Dutch cheese production has recorded exceptional growth since 2012, outpacing the limited consumption growth in northwestern Europe. This has diluted margins and weakened the position of cheese producers in the value chain. Northwestern Europe (the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium) is the main consumer market for Dutch (semi-)hard cheeses such as Gouda. However, Dutch cheese production is still forecast to increase to nearly 930,000 metric tons by 2022, based on increased liquid milk imports and investments in additional processing capacity.
Read more