Dutch milk deliveries and cheese production rise

Milk deliveries in the Netherlands were 3.1 percent higher in July than a year earlier. Dairy plants also produced 2.9 percent more factory-produced cheese. Both milk deliveries and cheese production were higher in May and June than a year earlier. This is according to preliminary July figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

Milk deliveries remain higher

Dutch dairy plants received 1.195 billion kilograms of raw cow’s milk in July. In the same month of 2025, the figure was 1.159 billion kilograms. This represents an increase of 3.1 percent.

In May, milk deliveries were 3.6 percent higher than in May 2025. In June, the difference was 3.5 percent. Dairy farmers deliver approximately 96 percent of their milk to dairy plants. They use the remaining 4 percent to raise young cattle and produce dairy products on the farm.

More factory-produced cheese

Dairy plants produced 78.4 million kilograms of factory-produced cheese in July. In July 2025, the figure was 76.2 million kilograms. Production was therefore 2.9 percent higher. Production in May and June was also higher than a year earlier.

The protein content of the delivered milk was 3.51 percent. This was unchanged from July 2025. The fat content decreased from 4.29 to 4.27 percent. According to CBS, the protein in the milk consists mainly of casein. Casein is an important milk protein used in cheesemaking.

On September 17, CBS also revised the figures for April, May, and June. The published monthly data for 2026 are preliminary.

Cbs.nl