Cheese production is declining, exports significantly higher in 2021

The Dutch Dairy Exchange Foundation reports this on the basis of provisional dairy data.
A total of 953.000 tons of cheese were produced in the Netherlands last year, according to the latest forecast. That is 1,75% less than in 2020, when 970.000 tons came out of the cheese bins. This decrease is partly a result of the lower milk supply. Higher powder production may also play a role.

Cheese exports almost 30.000 tons higher
Meanwhile, cheese exports increased from 921.000 tons to 950.000 tons. That volume almost certainly also included some re-export, because exports were almost equal to production and a considerable volume of cheese is still consumed in the Netherlands. Cheese imports increased last year from 380.000 to 383.000 tons.

These better export and import figures somewhat conceal the fact that Dutch cheese exports to the UK fell sharply, especially in the first quarter of 2021. After that, exports seem to have recovered reasonably well. Imports lagged behind.

Cheese imports from third countries fell last year and, according to the dairy trade, this also has a direct relationship with Brexit. According to traders, it appears that the volume imported into the Netherlands from the UK has been taken over by other EU countries.

The UK already counts as a third country for imports
In terms of veterinary import requirements, the United Kingdom is already fully considered a third country by the EU, which makes trade considerably more difficult. The same situation will apply to EU exports to the UK as of September 1, 2022.

The higher exports last year were accompanied by rising prices. The dairy fair could not yet say what exactly this meant for the development of the total export value of cheese.