Lower over the period
UK Whey Production moved from 77.65 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 68.90 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−11.3%), an average of −1.5% a year. The series high was 83.47 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 67.28 Thousand Tonnes in 2021.
What UK Whey Production shows
UK Whey Production was 68.90 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0% on 2022. The United Kingdom experienced moderate fluctuations in whey production between 2015 and 2023, influenced by changes in dairy processing volumes, cheese production, and market conditions. In 2015, UK whey production stood at 77.65 thousand tonnes, followed by a decline to 74.67 thousand tonnes in 2016.
A 19.4% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2019) and low (2021) is 16.20 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −16% in 2021.
Ranks 12 of 23 countries covered
Among the 23 countries in this dataset, UK ranks 12 for 2023, behind U.S. (654.3 Thousand Tonnes) and France (420.7 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 2.1% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
UK 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 | 68.90 | 0% |
| 2022 | 68.89 | +2.4% |
| 2021 Trough | 67.28 | −16% |
| 2020 | 80.05 | −4.1% |
| 2019Peak | 83.47 | +3% |
| 2018 | 81.05 | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 75.22 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 74.67 | −3.8% |
| 2015 | 77.65 | — |
Regional context
How UK compares in Europe
Whey Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. UK 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 remained relatively stable in 2017 at 75.22 thousand tonnes before increasing to 81.05 thousand tonnes in 2018 and reaching 83.47 thousand tonnes in 2019, which represented the highest production level during the period. The increase during these years was supported by stronger dairy processing activity and demand for whey-based ingredients. However, production declined significantly after 2019, reaching 80.05 thousand tonnes in 2020 and dropping further to 67.28 thousand tonnes in 2021, the lowest level recorded between 2015 and 2023. This decline reflected changes in dairy market conditions and adjustments within the UK dairy processing sector. Production showed a slight recovery in 2022, reaching 68.89 thousand tonnes, and remained stable in 2023 at 68.90 thousand tonnes. The UK whey industry continues to benefit from its well-developed dairy sector, particularly cheese manufacturing, which provides a consistent supply of whey as a secondary dairy product. Whey is increasingly used in nutritional products, food processing, sports supplements, and animal feed applications, supporting continued demand for whey ingredients. Overall, UK whey production declined from 77.65 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 68.90 thousand tonnes in 2023, indicating a moderate reduction over the period, although production remained relatively stable after the decline observed in 2021. The industry continues to maintain importance within the broader UK dairy value chain. In addition, advancements in dairy processing technologies and increasing consumer interest in high-protein products have encouraged better utilization of whey resources. The UK market is also focusing on improving sustainability by converting dairy by-products into valuable nutritional ingredients rather than treating whey as waste.
- Indicator
- Whey Production
- Country
- UK
- 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 UK 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 UK Whey Production in 2023?
UK Whey Production was 68.90 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0% on 2022.
How has UK Whey Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
UK Whey Production moved from 77.65 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 68.90 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−11.3%), an average of −1.5% a year. The series high was 83.47 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 67.28 Thousand Tonnes in 2021.
Which year had the highest and lowest UK Whey Production?
The highest value was 83.47 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the lowest was 67.28 Thousand Tonnes in 2021.
What does the UK 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 UK 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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