Rising to a series high
India Whey Production moved from 1.15 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6.98 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+505.1%), an average of +25.2% a year. The series high was 6.98 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 1.15 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
What India Whey Production shows
India Whey Production was 6.98 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 26.7% on 2022. India’s whey production recorded significant growth between 2015 and 2023, supported by the country’s expanding dairy industry, increasing milk processing activities, and rising demand for value-added dairy ingredients. According to the macro indicator data, India produced 1.15 thousand tonnes of whey in 2015, followed by a gradual increase to 1.22 thousand tonnes in 2016 and 1.31 thousand tonnes in 2017.
A 83.5% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 5.83 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +220.7% in 2022.
Ranks 21 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, India ranks 21 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 0.2% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
India 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 | 6.98 | +26.7% |
| 2022 | 5.51 | +220.7% |
| 2021 | 1.72 | −2.5% |
| 2020 | 1.76 | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 1.51 | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 1.41 | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 1.31 | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 1.22 | +6.1% |
| 2015 Trough | 1.15 | — |
Regional context
How India compares in Asia
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. India is highlighted.
1Turkey80.88
2India6.98
3Thailand1.91
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 rise steadily, reaching 1.41 thousand tonnes in 2018, 1.51 thousand tonnes in 2019, and 1.76 thousand tonnes in 2020. Although production slightly declined to 1.72 thousand tonnes in 2021, it increased sharply to 5.51 thousand tonnes in 2022 and further reached 6.98 thousand tonnes in 2023. The overall increase highlights the growing importance of whey utilization within India’s dairy processing sector. India’s large milk production base provides substantial opportunities for whey generation, particularly from cheese, paneer, casein, and other dairy manufacturing activities. The country has increasingly focused on improving dairy by-product utilization by converting whey into protein supplements, nutritional beverages, food ingredients, and animal feed products. Rising consumer awareness regarding protein-rich foods and the expansion of sports nutrition markets have further supported demand for whey-based products. Dairy companies in India are investing in advanced processing technologies to improve whey recovery, reduce waste, and enhance the value chain. Despite being a relatively smaller whey producer compared with major dairy economies, India has significant growth potential due to its vast dairy resources and increasing domestic consumption. Overall, India’s whey industry is developing rapidly, driven by dairy sector expansion, technological improvements, and rising demand for functional nutrition products. Future growth is expected to depend on improved processing infrastructure, greater adoption of modern dairy technologies, and increased commercialization of whey-derived ingredients across domestic and international markets.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- India
- Region
- Asia
- 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 India 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 India Whey Production in 2023?
India Whey Production was 6.98 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 26.7% on 2022.
How has India Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
India Whey Production moved from 1.15 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6.98 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+505.1%), an average of +25.2% a year. The series high was 6.98 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 1.15 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
Which year had the highest and lowest India Whey Production?
The highest value was 6.98 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 1.15 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
What does the India 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 India 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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