Lower over the period
Germany Whey Production moved from 400.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 384.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−4%), an average of −0.5% a year. The series high was 400.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the low 310.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
What Germany Whey Production shows
Germany Whey Production was 384.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 3.7% on 2022. Germany remained one of Europe’s major whey-producing countries during the 2015–2023 period, supported by its highly developed dairy processing sector, large milk production base, and strong cheese manufacturing industry. According to the macro indicator data, Germany’s whey production was 400.46 thousand tonnes in 2015, followed by a decline to 359.70 thousand tonnes in 2016.
A 22.5% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2019) is 90.29 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +16.6% in 2021.
Ranks 3 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, Germany ranks 3 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 11.7% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Germany 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 | 384.5 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 370.6 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 369.7 | +16.6% |
| 2020 | 317.2 | +2.3% |
| 2019 Trough | 310.2 | −1.8% |
| 2018 | 315.7 | −8.5% |
| 2017 | 345.2 | −4% |
| 2016 | 359.7 | −10.2% |
| 2015Peak | 400.5 | — |
Regional context
How Germany compares in Europe
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Germany 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 continued to decrease in the following years, reaching 345.17 thousand tonnes in 2017 and 315.74 thousand tonnes in 2018, representing a significant reduction from the beginning of the period. In 2019, whey production declined further to 310.17 thousand tonnes, marking the lowest production level recorded between 2015 and 2023. However, the industry began showing signs of recovery in 2020, with production increasing to 317.20 thousand tonnes, followed by a stronger improvement in 2021 at 369.73 thousand tonnes. Production remained stable in 2022 at 370.63 thousand tonnes and increased further to 384.46 thousand tonnes in 2023. The recovery indicates renewed activity in Germany’s dairy processing sector, particularly in cheese production and the utilization of whey as a valuable dairy ingredient. Germany’s whey industry benefits from advanced dairy infrastructure, efficient processing facilities, and strong demand for whey protein concentrates, whey powders, and other functional dairy ingredients. The country also plays an important role in the European dairy supply chain, with whey products used in food manufacturing, sports nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and animal feed applications. Overall, German whey production declined from 400.46 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 384.46 thousand tonnes in 2023, but the industry showed substantial recovery after reaching its lowest point in 2019. Increasing investment in sustainable dairy processing and value-added whey applications has helped strengthen the sector. The growing demand for protein-rich products and improved processing technologies is expected to continue supporting Germany’s whey industry in the future.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- Germany
- 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 Germany 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 Germany Whey Production in 2023?
Germany Whey Production was 384.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 3.7% on 2022.
How has Germany Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Germany Whey Production moved from 400.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 384.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−4%), an average of −0.5% a year. The series high was 400.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the low 310.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
Which year had the highest and lowest Germany Whey Production?
The highest value was 400.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the lowest was 310.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
What does the Germany 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 Germany 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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