Dairy market in Spain - statistics & facts
Dairy consumption continues to be high in the European Union, with milk consumption equaling 23.65 million tons in 2023. In Spain, the Lactalis Iberia Group is the leading company in the dairy products industry. The company originated in France and is the owner of well-known brands such as Président or Puleva. Lactalis Iberia generated more than 1.2 billion euros worth of revenue according to the latest data.
In summary, while traditional fluid milk consumption is declining due to various societal trends, other dairy products like yogurt and cheese remain strong pillars of the Spanish dairy market. This shift highlights the evolving preferences of consumers, who are increasingly gravitating toward diverse and quality dairy options.
The challenges of the fluid milk market
Although milk has traditionally been part of the daily diet of Spaniards, especially at breakfast, there has been a downward trend in fluid milk consumption since 2000. The growing impact of plant-based beverages, awareness of intensive livestock farming, diets that avoid animal product consumption such as veganism, growing numbers of lactose-intolerant consumers, and the decrease in birth rates are some of the factors that have caused this reduction. However, the low price of milk plays in its favor. In fact, the average milk price amounted to roughly 0.95 euros in discount stores and supermarkets in 2023.Cheese and yogurt: the giants of the Spanish dairy market
Yogurt is the most consumed dairy product in Spain, at approximately 409.7 million kilograms in 2022. Among yogurt types, yogurt with Bifidus is the preferred kind among Spanish households. Nonetheless, cheese is the dairy product on which Spanish consumers spend the most. The variety of cheese produced throughout Spain contributes to the fact that this product stands out in the dairy market. Some cheese varieties are cataloged with a certificate of origin and enjoy international recognition.In summary, while traditional fluid milk consumption is declining due to various societal trends, other dairy products like yogurt and cheese remain strong pillars of the Spanish dairy market. This shift highlights the evolving preferences of consumers, who are increasingly gravitating toward diverse and quality dairy options.
