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.
Australia Whey Production was 110.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 12.1% on 2022. Australia’s whey production remained relatively stable between 2015 and 2023, supported by its well-developed dairy industry, strong milk production base, and advanced food processing capabilities. According to the macro indicator data, Australia produced 102.57 thousand tonnes of whey in 2015, followed by a slight decline to 101.38 thousand tonnes in 2016 and 99.74 thousand tonnes in 2017.
Australia Whey Production moved from 102.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 110.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+8.1%), an average of +1% a year. The series high was 126.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 96.64 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
The gap between the series high (2022) and low (2020) is 29.54 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +16.4% in 2022.
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, Australia ranks 8 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 3.4% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 110.9 | −12.1% |
| 2022Peak | 126.2 | +16.4% |
| 2021 | 108.4 | +12.1% |
| 2020 Trough | 96.64 | 0% |
| 2019 | 96.65 | −5.5% |
| 2018 | 102.3 | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 99.74 | −1.6% |
| 2016 | 101.4 | −1.2% |
| 2015 | 102.6 | — |
Regional context
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Australia is highlighted.
Data definition
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.
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 increased moderately to 102.28 thousand tonnes in 2018, before declining to 96.65 thousand tonnes in 2019 and remaining almost unchanged at 96.64 thousand tonnes in 2020. The industry recovered in 2021, reaching 108.38 thousand tonnes, followed by a significant increase to 126.18 thousand tonnes in 2022. However, production declined slightly to 110.93 thousand tonnes in 2023. Overall, Australia maintained a stable whey production trend, with output increasing from 102.57 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 110.93 thousand tonnes in 2023. Australia’s whey industry is closely connected with cheese manufacturing and dairy processing activities, where whey is generated as an important by-product. The country has invested in modern dairy processing technologies that enable efficient conversion of whey into protein concentrates, whey powders, nutritional ingredients, and animal feed products. Growing international demand for high-protein foods, sports nutrition products, and functional beverages has supported the expansion of Australia’s whey processing sector. Sustainability has also become an important focus, with dairy processors improving resource efficiency and reducing waste through better utilization of whey streams. Australia’s strong export-oriented dairy sector provides opportunities for supplying whey-based ingredients to global markets, particularly in Asia-Pacific regions. Overall, Australia’s whey production industry demonstrates resilience and steady development, supported by advanced processing infrastructure, high-quality dairy production systems, and increasing demand for value-added dairy ingredients. Future growth will depend on innovation, international market opportunities, and continued investment in sustainable dairy processing practices.
Using this data in a report, paper or presentation? Copy a formatted citation.
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.
Australia Whey Production was 110.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 12.1% on 2022.
Australia Whey Production moved from 102.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 110.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+8.1%), an average of +1% a year. The series high was 126.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 96.64 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
The highest value was 126.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the lowest was 96.64 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
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.
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.
Need more data?
Need a longer historical series, a custom country set, additional dimensions, or a tailored dataset? Send us your requirement.