Sweden witnessed a decline in domestic milk production in 2024, despite an overall increase in dairy consumption.
According to the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s market report comparing 2024 to 2023, the volume of weighed milk fell by 0.7 percent. However, milk producers received multiple price increases in the past six months, which have improved profitability and strengthened future confidence within the industry.
A Swedish dairy farmer today earns nearly 68 percent more for milk compared to early 2021. This price surge is attributed to rising costs over recent years and a decline in global milk production. Despite occasional price drops during this period, the overall trend suggests that higher prices may encourage further investments and potentially boost milk production in the future.
While milk consumption declined, Swedes consumed more cheese, leading to an overall 4.3 percent increase in dairy product consumption. However, cheese imports also rose, causing the self-sufficiency rate for cheese to drop from 39.1 percent to 36.8 percent, the lowest level since record-keeping began in 1995.
The overall trend in the animal product sector showed increased consumption, with meat, eggs, and dairy products seeing growth. However, Sweden’s self-sufficiency rate declined in all sectors except poultry, as imports outpaced domestic production growth.
Read the full press release HERE