Increase in Cheese Consumption in Germany Amid Decline in Butter Sales

Recent data reveals a notable shift in dairy consumption patterns among German consumers, with an increase in cheese consumption and a reduction in butter purchases over the past year. According to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food, the average per capita consumption of cheese rose by one kilogram, reaching 25.4 kilograms in 2024. Concurrently, domestic cheese production saw an increase from 2.66 million tons to 2.74 million tons.

In contrast, per capita butter consumption decreased by the equivalent of a 250-gram package, totaling 5.3 kilograms. The production of butter, along with milk fat and spreadable dairy products, slightly declined to 473,400 tons. It is important to note that producing a standard package of butter requires approximately five kilograms of milk.

Experts attribute the decline in butter consumption to significant price increases experienced over the past year. In October, the lowest price for a 250-gram package of German branded butter reached 2.39 euros, marking an all-time high. Factors contributing to the price surge include reduced milk supply from farmers and a lower fat content in raw milk. However, since early February, butter prices have begun to decrease.

Milk deliveries to dairies fell by 118,000 tons in 2024, totaling 31.3 million tons, as reported by the Federal Information Centre for Agriculture. This reduction was partly influenced by the Bluetongue disease affecting cattle. Additionally, the production of drinking milk has declined for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 4.1 million tons, while per capita consumption remained stable at 46.2 kilograms.

Farmers received an average price of 48.14 cents per kilogram for conventionally produced milk in 2024, a slight increase of nearly 3 cents compared to the previous year. For organic milk, the price was 58.03 cents per kilogram. Furthermore, the number of dairy cows decreased by 123,000, bringing the total to approximately 3.6 million, and the number of dairy farms declined by 3.8 percent to 48,649.