Danish cheese exports broke the 500 million kg barrier for the first time in 2025, reaching 502.1 million kg – accounting for more than half of total Danish dairy exports valued at DKK 31.43 billion, according to Dairy Statistics 2025.
The Danish dairy sector is fundamentally an export industry, and cheese is by far its most important commodity. This is confirmed once again by Dairy Statistics 2025, the annual statistical publication from the Danish Dairy Board (Mejeriforeningen) and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council. Cheese exports grew from 474.1 million kg in 2024 to 502.1 million kg in 2025 – an increase of 28 million kg and the first time the 500 million kg threshold has been crossed. Cheese exports alone accounted for DKK 17.37 billion of the total dairy export value of DKK 31.43 billion, representing more than half of total export revenue. By comparison, preserved milk products contributed DKK 6.64 billion, liquid milk products DKK 3.73 billion, and butter DKK 3.69 billion.
Growth was recorded across most product categories. Exports of liquid milk products rose from 96.3 to 101.9 million kg, exports of preserved milk products from 147.2 to 150.1 million kg, and butter export volumes increased from 59.7 to 60.2 million kg.
Europe is the key market
Europe is the dominant market for Danish cheese. Of total cheese exports of 502.1 million kg, 402.5 million kg were sold within the EU27 and the United Kingdom combined. Germany is the largest single market at 113.6 million kg. Notably, Danish dairies exported 20.3 million kg of cheese to France – more than the reverse trade flow, as Danish imports of French cheese during the same period amounted to 13.7 million kg.
More milk, richer milk
Export growth has been supported by increased milk production. Milk deliveries to Danish dairies rose from 5.69 billion kg in 2024 to 5.76 billion kg in 2025, whilst fat and protein content increased markedly – fat content from 4.42 to 4.53 per cent and protein content from 3.67 to 3.71 per cent, further increasing the raw material’s effective production capacity.
Production of cheese, butter, and preserved milk products all rose in 2025. The only category in decline was liquid milk products, where output fell from 692.1 million kg in 2024 to 683.0 million kg in 2025.
Organic drinking milk bucking the trend
For organic liquid milk products, the picture is different. Production of organic drinking milk rose from 144.5 to 151.6 million kg, and total production of products carrying Denmark’s organic label grew from 190.3 to 196.6 million kg. This growth did not, however, reflect an increase in raw material supply — on the contrary, organic milk deliveries fell from 635 to 582 million kg over the same period.
By Maja Løvstrup
Photo: Marios Gkortsilas / Unsplash
