Lower over the period
Canada Whey Production moved from 60.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 53.50 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−10.8%), an average of −1.4% a year. The series high was 60.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the low 50.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
What Canada Whey Production shows
Canada Whey Production was 53.50 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 0.1% on 2022. Canada’s whey production remained relatively stable throughout the 2015–2023 period, supported by its established dairy processing industry and consistent cheese manufacturing activities. The country recorded whey production of 60.00 thousand tonnes in 2015, which declined to 50.00 thousand tonnes in 2016.
A 16.7% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2016) is 10.00 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −16.7% in 2016.
Ranks 13 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, Canada ranks 13 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 1.6% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Canada Whey Production by year
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 | 53.50 | −0.1% |
| 2022 | 53.57 | 0% |
| 2021 | 53.54 | −0.9% |
| 2020 | 54.01 | −1.8% |
| 2019 | 55.02 | 0% |
| 2018 | 55.00 | 0% |
| 2017 | 55.00 | +10% |
| 2016 Trough | 50.00 | −16.7% |
| 2015Peak | 60.00 | — |
Regional context
How Canada compares across countries
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Canada is highlighted.
1U.S.654.3
2France420.7
3Germany384.5
4Ireland268.5
5Italy240.2
6Belarus158.6
7Netherlands158.5
13Canada53.50
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 recovered slightly in 2017, reaching 55.00 thousand tonnes, and remained stable at approximately 55.00 thousand tonnes in 2018 and 2019, indicating steady demand for dairy processing outputs. In 2020, production recorded 54.01 thousand tonnes, followed by a minor decline to 53.54 thousand tonnes in 2021. The production level remained almost unchanged in 2022 and 2023, with whey output reaching 53.57 thousand tonnes and 53.50 thousand tonnes, respectively. Over the nine-year period, Canadian whey production showed limited fluctuations, with output remaining within the range of 50–60 thousand tonnes annually. This stability reflects the mature nature of Canada’s dairy sector, where milk production, cheese processing, and whey generation are relatively consistent. Canada’s whey industry is closely linked with its cheese manufacturing sector, as whey is primarily obtained as a by-product during cheese production. The country also has a growing market for value-added whey ingredients, including whey protein concentrates and specialized dairy nutrition products. Although production growth has been slower compared with larger whey-producing countries, Canada maintains a stable position due to efficient dairy processing facilities, strong quality standards, and demand from domestic and international markets. Overall, Canadian whey production experienced a slight decline from 60.00 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 53.50 thousand tonnes in 2023, but the industry remained resilient with consistent production levels throughout the period. Furthermore, Canada’s focus on sustainable dairy practices, improved resource utilization, and expansion of functional dairy ingredients has created opportunities for whey producers. The increasing global demand for protein-based nutritional products continues to provide long-term growth potential for the Canadian whey sector.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- Canada
- Region
- North America
- 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 Canada 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 Canada Whey Production in 2023?
Canada Whey Production was 53.50 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 0.1% on 2022.
How has Canada Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Canada Whey Production moved from 60.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 53.50 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−10.8%), an average of −1.4% a year. The series high was 60.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the low 50.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
Which year had the highest and lowest Canada Whey Production?
The highest value was 60.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the lowest was 50.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
What does the Canada 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 Canada 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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