Butter of cow milk production by country
World production of butter of cow milk reached 6.0 million t in 2023, up 14% over ten years. The largest producers were United States (16.0%), Germany (7.8%), New Zealand (7.7%), together 32% of the world total.
- World production, 2023
- 6.0 million t
- 10-year change
- +14%
- Producing countries
- 118
- Largest producer
- United States
World production, 1961–2023 (tonnes)
Map of butter of cow milk production, 2023
Share of the world total. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
Producers ranked, 2023
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 957,773 | 16.0% | +13% |
| 2 | Germany | 468,880 | 7.84% | −0.9% |
| 3 | New Zealand E | 462,400 | 7.73% | +19% |
| 4 | France | 403,970 | 6.75% | +0.7% |
| 5 | Russia I | 301,223 | 5.03% | +33% |
| 6 | Ireland | 299,300 | 5.00% | +48% |
| 7 | Poland | 264,950 | 4.43% | +65% |
| 8 | Netherlands | 206,700 | 3.45% | +3.8% |
| 9 | United Kingdom | 200,900 | 3.36% | +39% |
| 10 | Iran I | 200,673 | 3.35% | +1.2% |
| 11 | Brazil | 145,582 | 2.43% | +51% |
| 12 | Belarus I | 130,403 | 2.18% | +31% |
| 13 | Turkey I | 126,796 | 2.12% | −31% |
| 14 | Belgium | 119,860 | 2.00% | +230% |
| 15 | Canada | 114,903 | 1.92% | +29% |
| 16 | China I | 109,452 | 1.83% | +19% |
| 17 | Uzbekistan I | 104,805 | 1.75% | +76% |
| 18 | Denmark | 95,800 | 1.60% | +124% |
| 19 | Italy | 94,400 | 1.58% | −4.0% |
| 20 | Japan | 67,337 | 1.13% | −1.4% |
| 21 | Australia | 64,871 | 1.08% | −45% |
| 22 | South Korea I | 63,403 | 1.06% | −6.4% |
| 23 | Finland | 57,880 | 0.97% | +8.9% |
| 24 | Egypt I | 53,028 | 0.89% | +58% |
| 25 | Ukraine X | 47,300 | 0.79% | −50% |
| 26 | Spain | 46,680 | 0.78% | +31% |
| 27 | Switzerland | 42,093 | 0.70% | −9.7% |
| 28 | Sweden | 40,980 | 0.68% | +18% |
| 29 | Tanzania I | 40,617 | 0.68% | +87% |
| 30 | Afghanistan I | 39,026 | 0.65% | +27% |
| 31 | Argentina | 34,703 | 0.58% | −31% |
| 32 | Austria | 33,820 | 0.57% | +0.7% |
| 33 | Portugal | 31,590 | 0.53% | +23% |
| 34 | Kazakhstan | 30,928 | 0.52% | +120% |
| 35 | Chile | 28,020 | 0.47% | +30% |
| 36 | Morocco I | 27,912 | 0.47% | −15% |
| 37 | Azerbaijan | 27,022 | 0.45% | +24% |
| 38 | Mexico I | 26,234 | 0.44% | +26% |
| 39 | Czechia | 25,780 | 0.43% | −13% |
| 40 | Colombia I | 23,419 | 0.39% | +7.9% |
| 41 | Niger I | 21,933 | 0.37% | +68% |
| 42 | Uruguay | 21,123 | 0.35% | −32% |
| 43 | Kenya I | 19,505 | 0.33% | +30% |
| 44 | Myanmar I | 17,621 | 0.29% | −54% |
| 45 | Norway X | 16,000 | 0.27% | +3.2% |
| 46 | South Africa X | 15,900 | 0.27% | −15% |
| 47 | Lithuania | 13,990 | 0.23% | +6.5% |
| 48 | Saudi Arabia I | 12,130 | 0.20% | +237% |
| 49 | Nigeria I | 11,939 | 0.20% | −7.3% |
| 50 | Romania | 9,330 | 0.16% | −4.8% |
| 51 | Slovakia | 9,250 | 0.15% | +1.9% |
| 52 | Costa Rica I | 8,659 | 0.14% | +19% |
| 53 | Hungary | 8,440 | 0.14% | −10% |
