk collection by processing plants saw a 4.8% decrease. Cheese production saw a decrease of 2.0%, while butter production increased significantly by 19.4%. Imports of raw milk also increased by 14.4%.

January-November 2023 vs. January-November 2022: Long-Term Trends

Long-term, from January to November 2023, cow's milk collection by processing plants increased by 6.7%. Butter production saw the largest increase, up 1.9%, while production of sour milk (yoghurt, drinking yoghurt, buttermilk and similar products) saw a decrease of 4.9%. Imports of raw milk recorded a significant decrease of 24.0%.

Conclusions and perspective

The evolution of the dairy industry in Romania in 2023 reflects a complex dynamic, with notable changes in the production of cheese, butter and sour milk. Increasing imports of raw milk bring to the fore the influence of external factors on the domestic market. These trends will be key to the future strategies of dairy producers and processors.

From the detailed analysis of the data from this period, we can see that the dairy industry in Romania is in a continuous change, being influenced by multiple economic and commercial variables. This article provides a comprehensive look at the recent evolution and future prospects of an industry that is essential to the country's economy.