Austrian dairy exports reach record levels

With exports amounting to €1.126 billion (an 8.1% increase) and imports amounting to €663 million (up 7.6%), the Austrian dairy industry in 2013 had a positive foreign trade balance of €463 million, or 8.7%, which is a new record for the country.

Quality from Austria is in demand internationally and offers a good prospect for the future, says president director Helmut Petschar, Vereinigung Österreichischer Milchverarbeiter (VÖM) the Austrian Dairy Association. Exports of ​​liquid milk products amounted to 810,000 tons, a decline of 2.7%. However, the price increased by 15%. The most important export product is cheese, where 117.6 thousand tons were exported (1% increase) – a record amount. Imports of cheese remained equal on 97.1 thousand tons. Products such as yogurt and sour milk saw exports of 144,000 tons, or a 2.8% decrease. Meanwhile, there was a 5.2% decrease in imports due to higher prices, at 38,000 tons.

Austria is traditionally an import country for butter and last year, exports were 1,900 tons (a 1.4% decrease), while 14,300 tons (a 5.1% decrease) were imported, with both avenues increasing prices by 9%. The most striking increase last year was recorded in exports to third countries, where around 10% of Austrian exports went to third countries.

Austria is planning for increased production, with the expiry of the EU milk quota system in March 2015. This needs to be placed both at home and especially on the international market. Therefore the Austrian dairies also must make a high effort to place a foot into foreign markets and thus ensure sustainable development for the Austrian dairy industry, says Petschar.