> In 2023 New Zealand produced 462,400 t of butter of cow milk, the 3rd largest in the world (7.73% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 19%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/new-zealand/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Butter of cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/)›New ZealandFAOSTAT · 1961–2023

# Butter of cow milk production in New Zealand

In 2023 New Zealand produced 462,400 t of butter of cow milk, the 3rd largest in the world (7.73% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 19%. The record was 569,500 t in 2015.
The 2023 figure is estimated by FAO.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/butter/)

Production, 2023462,400 t
World rank3 of 118
10-year change+19%
Record569,500 t2015

## Butter of cow milk in New Zealand, 1961–2023 (tonnes)

## New Zealand compared with the world, 2023

Share of world total7.7%7.4% in 2013
10-year change+19%world +14%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [United States](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/united-states/) | 957,773 | 16.0% |
| 2 | [Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/germany/) | 468,880 | 7.8% |
| 3 | **New Zealand** | 462,400 | 7.7% |
| 4 | [France](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/france/) | 403,970 | 6.8% |
| 5 | [Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/russia/) | 301,223 | 5.0% |

[Full ranking of 118 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/)

### Map of world production of butter of cow milk

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; New Zealand is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | 462,400 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 459,000 | +8.6% |
| 2021 | 422,687 | −13% |
| 2020 | 483,859 | −3.2% |
| 2019 | 500,000 | −0.4% |
| 2018 | 502,000 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 491,100 | −12% |
| 2016 | 560,600 | −1.6% |
| 2015 | 569,500 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 568,500 | +46% |
| 2013 | 390,000 | +13% |
| 2012 | 344,150 | −25% |
| 2011 | 459,000 | +17% |
| 2010 | 392,000 | −5.1% |
| 2009 | 413,000 | −1.3% |
| 2008 | 418,500 | −0.1% |
| 2007 | 419,000 | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 390,000 | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 379,000 | −2.8% |
| 2004 | 390,000 | −3.7% |
| 2003 | 405,000 | −2.3% |
| 2002 | 414,550 | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 391,135 | +14% |
| 2000 | 343,831 | +8.3% |
| 1999 | 317,475 | −7.6% |
| 1998 | 343,658 | −2.1% |
| 1997 | 350,887 | +18% |
| 1996 | 297,369 | +12% |
| 1995 | 265,333 | −2.5% |
| 1994 | 272,086 | +7.9% |
| 1993 | 252,267 | −3.6% |
| 1992 | 261,653 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 250,881 | −2.7% |
| 1990 | 257,842 | +14% |
| 1989 | 226,000 | −7.3% |
| 1988 | 243,800 | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 240,900 | −17% |
| 1986 | 291,700 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 277,500 | −1.5% |
| 1984 | 281,800 | +13% |
| 1983 | 249,800 | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 239,100 | −3.3% |
| 1981 | 247,200 | −3.1% |
| 1980 | 255,000 | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 254,700 | +10% |
| 1978 | 231,200 | −12% |
| 1977 | 263,100 | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 252,100 | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 239,400 | +13% |
| 1974 | 211,300 | −11% |
| 1973 | 237,500 | −2.7% |
| 1972 | 244,200 | +5.8% |
| 1971 | 230,800 | −3.7% |
| 1970 | 239,700 | −12% |
| 1969 | 271,400 | +8.0% |
| 1968 | 251,400 | −2.9% |
| 1967 | 258,900 | +5.9% |
| 1966 | 244,400 | −0.4% |
| 1965 | 245,300 | +6.0% |
| 1964 | 231,500 | +6.7% |
| 1963 | 217,000 | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 210,700 | −1.3% |
| 1961 | 213,500 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports429,069 t USD 2.81 bn
Exporter rank1 of 113
Imports924 t USD 6.3 m
Importer rank86 of 189
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of butter of cow milk in New Zealand?

New Zealand produced 462,400 t in 2023, 7.7% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does New Zealand rank in the world for production of butter of cow milk?

New Zealand ranked 3rd of 118 countries in 2023. The largest producer was United States with 16.0% of the world total.

### How has the production of butter of cow milk in New Zealand changed?

It rose by 19% between 2013 and 2023, compared with +14% for the world. The record was 569,500 t in 2015.

### Does New Zealand export or import butter of cow milk?

In 2024 New Zealand reported exports of 429,069 t (USD 2.81 bn) and imports of 924 t (USD 6.3 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2023 figure for New Zealand is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/united-states/)[Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/germany/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/france/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/russia/)[Ireland](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/ireland/)[Poland](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/poland/)[Netherlands](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/netherlands/)[United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/united-kingdom/)[Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/iran/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/brazil/)[Belarus](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/belarus/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/turkey/)
[All countries producing butter of cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/)

## Other products of New Zealand

[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/new-zealand/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/new-zealand/)[Whole milk powder](https://husfarm.com/production/whole-milk-powder/new-zealand/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/new-zealand/)[Kiwi fruit](https://husfarm.com/production/kiwi-fruit/new-zealand/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/new-zealand/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/new-zealand/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/new-zealand/)[Sheep meat](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/new-zealand/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/new-zealand/)[Skim milk and whey powder](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-and-whey-powder/new-zealand/)[Cheese from whole cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/new-zealand/)
[Agricultural production in New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/country/new-zealand/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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