Gouda cheese, like tulips, symbolizes the Dutch glory of yesteryear. Germany has traditionally been the most important buyer, but that trade relationship shows cracks. Our neighbors are increasingly opting for cheaper cheese from Poland, concludes research agency Annual Insight.
The Netherlands and Germany are the largest producers of Gouda cheese and also each other's most important trading partners. Cheese production in our country is still growing. In 2018, the Netherlands produced 879.000 tons, which represents a growth of 4,4% since 2015.
Poland gains market share in Germany
However, Germany, by far the most important buyer, imports less and less Dutch cheese. Since 2015, imports have fallen by 8,3% to over 90.000 tons in 2018. This was good for an export value of €394 million. The total German cheese import, on the other hand, is still on the rise. However, German importers are increasingly opting for the cheaper cheese from Eastern Europe. Poland in particular is gaining market share; since 2015, cheese exports have grown by no less than 354%.
AnnualInsight signals that the export of Polish Gouda to almost every European country is growing. Compared to 2015, total exports have grown by approximately 60% to 19.000 tons. Compared to the Dutch volume, Poland is still a small player, but the growth percentages are certainly impressive. This makes Poland a player in the cheese market that should not be underestimated in the future.
This is confirmed by the fact that cheese production in Poland is picking up strongly. It has grown by 2015% since 60 to almost 230.000 tons in 2018. It is said that this growth is mainly achieved under our own steam. The milk production in Poland has shown a clear upward trend for years. In 2018, the milk supply to the dairies amounted to 11,9 million tons. This makes Poland (after the Netherlands) the fifth largest milk producer in Europe.
Growth in Japan
It is not the case that Dutch cheese does not find other markets. After Germany, Belgium and Japan are the most important buyers and these countries have been importing more in recent years; especially Japan is a growth market† Since 2015, sales have increased by more than 40% to just under 30.000 tons. Imports are expected to continue to increase in the coming years, partly thanks to the trade agreement with the European Union that came into effect this year. Sales to Spain and Mexico are also picking up.
Although Dutch cheeses are achieving growth figures in many countries, the shrinking sales in Germany are worrying. In addition, Polish cheese exports are making good progress, while German production continues to pick up. These countries often compete with the Netherlands on the same sales markets and usually have a lower cost price. Annual Insight wonders to what extent the Netherlands can cope with this competition in the future, if it is only settled on cost price.
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This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url=http://www.boerenbusiness.nl/melk/ artikel/10883576/nederlandse-kaasexport-aftroefd-door-polen]Dutch cheese export trumped by Poland[/url]