Broadly stable
New Zealand Cheese Production moved from 374 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 375 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+0.3%), an average of +0% a year. The series high was 380 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the low 350 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
What New Zealand Cheese Production shows
New Zealand Cheese Production was 375 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0% on 2022. The New Zealand Cheese Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's cheese manufacturing performance and the development of its dairy processing industry between 2015 and 2023.
A 7.9% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2018) and low (2020) is 30.00 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +8.6% in 2021.
Ranks 14 of 30 countries covered
Among the 30 countries in this dataset, New Zealand ranks 14 for 2023, behind U.S. (6,628 Thousand Tonnes) and Germany (3,042 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 1.4% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
New Zealand Cheese 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 | 375 | 0% |
| 2022 | 375 | −1.3% |
| 2021 | 380 | +8.6% |
| 2020 Trough | 350 | −4.1% |
| 2019 | 365 | −3.9% |
| 2018Peak | 380 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 378 | +5% |
| 2016 | 360 | −3.7% |
| 2015 | 374 | — |
Regional context
How New Zealand compares across countries
Cheese Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. New Zealand is highlighted.
1U.S.6,628
2Germany3,042
3France2,216
4Italy1,344
5Poland1,064
6Netherlands1,019
7Turkey830.2
14New Zealand375
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Cheese Production — – Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the output of the dairy processing industry by measuring the production of cheese manufactured from milk. It is used to assess the scale of dairy processing, value-added agricultural production, and the performance of the cheese manufacturing sector. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The data includes the annual production of natural and processed cheese manufactured from milk obtained from dairy animals. It covers cheese produced for domestic consumption, industrial use, and export, including a wide range of cheese varieties reported through official national agricultural and food manufacturing statistics. The figures represent gross domestic cheese production compiled and standardized by the FAO to ensure international comparability across countries and years.
The data excludes raw milk production, butter, yogurt, cream, milk powder, whey products, and other dairy products that are not classified as cheese. It also excludes cheese imports and exports, retail sales, inventories, informal or unrecorded production not captured in official statistics, and cheese substitutes made from non-dairy ingredients such as plant-based alternatives.
About this indicator
Cheese Production — – Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the output of the dairy processing industry by measuring the production of cheese manufactured from milk. It is used to assess the scale of dairy processing, value-added agricultural production, and the performance of the cheese manufacturing sector. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Measured in Thousand Tonnes, the dataset serves as a valuable benchmark for evaluating dairy production capacity, milk utilization, food processing efficiency, agricultural output, export-oriented dairy manufacturing, and long-term industry performance. It also supports analysis of production trends and the contribution of cheese manufacturing to New Zealand's dairy economy. Based on the validated data, New Zealand's cheese production declined from 374.00 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 360.00 thousand tonnes in 2016, before recovering to 378.00 thousand tonnes in 2017 and 380.00 thousand tonnes in 2018, representing the highest level during the first half of the study period. Production moderated to 365.00 thousand tonnes in 2019 and declined further to 350.00 thousand tonnes in 2020, the lowest level in the series. Output rebounded to 380.00 thousand tonnes in 2021, before easing slightly to 375.00 thousand tonnes in 2022 and remaining unchanged at 375.00 thousand tonnes in 2023. Overall, production remained relatively stable despite moderate year-to-year fluctuations, reflecting the resilience and consistency of New Zealand's globally competitive dairy processing industry. The dataset provides valuable insights into New Zealand's cheese production trends, dairy manufacturing performance, and long-term industry development. It enables year-over-year trend analysis, international benchmarking of cheese production, evaluation of processing efficiency, and assessment of agricultural value addition across the dairy supply chain. Policymakers, dairy producers, processors, exporters, investors, market analysts, and researchers can leverage the dataset to monitor production performance, identify market opportunities, forecast future cheese output, evaluate industry competitiveness, strengthen supply chain resilience, encourage technological innovation, support sustainable dairy production, and promote long-term growth across New Zealand's dairy industry.
- Indicator
- Cheese Production
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Oceania
- 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 New Zealand Cheese Production?
Definition – Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the output of the dairy processing industry by measuring the production of cheese manufactured from milk. It is used to assess the scale of dairy processing, value-added agricultural production, and the performance of the cheese manufacturing sector. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
What was New Zealand Cheese Production in 2023?
New Zealand Cheese Production was 375 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0% on 2022.
How has New Zealand Cheese Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
New Zealand Cheese Production moved from 374 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 375 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+0.3%), an average of +0% a year. The series high was 380 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the low 350 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
Which year had the highest and lowest New Zealand Cheese Production?
The highest value was 380 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the lowest was 350 Thousand Tonnes in 2020.
What does the New Zealand Cheese Production data include and exclude?
Included: The data includes the annual production of natural and processed cheese manufactured from milk obtained from dairy animals. It covers cheese produced for domestic consumption, industrial use, and export, including a wide range of cheese varieties reported through official national agricultural and food manufacturing statistics. The figures represent gross domestic cheese production compiled and standardized by the FAO to ensure international comparability across countries and years. Excluded: The data excludes raw milk production, butter, yogurt, cream, milk powder, whey products, and other dairy products that are not classified as cheese. It also excludes cheese imports and exports, retail sales, inventories, informal or unrecorded production not captured in official statistics, and cheese substitutes made from non-dairy ingredients such as plant-based alternatives.
Where does the New Zealand Cheese Production data come from?
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?time=2023&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls&pickerSort=asc&Food=Cheese&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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