Higher over the period
Asia Whey Production moved from 131.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+7.2%), an average of +0.9% a year. The series high was 156.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 126 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
What Asia Whey Production shows
Asia Whey Production was 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 9.7% on 2022. Asia’s whey production showed significant development between 2015 and 2023, driven by increasing dairy consumption, expanding milk processing industries, and growing demand for protein-based nutritional products. According to the macro indicator data, Asia produced approximately 131.78 thousand tonnes of whey in 2015, followed by 129.70 thousand tonnes in 2016 and 130.18 thousand tonnes in 2017.
A 19.5% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2022) and low (2019) is 30.45 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +16.1% in 2022.
Turkey leads the region
Within Asia, Turkey has the highest value in 2023 at 80.88 Thousand Tonnes, 57.3% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Whey Production by country, 2023
Thousand Tonnes. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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By region
Whey Production by region
Thousand Tonnes, 2023. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Asia Whey Production by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 141.2 | −9.7% |
| 2022Peak | 156.5 | +16.1% |
| 2021 | 134.7 | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 126.1 | +0.1% |
| 2019 Trough | 126 | −5.1% |
| 2018 | 132.8 | +2% |
| 2017 | 130.2 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 129.7 | −1.6% |
| 2015 | 131.8 | — |
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Whey Production — Whey production refers to the total quantity of whey generated during the processing of milk into cheese, casein, yogurt, and other dairy products over a specified period, typically measured in metric tonnes. Whey is the liquid by-product remaining after milk has been curdled and strained and contains proteins, lactose, minerals, and water. This indicator measures the volume of whey produced by the dairy industry before it undergoes further processing into products such as whey protein concentrate (WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), whey powder, lactose, or other dairy ingredients. It serves as an important indicator of dairy processing activity and the availability of whey as a raw material for food, beverage, nutrition, and animal feed industries.
The whey production indicator includes the total annual volume of whey produced from the processing of milk obtained from cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and other dairy animals. It covers both sweet whey and acid whey generated during the manufacture of cheese, casein, yogurt, and similar dairy products. The indicator also includes whey intended for further processing into whey powder, whey protein concentrates, whey protein isolates, lactose, demineralized whey, and other value-added dairy ingredients, regardless of whether the output is used domestically, exported, or supplied for industrial or animal feed applications. Production figures are generally compiled from official agricultural and dairy industry statistics.
The whey production indicator excludes raw milk production and the production volumes of finished dairy products such as cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, skim milk powder, whole milk powder, and casein. It also excludes production data for processed whey derivatives, including whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, lactose, and whey powder, when these are reported separately from raw whey production. In addition, the indicator does not include imports, exports, inventories, retail sales, market prices, consumption data, production capacity, or experimental and non-commercial whey production that falls outside official agricultural and dairy production statistics.
About this indicator
Whey Production — Whey production refers to the total quantity of whey generated during the processing of milk into cheese, casein, yogurt, and other dairy products over a specified period, typically measured in metric tonnes. Whey is the liquid by-product remaining after milk has been curdled and strained and contains proteins, lactose, minerals, and water. This indicator measures the volume of whey produced by the dairy industry before it undergoes further processing into products such as whey protein concentrate (WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), whey powder, lactose, or other dairy ingredients. It serves as an important indicator of dairy processing activity and the availability of whey as a raw material for food, beverage, nutrition, and animal feed industries.
Production remained relatively stable in 2018 at 132.85 thousand tonnes and declined slightly to 126.03 thousand tonnes in 2019. Output remained almost unchanged in 2020 at 126.12 thousand tonnes, before increasing to 134.72 thousand tonnes in 2021 and reaching 156.48 thousand tonnes in 2022. In 2023, production moderated to 141.23 thousand tonnes, reflecting continued development of the regional dairy processing sector. Asia’s whey industry is expanding due to rising milk production, increasing cheese manufacturing, and growing consumer awareness regarding high-protein foods and nutritional supplements. Countries such as India, Turkey, and Thailand are contributing to the region’s whey market growth through improvements in dairy processing infrastructure and increased utilization of whey as a valuable by-product. Whey is increasingly used in protein powders, functional beverages, food applications, and animal nutrition products. The region is also witnessing greater investment in modern processing technologies to improve efficiency and reduce dairy waste. Despite production levels remaining lower than Europe and North America, Asia has substantial growth potential due to its large population base, rising disposable incomes, and increasing demand for health-focused products. Overall, Asia’s whey production industry is developing rapidly, supported by dairy sector expansion, technological advancements, and increasing adoption of value-added whey applications.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Region
- Asia
- Unit
- Thousand Tonnes
- Coverage
- 2015–2023, annual
- Category
- Agriculture
- Last updated
- July 2026
- Source
- Our World in Data
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Frequently asked questions
What is Asia Whey Production?
Whey production refers to the total quantity of whey generated during the processing of milk into cheese, casein, yogurt, and other dairy products over a specified period, typically measured in metric tonnes. Whey is the liquid by-product remaining after milk has been curdled and strained and contains proteins, lactose, minerals, and water. This indicator measures the volume of whey produced by the dairy industry before it undergoes further processing into products such as whey protein concentrate (WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), whey powder, lactose, or other dairy ingredients. It serves as an important indicator of dairy processing activity and the availability of whey as a raw material for food, beverage, nutrition, and animal feed industries.
What was Asia Whey Production in 2023?
Asia Whey Production was 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 9.7% on 2022.
How has Asia Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Asia Whey Production moved from 131.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+7.2%), an average of +0.9% a year. The series high was 156.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 126 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
Which year had the highest and lowest Asia Whey Production?
The highest value was 156.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the lowest was 126 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
What does the Asia Whey Production data include and exclude?
Included: The whey production indicator includes the total annual volume of whey produced from the processing of milk obtained from cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and other dairy animals. It covers both sweet whey and acid whey generated during the manufacture of cheese, casein, yogurt, and similar dairy products. The indicator also includes whey intended for further processing into whey powder, whey protein concentrates, whey protein isolates, lactose, demineralized whey, and other value-added dairy ingredients, regardless of whether the output is used domestically, exported, or supplied for industrial or animal feed applications. Production figures are generally compiled from official agricultural and dairy industry statistics. Excluded: The whey production indicator excludes raw milk production and the production volumes of finished dairy products such as cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, skim milk powder, whole milk powder, and casein. It also excludes production data for processed whey derivatives, including whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, lactose, and whey powder, when these are reported separately from raw whey production. In addition, the indicator does not include imports, exports, inventories, retail sales, market prices, consumption data, production capacity, or experimental and non-commercial whey production that falls outside official agricultural and dairy production statistics.
Where does the Asia Whey Production data come from?
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&overlay=download-data&Food=Whey&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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