Higher over the period
Italy Whey Production moved from 214.7 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 240.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+11.9%), an average of +1.4% a year. The series high was 250.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 194.1 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
What Italy Whey Production shows
Italy Whey Production was 240.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 0.7% on 2022. Italy experienced steady growth and relatively strong performance in whey production between 2015 and 2023, supported by its renowned dairy industry, traditional cheese production, and increasing demand for dairy-derived ingredients. Italy recorded whey production of 214.68 thousand tonnes in 2015, followed by a decline to 194.08 thousand tonnes in 2016.
A 22.6% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2019) and low (2016) is 56.74 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +12.3% in 2019.
Ranks 5 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, Italy ranks 5 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 7.3% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Italy 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 | 240.2 | −0.7% |
| 2022 | 241.9 | −0.7% |
| 2021 | 243.6 | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 239.5 | −4.5% |
| 2019Peak | 250.8 | +12.3% |
| 2018 | 223.4 | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 210.4 | +8.4% |
| 2016 Trough | 194.1 | −9.6% |
| 2015 | 214.7 | — |
Regional context
How Italy compares in Europe
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Italy 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 recovered in 2017, reaching 210.41 thousand tonnes, and continued to increase in 2018 with output reaching 223.43 thousand tonnes. Growth accelerated in 2019, when whey production reached 250.82 thousand tonnes, representing the highest level recorded during the period. Although production declined slightly in 2020 to 239.53 thousand tonnes, the industry remained relatively stable, with production reaching 243.56 thousand tonnes in 2021. In 2022, output decreased marginally to 241.87 thousand tonnes, followed by another slight decline to 240.19 thousand tonnes in 2023. The overall trend indicates that Italy maintained a strong and consistent whey production base despite minor yearly fluctuations. Italy’s whey industry is closely associated with its globally recognized cheese manufacturing sector, including the production of high-quality cheeses that generate significant whey volumes. The country has increasingly focused on converting whey into valuable products such as whey protein concentrates, nutritional ingredients, and specialized food additives. The availability of advanced dairy processing facilities and strong domestic and international demand has supported industry stability. Overall, Italian whey production increased from 214.68 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 240.19 thousand tonnes in 2023, demonstrating positive long-term growth. The industry continues to benefit from innovation, premium dairy product demand, and growing applications of whey in health foods, sports nutrition, and functional beverages. With continued investment in sustainable processing methods, Italy is expected to maintain its important role in the European whey production landscape.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- Italy
- 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 Italy 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 Italy Whey Production in 2023?
Italy Whey Production was 240.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 0.7% on 2022.
How has Italy Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Italy Whey Production moved from 214.7 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 240.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+11.9%), an average of +1.4% a year. The series high was 250.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 194.1 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
Which year had the highest and lowest Italy Whey Production?
The highest value was 250.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the lowest was 194.1 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
What does the Italy 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 Italy 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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