Higher over the period
Oceania Whey Production moved from 131.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+7.2%), an average of +0.9% a year. The series high was 156.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 126 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
What Oceania Whey Production shows
Oceania Whey Production was 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 9.7% on 2022. Oceania’s whey production remained stable between 2015 and 2023, supported by its globally recognized dairy industry, efficient milk production systems, and strong export-oriented dairy processing sector. According to the macro indicator data, Oceania produced approximately 131.78 thousand tonnes of whey in 2015, followed by 129.70 thousand tonnes in 2016 and 130.18 thousand tonnes in 2017.
A 19.5% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2022) and low (2019) is 30.45 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +16.1% in 2022.
Australia leads the region
Within Oceania, Australia has the highest value in 2023 at 110.9 Thousand Tonnes, 78.5% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Whey Production by country, 2023
Thousand Tonnes. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Thousand Tonnes↕ | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 110.9 | −12.1% | |
| 2 | New Zealand | 30.30 | 0% |
By region
Whey Production by region
Thousand Tonnes, 2023. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Oceania Whey Production by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 141.2 | −9.7% |
| 2022Peak | 156.5 | +16.1% |
| 2021 | 134.7 | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 126.1 | +0.1% |
| 2019 Trough | 126 | −5.1% |
| 2018 | 132.8 | +2% |
| 2017 | 130.2 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 129.7 | −1.6% |
| 2015 | 131.8 | — |
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 increased slightly to 132.85 thousand tonnes in 2018, before declining to 126.03 thousand tonnes in 2019 and 126.12 thousand tonnes in 2020. Output recovered in 2021, reaching 134.72 thousand tonnes, followed by a peak of 156.48 thousand tonnes in 2022. Production declined moderately to 141.23 thousand tonnes in 2023 but remained above earlier levels. Oceania’s whey industry is primarily supported by Australia and New Zealand, which have highly developed dairy sectors and strong international positions in dairy ingredient exports. Whey generated from cheese and dairy processing is widely utilized for producing protein concentrates, whey powders, infant nutrition ingredients, and specialized food products. The region’s dairy processors focus on innovation, sustainability, and efficient utilization of milk-based resources. Growing global demand for protein-rich foods and nutritional supplements has created new opportunities for Oceania’s whey producers. Advanced processing facilities and strong quality standards have helped the region maintain competitiveness in international markets. Overall, Oceania’s whey production industry demonstrates stability, efficiency, and strong export potential. Future growth will depend on continued investment in sustainable dairy technologies, product innovation, and increasing demand for premium whey-derived ingredients worldwide.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- 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 Oceania 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 Oceania Whey Production in 2023?
Oceania Whey Production was 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 9.7% on 2022.
How has Oceania Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Oceania Whey Production moved from 131.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 141.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+7.2%), an average of +0.9% a year. The series high was 156.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the low 126 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
Which year had the highest and lowest Oceania Whey Production?
The highest value was 156.5 Thousand Tonnes in 2022 and the lowest was 126 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
What does the Oceania 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 Oceania 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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