| 54 | Tunisia I | 7,942 | 0.13% | +20% |
| 55 | Honduras I | 6,977 | 0.12% | +0.4% |
| 56 | Israel I | 6,730 | 0.11% | +18% |
| 57 | Panama I | 6,471 | 0.11% | +18% |
| 58 | Peru | 5,082 | 0.08% | +42% |
| 59 | Kyrgyzstan | 4,863 | 0.08% | +144% |
| 60 | Estonia | 4,600 | 0.08% | +31% |
| 61 | Algeria I | 4,509 | 0.08% | −28% |
| 62 | Croatia | 3,900 | 0.07% | −20% |
| 63 | Thailand I | 3,723 | 0.06% | +72% |
| 64 | Iraq I | 3,684 | 0.06% | +9.8% |
| 65 | Syria | 3,470 | 0.06% | −12% |
| 66 | North Macedonia I | 3,469 | 0.06% | −40% |
| 67 | Venezuela | 3,423 | 0.06% | +154% |
| 68 | Latvia | 3,230 | 0.05% | −41% |
| 69 | Dominican Republic I | 3,192 | 0.05% | +60% |
| 70 | Moldova | 3,002 | 0.05% | −28% |
| 71 | Uganda E | 3,000 | 0.05% | +942% |
| 72 | Mongolia I | 2,796 | 0.05% | +180% |
| 73 | Turkmenistan I | 2,730 | 0.05% | −9.0% |
| 74 | Albania | 2,626 | 0.04% | −29% |
| 75 | Sri Lanka I | 2,623 | 0.04% | +316% |
| 76 | Slovenia I | 2,539 | 0.04% | +11% |
| 77 | Iceland | 2,497 | 0.04% | +19% |
| 78 | Ecuador I | 2,476 | 0.04% | −12% |
| 79 | Jordan I | 2,349 | 0.04% | — |
| 80 | Ethiopia I | 2,249 | 0.04% | +21% |
| 81 | Zimbabwe I | 2,199 | 0.04% | +3.8% |
| 82 | Greece | 2,160 | 0.04% | +8.3% |
| 83 | Rwanda I | 1,949 | 0.03% | −7.8% |
| 84 | Guatemala | 1,876 | 0.03% | +24% |
| 85 | Zambia I | 1,718 | 0.03% | +22% |
| 86 | Bhutan | 1,716 | 0.03% | +30% |
| 87 | Serbia | 1,665 | 0.03% | −30% |
| 88 | Paraguay I | 1,577 | 0.03% | +112% |
| 89 | Bolivia I | 1,561 | 0.03% | +13% |
| 90 | Bangladesh I | 1,488 | 0.02% | +29% |
| 91 | United Arab Emirates I | 1,339 | 0.02% | −20% |
| 92 | Fiji | 1,144 | 0.02% | −39% |
| 93 | Pakistan I | 1,110 | 0.02% | −18% |
| 94 | Mauritania I | 1,084 | 0.02% | +29% |
| 95 | Bulgaria | 950 | 0.02% | −14% |
| 96 | Nicaragua I | 848 | 0.01% | +101% |
| 97 | Senegal I | 772 | 0.01% | −3.5% |
| 98 | Eritrea E | 720 | 0.01% | +11% |
| 99 | Chad I | 669 | 0.01% | +125% |
| 100 | Namibia I | 570 | 0.01% | +19% |
| 101 | Angola I | 563 | 0.01% | +4.3% |
| 102 | Luxembourg I | 559 | 0.01% | +74% |
| 103 | Montenegro I | 499 | 0.01% | −32% |
| 104 | Botswana I | 491 | 0.01% | +13% |
| 105 | Vietnam I | 480 | 0.01% | — |
| 106 | Guinea I | 474 | 0.01% | +12% |
| 107 | Georgia I | 410 | 0.01% | +2.5% |
| 108 | El Salvador I | 388 | 0.01% | +89% |
| 109 | Armenia I | 387 | 0.01% | −29% |
| 110 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 240 | 0.00% | −39% |
| 111 | Eswatini I | 188 | 0.00% | −1.6% |
| 112 | Sudan I | 176 | 0.00% | +7.3% |
| 113 | Cuba | 163 | 0.00% | −75% |
| 114 | Taiwan I | 127 | 0.00% | +40% |
| 115 | Tajikistan | 103 | 0.00% | +415% |
| 116 | Cyprus | 50 | 0.00% | +400% |
| 117 | Suriname I | 21 | 0.00% | −30% |
| 118 | Togo I | 16 | 0.00% | +6.7% |
E = estimated by FAO, I = imputed by FAO, X = from an external organisation; other figures are official.
How concentrated is production?
