Swiss cheese exports drop
Switzerland exported around 34,400 tons of cheese in the first half of 2022, according to current figures from TSM Treuhand. This is almost 3,000 tons, or 7.9% less than in the same period last year.
The decline in the semi-hard cheese category was particularly strong (14.6%), followed by ready-made fondue (13.5%), soft cheese (8%) and hard cheese (5.3%).
The biggest losses among the varieties were Sbrinz (30%), Appenzeller (17.2%) and Raclette (15.6%).
For Gruyère and Emmental, the decline in exports was smaller, at -4.4% and -5.2%. Tilsiter, on the other hand, saw an increase of 32.5% to 120 tons.
Cheese imports fell by 5.4% to 37,380 tons in the first half of the year.
The most important importing countries are Italy (around 13,500 tons), Germany (almost 10,000 tons) and France (6,400 tons).