Higher over the period
Ireland Whey Production moved from 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 268.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+121.9%), an average of +10.5% a year. The series high was 271.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
What Ireland Whey Production shows
Ireland Whey Production was 268.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 1.1% on 2022. Ireland’s whey production increased significantly between 2015 and 2023, reflecting the expansion and modernization of its dairy processing industry. According to the macro indicator data, Ireland produced 121.00 thousand tonnes of whey in 2015, which increased steadily to 210.70 thousand tonnes in 2016 and further to 225.70 thousand tonnes in 2017.
A 55.4% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2022) and low (2015) is 150.5 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +74.1% in 2016.
Ranks 4 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, Ireland ranks 4 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 8.1% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Ireland 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 | 268.5 | −1.1% |
| 2022Peak | 271.5 | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 257.9 | −0.2% |
| 2020 | 258.5 | −3.5% |
| 2019 | 268 | +15.9% |
| 2018 | 231.2 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 225.7 | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 210.7 | +74.1% |
| 2015 Trough | 121 | — |
Regional context
How Ireland compares in Europe
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Ireland 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 rise in subsequent years, reaching 231.20 thousand tonnes in 2018 and 268.00 thousand tonnes in 2019. Although output declined slightly during 2020 and 2021 to 258.50 thousand tonnes and 257.90 thousand tonnes respectively, production recovered to 271.50 thousand tonnes in 2022 before recording 268.50 thousand tonnes in 2023. The overall growth from 121.00 thousand tonnes to 268.50 thousand tonnes highlights the strengthening of Ireland’s whey processing capacity and dairy value chain. Ireland’s whey industry benefits from its large-scale milk production system, export-focused dairy sector, and strong cheese manufacturing activities. Whey generated during dairy processing is increasingly utilized for whey protein concentrates, nutritional ingredients, functional foods, beverages, and animal feed applications. The country has invested in advanced dairy technologies to improve whey recovery, processing efficiency, and sustainability. Growing global demand for high-protein ingredients has further supported the development of Ireland’s whey sector. The industry also contributes to reducing dairy waste by converting whey into valuable commercial products. Overall, Ireland has emerged as a growing participant in the international whey market, supported by strong dairy fundamentals, innovation, and increasing demand for value-added dairy ingredients. The continued expansion of dairy exports, investment in processing infrastructure, and adoption of sustainable production practices are expected to strengthen Ireland’s position as an important supplier of whey-based ingredients in global markets.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- Ireland
- 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 Ireland 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 Ireland Whey Production in 2023?
Ireland Whey Production was 268.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 1.1% on 2022.
How has Ireland Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Ireland Whey Production moved from 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 268.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+121.9%), an average of +10.5% a year. The series high was 271.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
Which year had the highest and lowest Ireland Whey Production?
The highest value was 271.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the lowest was 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
What does the Ireland 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 Ireland 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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