Europeans love their cheese. Every year, approximately nine million tons of cheese are consumed in the European Union. According to figures for the cheese consumption per capita in the EU, in 2021 Europeans ate some 20 kilos of cheese. There are marked differences in consumption between countries. In 2020, Swedes and Norwegians each ate roughly 19 kilos of cheese per year, most of it white cheese. Italians ate even more on average, with 23 kilos per capita. The Spanish, on the other hand, only ate some 7.8 kilos per year in 2021, most of it fresh cheese and semi-cured cheese.
Much of the cheese consumed is also produced in Europe, mainly in France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. The Dutch, for example, produced approximately 950 million kilos of cheese in 2021. In 2020, more than 1.6 billion kilos of cheese was produced in France. In Belgium, over 100,000 tons of cheese was produced in 2021. The Scandinavian countries are not as famous for their cheese, but here too production takes place. Finland produced over 80 million kilos of cheese in 2022, whereas southern neighbor Denmark produced approximately 455 million kilos of cheese in the same year.
Most of the cheese produced in Europe was exported to other European countries, as well as other continents. Of the Dutch cheese, for example, approximately 32 percent is exported to Germany and 11percent is exported to Belgium. Only a small percentage of the Dutch cheese is exported outside of Europe. The main export destinations for Swedish cheese were the Nordic neighbors Denmark, Finland, and Norway. French exports amounted to more than 650,000 tons in 2020, whereas Italy exported some 181,000 tons of fresh cheese in the same year.
Much of the cheese consumed is also produced in Europe, mainly in France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. The Dutch, for example, produced approximately 950 million kilos of cheese in 2021. In 2020, more than 1.6 billion kilos of cheese was produced in France. In Belgium, over 100,000 tons of cheese was produced in 2021. The Scandinavian countries are not as famous for their cheese, but here too production takes place. Finland produced over 80 million kilos of cheese in 2022, whereas southern neighbor Denmark produced approximately 455 million kilos of cheese in the same year.
Most of the cheese produced in Europe was exported to other European countries, as well as other continents. Of the Dutch cheese, for example, approximately 32 percent is exported to Germany and 11percent is exported to Belgium. Only a small percentage of the Dutch cheese is exported outside of Europe. The main export destinations for Swedish cheese were the Nordic neighbors Denmark, Finland, and Norway. French exports amounted to more than 650,000 tons in 2020, whereas Italy exported some 181,000 tons of fresh cheese in the same year.
