News Milk
Belgian milk supply is above average
Belgian dairy farming was one of the few growers in Western Europe last year, according to figures from the dairy association BCZ. Milk supplies increased by 1,5%, while the European average did not exceed 0,5% and declines occurred in France and Ireland.
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A total of 4,95 billion liters of milk was processed last year. That is 4% less than in 2022. This decrease is caused by less foreign milk being processed in Belgium.
Belgium is an important import and export country for raw milk. For example, FrieslandCampina still brings large volumes of Dutch milk to Belgium for processing. Lactalis in Lontzen also processes a lot of imported milk and Milcobel also purchases substantial volumes from abroad.
Increasing export surplus
Last year, €4,95 billion worth of dairy products were imported into Belgium, which represents a decrease of 2% in monetary terms. €5,49 billion was exported, an increase of 3%. The export surplus therefore rose to €539 million, 86% more than in 2022. The total turnover of the Belgian dairy industry last year amounted to €7 billion. That is 1% less than in 2022, but dairy prices were much higher at that time.
The above figures do not mean that the Belgian dairy industry is doing very well, according to BCZ director Lien Callewaert. The industry's net margin fell to 2022% in 1,03. No figures are yet available for 2023. During the annual meeting of the BCZ, Sébastien Buytaert was elected as the new chairman and successor to Catharine Pycke. Buytaert is the CEO of Lactalis Benelux.