Lower over the period
France Whey Production moved from 552.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 420.7 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−23.9%), an average of −3.4% a year. The series high was 565.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2017 and the low 412.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
What France Whey Production shows
France Whey Production was 420.7 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 11.9% on 2022. France maintained its position as one of the leading whey-producing countries in Europe, supported by its extensive dairy industry, strong cheese production sector, and established milk processing infrastructure. In 2015, French whey production reached 552.76 thousand tonnes, making it one of the highest production levels among European countries.
A 27.1% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2017) and low (2020) is 153.4 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −21.9% in 2020.
Ranks 2 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, France ranks 2 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and Germany (384.5 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 12.7% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
France 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 | 420.7 | −11.9% |
| 2022 | 477.4 | −0.6% |
| 2021 | 480.4 | +16.5% |
| 2020 Trough | 412.5 | −21.9% |
| 2019 | 528 | −3% |
| 2018 | 544.3 | −3.8% |
| 2017Peak | 565.9 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 540.5 | −2.2% |
| 2015 | 552.8 | — |
Regional context
How France compares in Europe
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. France is highlighted.
1France420.7
2Germany384.5
3Ireland268.5
4Italy240.2
5Belarus158.6
6Netherlands158.5
7Switzerland73.35
8UK68.90
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 slightly decreased to 540.46 thousand tonnes in 2016 but increased again to 565.85 thousand tonnes in 2017, which represented the highest production level during the 2015–2023 period. However, output declined gradually in subsequent years, reaching 544.30 thousand tonnes in 2018 and 527.96 thousand tonnes in 2019. The downward trend continued in 2020, when production dropped significantly to 412.46 thousand tonnes, reflecting changes in dairy market conditions and processing activities. Production recovered moderately in 2021, increasing to 480.42 thousand tonnes, followed by 477.40 thousand tonnes in 2022. In 2023, whey production decreased slightly to 420.72 thousand tonnes, remaining below pre-2020 levels. France’s whey industry is closely connected with its globally recognized cheese sector, where whey is generated as a major by-product during cheese manufacturing. The country has strong capabilities in processing whey into high-value products such as whey protein concentrates, whey powders, lactose, and specialized nutritional ingredients. Despite production fluctuations, France continues to benefit from its advanced dairy technology, strong export capabilities, and demand for premium dairy ingredients. Overall, French whey production declined from 552.76 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 420.72 thousand tonnes in 2023, showing a reduction over the period but maintaining France’s importance in the global whey market. Continued innovation in dairy processing, sustainability initiatives, and increasing demand for functional nutrition products are expected to support future opportunities for the French whey industry.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- France
- Region
- Europe
- 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 France 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 France Whey Production in 2023?
France Whey Production was 420.7 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 11.9% on 2022.
How has France Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
France Whey Production moved from 552.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 420.7 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−23.9%), an average of −3.4% a year. The series high was 565.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2017 and the low 412.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
Which year had the highest and lowest France Whey Production?
The highest value was 565.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2017 and the lowest was 412.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
What does the France 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 France 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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