New Zealand cheese production surges amid strong milk supply
Exports forecast to decline in 2024
28 December 2023
1 minute read
By: New Zealand cheese production surged in 2023, up 7% to 400,000 tons, as an unexpectedly strong year for milk production meant more manufacturing milk being pushed for processing, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) dairy market report.
In 2024, New Zealand production is forecast to remain unchanged, despite shrinking milk output.
A larger percentage of the milk pool is being funnelled to cheese production amid stronger demand from Japan, China and South Korea.
Sustained investments over time by processors have greatly expanded New Zealand’s processing output, in turn allowing exporters to meet rising demand from burgeoning Asian markets, especially for mozzarella.
Cheese exports are forecast to decline in 2024, as increased competitiveness from Australia and the EU is expected to pressure market share in markets like China and Japan.
