EU ice cream production up 2% in 2024

Ice cream remains a favorite across Europe. In 2024, total production reached 3.3 billion liters, a 2% increase compared to the previous year. But the usual heavyweights weren’t behind this growth. In fact, the traditional top three all scaled back.

Only Poland sees growth among the major producers

Germany remains the EU’s largest ice cream producer, with 607 million liters. France follows with 501 million, then Italy with 492 million. Still, production fell in all three countries. France recorded a sharp drop of 12%. Italy and Germany saw smaller declines of 7% and 1%, respectively.

Poland stands out. It was the only one among the top five to post a strong increase: up 29%. So the overall EU growth came mainly from other countries. Notable climbers include Belgium, up 35%, Bulgaria with 19%, and Czechia at 15%. That adds up.

France still leads the export charts

EU countries exported a total of 265.3 million kilos of ice cream to non-EU markets, just slightly more than in 2023, a rise of 1%. France remains the frontrunner. In 2024, 55.9 million kg of EU ice cream exports went to non-EU countries, according to the report. That accounts for 21% of the total.

Next in line are Italy (42.6 million kg), the Netherlands (31.9 million), Germany (28.2 million), and Belgium (27 million kg). All sizeable volumes, though nothing unexpected.

Imports rising much faster

Imports from non-EU countries rose sharply, up 24%. Altogether, 69.3 million kilos of ice cream were brought into the EU. That’s still well below the export total, but the growth is striking, especially compared to the modest increase on the export side.

Ec.europa.eu