Bumper year for Germany’s dairies

Last year was a strong one for the German dairy sector, with turnover rising 5.2% to E20 billion, according to German milk industry association Milchindustrieverband (MIV).
MIV’s annual report states that German cheese production reached 1.87 million tonnes in 2001, an increase of 3.7% over 2000. Soft cheese production grew by 10%, while hard and slicing cheeses both saw increases of between 7% and 8% in production. Cheese consumption in Germany rose to 21.8kg per head in 2001, up 2.8% on 2000. MIV also reports that German cheese exports reached a record high of 530,000 tonnes in 2001.
Yogurt production remained flat, but demand in the domestic German market swelled to 15.4kg per head, up 0.7% on 2000.
Consumption of drinking milk was up nearly 1% in 2001 to 63 litres per person. In total, semi skimmed and skimmed milk sales fell 2.1% in 2001, while full fat milk sales increased 1.2% on 2000 to 3.23 million tonnes. UHT milk kept its German market share of around 60% in this sector.
Germany’s increase in cheese production in 2001 meant that the country produced an extra 235,000 tonnes of whey powder, up 3.2% on 2000 and a massive 20% on 1999.
Skimmed milk powder (SMP) production fell 6% in 2001 to 300,000 tonnes. This was 25% down on five years ago.
Some of this fall can be attributed to BSE, with SMP exports cut by 60% because of this. EU-enforced reductions in the application of SMP in calf and piglet feed have made the situation worse.