Rising to a series high
U.S. Whey Production moved from 443.4 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 654.3 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+47.6%), an average of +5% a year. The series high was 654.3 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 404.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2021.
What U.S. Whey Production shows
U.S. Whey Production was 654.3 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 5.6% on 2022. The United States maintained its position as one of the leading whey-producing countries globally, supported by its large-scale dairy processing industry, extensive cheese manufacturing sector, and strong demand for whey-based ingredients. According to the macro indicator data, U.S. whey production was 443.42 thousand tonnes in 2015, followed by a slight decline to 433.16 thousand tonnes in 2016.
A 38.2% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2021) is 249.7 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +53.2% in 2022.
Ranks 1 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, U.S. ranks 1 for 2023. It accounts for 19.8% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
U.S. 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 | 654.3 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 619.8 | +53.2% |
| 2021 Trough | 404.6 | −7% |
| 2020 | 435 | −1.9% |
| 2019 | 443.4 | −2.2% |
| 2018 | 453.3 | −3.6% |
| 2017 | 470.3 | +8.6% |
| 2016 | 433.2 | −2.3% |
| 2015 | 443.4 | — |
Regional context
How U.S. compares across countries
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. U.S. is highlighted.
1U.S.654.3
2France420.7
3Germany384.5
4Ireland268.5
5Italy240.2
6Belarus158.6
7Netherlands158.5
8Australia110.9
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 significantly in 2017, reaching 470.33 thousand tonnes, reflecting stronger dairy processing activity and higher cheese production volumes. However, output moderated in subsequent years, declining to 453.30 thousand tonnes in 2018, 443.41 thousand tonnes in 2019, and 434.99 thousand tonnes in 2020. In 2021, production reached its lowest level during the period at 404.60 thousand tonnes, influenced by changes in dairy market conditions and processing dynamics. The industry experienced a strong recovery in 2022, with production rising sharply to 619.78 thousand tonnes, followed by further growth to 654.31 thousand tonnes in 2023, the highest production level recorded during the period. The significant increase after 2021 indicates improved utilization of dairy processing capacity, particularly from cheese manufacturing, which is the primary source of whey generation. The U.S. whey industry benefits from advanced dairy infrastructure, large-scale milk production, and increasing demand for whey protein concentrates, isolates, and nutritional ingredients used in sports nutrition, food processing, and animal feed. Overall, U.S. whey production demonstrated a positive long-term trend, increasing from 443.42 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 654.31 thousand tonnes in 2023, representing substantial growth and strengthening the country’s importance in the global whey ingredient market. Additionally, continuous investments in dairy technology, processing efficiency, and value-added whey products have supported market expansion. The rising consumption of protein-enriched foods and beverages has further encouraged manufacturers to maximize whey utilization, reducing waste and improving profitability across the dairy supply chain.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- U.S.
- Region
- North America
- 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Whey Production in 2023?
U.S. Whey Production was 654.3 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 5.6% on 2022.
How has U.S. Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
U.S. Whey Production moved from 443.4 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 654.3 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+47.6%), an average of +5% a year. The series high was 654.3 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 404.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2021.
Which year had the highest and lowest U.S. Whey Production?
The highest value was 654.3 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 404.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2021.
What does the U.S. 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 U.S. 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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