Rising to a series high
Chile Whey Production moved from 6.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 12.38 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+106.3%), an average of +9.5% a year. The series high was 12.38 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 6.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
What Chile Whey Production shows
Chile Whey Production was 12.38 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 2% on 2022. Chile’s whey production remained relatively small but showed gradual growth between 2015 and 2023, supported by improvements in dairy processing activities and increasing utilization of dairy by-products. According to the macro indicator data, Chile produced 6.00 thousand tonnes of whey in 2015, followed by an increase to 12.10 thousand tonnes in 2016.
A 51.5% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 6.38 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +101.7% in 2016.
Ranks 20 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, Chile ranks 20 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 0.4% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Chile 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 12.38 | +2% |
| 2022 | 12.13 | +15.8% |
| 2021 | 10.47 | −0.3% |
| 2020 | 10.50 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 10.36 | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 9.85 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 9.80 | −19% |
| 2016 | 12.10 | +101.7% |
| 2015 Trough | 6.00 | — |
Regional context
How Chile compares across countries
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Chile is highlighted.
1U.S.654.3
2France420.7
3Germany384.5
4Ireland268.5
5Italy240.2
6Belarus158.6
7Netherlands158.5
20Chile12.38
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 declined slightly to 9.80 thousand tonnes in 2017 and remained stable at 9.85 thousand tonnes in 2018. Output increased gradually in later years, reaching 10.36 thousand tonnes in 2019, 10.50 thousand tonnes in 2020, and 10.47 thousand tonnes in 2021. Production continued to rise, reaching 12.13 thousand tonnes in 2022 and 12.38 thousand tonnes in 2023. Chile’s whey industry is linked with its dairy processing sector, particularly cheese production, where whey is generated as a secondary product. Although production volumes remain lower compared with major dairy-producing countries, Chile has opportunities to expand whey utilization through improved processing technologies and increasing demand for nutritional ingredients. Whey is used in applications such as protein supplements, food manufacturing, animal feed, and dairy-based products. The country’s growing focus on value-added agricultural products has encouraged better utilization of dairy resources and improved sustainability within the food processing sector. Increasing consumer interest in protein-rich foods and functional nutrition products may support future whey market development. Overall, Chile’s whey production industry shows a positive growth trend, supported by gradual improvements in dairy processing capacity, rising demand for whey-based ingredients, and opportunities for expansion in regional markets. Continued investment in technology and processing infrastructure will be essential for strengthening Chile’s role in the South American whey industry.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- Chile
- Region
- South 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 Chile 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 Chile Whey Production in 2023?
Chile Whey Production was 12.38 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 2% on 2022.
How has Chile Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Chile Whey Production moved from 6.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 12.38 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+106.3%), an average of +9.5% a year. The series high was 12.38 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 6.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
Which year had the highest and lowest Chile Whey Production?
The highest value was 12.38 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 6.00 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
What does the Chile 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 Chile 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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