The largest producer, United States, accounts for 16.0% of the world total in 2023; the five largest for 43.4% and the ten largest for 62.9%.
| Year | Top 5 share | Top 10 share | Countries with data |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 44.2% | 60.5% | 106 |
| 2005 | 43.8% | 60.4% | 109 |
| 2010 | 44.9% | 60.8% | 115 |
| 2015 | 46.7% | 63.6% | 117 |
| 2020 | 44.6% | 63.6% | 117 |
| 2023 | 43.4% | 62.9% | 118 |
By continent, 2023
| Continent | Production | Share of world | Share in 2013 | 10-year change | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 3.0 million t | 50.2% | 48.3% | +18% | 38 |
| North and Central America | 1.1 million t | 18.8% | 18.7% | +15% | 11 |
| Asia | 839,371 t | 14.0% | 15.4% | +4.0% | 30 |
| Oceania | 528,415 t | 8.8% | 9.7% | +3.6% | 3 |
| South America | 266,987 t | 4.5% | 4.4% | +16% | 11 |
| Africa | 220,123 t | 3.7% | 3.6% | +17% | 25 |
Sums of country figures; the world total also includes countries without a continent assignment, so shares may not add up to 100%.
Fastest growing and declining producers, 2013–2023
Countries with at least 0.5% of world production in 2023, change over ten years.
Growing
| Belgium | 119,860 t | +230% |
| Denmark | 95,800 t | +124% |
| Kazakhstan | 30,928 t | +120% |
| Tanzania | 40,617 t | +87% |
| Uzbekistan | 104,805 t | +76% |
Declining
| Ukraine | 47,300 t | −50% |
| Australia | 64,871 t | −45% |
| Turkey | 126,796 t | −31% |
| Argentina | 34,703 t | −31% |
| Switzerland | 42,093 t | −9.7% |
Long-term trend, 1961–2023
- Average growth per year, 1961–2023
- +0.4%
- Average growth per year, last 10 years
- +1.3%
- Record year
- 1986 6.7 million t
- Largest yearly fall
- 1991 −9.7%
| Decade | Average per year | vs previous decade |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s (1961–1969) | 5.0 million t | — |
| 1970s | 5.5 million t | +11% |
| 1980s | 6.3 million t | +14% |
| 1990s | 5.1 million t | −19% |
| 2000s | 4.8 million t | −5.3% |
| 2010s | 5.5 million t | +14% |
| 2020s (2020–2023) | 5.9 million t | +8.5% |
Butter prices on wholesale markets
- Markets quoting
- 19
- Median price
- 4.64 EUR/kg
- Middle half of quotes
- 3.95–6.03 EUR/kg
- Latest quote
- 10 November 2026
Prices in producing countries
| Rank | Producer | Production, 2023 | Markets | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Germany | 468,880 t | 2 | 4.01 EUR/kg |
| 4 | France | 403,970 t | 1 | 3.77 EUR/kg |
| 7 | Poland | 264,950 t | 3 | 4.50 EUR/kg |
| 8 | Netherlands | 206,700 t | 1 | 3.72 EUR/kg |
| 14 | Belgium | 119,860 t | 1 | 3.95 EUR/kg |
| 19 | Italy | 94,400 t | 1 | 3.95 EUR/kg |
| 26 | Spain | 46,680 t | 1 | 5.39 EUR/kg |
| 39 | Czechia | 25,780 t | 1 | 5.55 EUR/kg |
| 51 | Slovakia | 9,250 t | 2 | 6.22 EUR/kg |
Median of the midpoints of 21 current quotes converted to EUR per kg at the reference rates used on Husfarm. Markets quote different varieties, grades, origins and trade stages, so prices are not directly comparable between countries.
Questions and answers
Which country produces the most butter of cow milk?
United States was the largest producer in 2023 with 957,773 t, 16.0% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
What is the world production of butter of cow milk?
World production was 6.0 million t in 2023, +14% compared with 2013.
Which countries produce the most butter of cow milk?
In 2023: United States (957,773 t, 16.0%), Germany (468,880 t, 7.8%), New Zealand (462,400 t, 7.7%), France (403,970 t, 6.8%), Russia (301,223 t, 5.0%). Together they account for 43.4% of the world total.
What is the wholesale price of butter of cow milk today?
The median of 21 current quotes on 19 markets tracked by Husfarm is 4.64 EUR/kg (latest quote 10 November 2026). Prices vary widely by variety, grade, origin and market.
Where does this data come from?
Production and area figures are from FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (dataset Crops and livestock products, release of 23 December 2025). Shares, rankings, changes and averages are calculated by Husfarm.
Related products
About the data
- Figures are production in tonnes as reported to or estimated by FAO for each calendar year; the latest year is 2023.
- Letters next to a country mark figures that are not official national data: E estimated by FAO, I imputed by FAO (filled in by a statistical model), X taken from an external organisation. Treat them as approximate.
- Shares are relative to the FAO world total; ten-year changes compare 2023 with 2013; average growth per year is the compound annual rate between the two years.
- Country series on Husfarm start in 2000; the world series starts in 1961.
Download CSV All countries and years: production and FAO flag.
How to cite: FAO (2025). FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products — Butter of cow milk. Retrieved via Husfarm, https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/. Licence CC BY 4.0.
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.