> In 2023 New Zealand produced 375,000 t of cheese from whole cow milk, the 14th largest in the world (1.63% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 21%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/new-zealand/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Cheese from whole cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/)›New ZealandFAOSTAT · 1961–2023

# Cheese from whole cow milk production in New Zealand

In 2023 New Zealand produced 375,000 t of cheese from whole cow milk, the 14th largest in the world (1.63% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 21%. The record was 380,000 t in 2018.
The 2023 figure is estimated by FAO.

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

Production, 2023375,000 t
World rank14 of 95
10-year change+21%
Record380,000 t2018

## Cheese from whole cow milk in New Zealand, 1961–2023 (tonnes)

## New Zealand compared with the world, 2023

Share of world total1.6%1.7% in 2013
10-year change+21%world +25%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 12 | [Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/argentina/) | 477,436 | 2.1% |
| 13 | [Egypt](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/egypt/) | 444,205 | 1.9% |
| 14 | **New Zealand** | 375,000 | 1.6% |
| 15 | [Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/australia/) | 374,812 | 1.6% |
| 16 | [Venezuela](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/venezuela/) | 372,113 | 1.6% |

[Full ranking of 95 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/)

### Map of world production of cheese from whole 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 | 375,000 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 375,000 | −1.3% |
| 2021 | 380,000 | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 350,000 | −4.1% |
| 2019 | 365,000 | −3.9% |
| 2018 | 380,000 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 378,000 | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 360,000 | −3.7% |
| 2015 | 374,000 | +15% |
| 2014 | 325,000 | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 311,000 | −3.1% |
| 2012 | 321,000 | +19% |
| 2011 | 270,000 | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 268,000 | −13% |
| 2009 | 308,000 | +6.9% |
| 2008 | 288,000 | −6.5% |
| 2007 | 308,000 | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 292,000 | −1.7% |
| 2005 | 297,000 | −2.6% |
| 2004 | 305,000 | +11% |
| 2003 | 275,000 | −10% |
| 2002 | 307,000 | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 280,615 | −5.4% |
| 2000 | 296,745 | +24% |
| 1999 | 238,535 | −10% |
| 1998 | 265,635 | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 253,638 | +11% |
| 1996 | 229,086 | +16% |
| 1995 | 197,370 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 193,348 | +34% |
| 1993 | 144,521 | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 137,405 | +10% |
| 1991 | 124,773 | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 118,109 | −7.7% |
| 1989 | 128,000 | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 127,900 | −7.6% |
| 1987 | 138,400 | +22% |
| 1986 | 113,300 | −11% |
| 1985 | 127,300 | +17% |
| 1984 | 109,255 | −4.5% |
| 1983 | 114,390 | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 111,910 | +33% |
| 1981 | 84,342 | −20% |
| 1980 | 105,727 | +17% |
| 1979 | 90,300 | +12% |
| 1978 | 80,727 | −0.4% |
| 1977 | 81,028 | −23% |
| 1976 | 104,798 | +18% |
| 1975 | 88,609 | −0.5% |
| 1974 | 89,032 | −12% |
| 1973 | 101,105 | −3.1% |
| 1972 | 104,298 | −3.3% |
| 1971 | 107,849 | +7.6% |
| 1970 | 100,200 | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 97,600 | −13% |
| 1968 | 111,600 | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 111,500 | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 105,600 | −0.6% |
| 1965 | 106,200 | +12% |
| 1964 | 95,100 | −3.4% |
| 1963 | 98,400 | −2.2% |
| 1962 | 100,600 | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 99,100 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports338,680 t USD 1.48 bn
Exporter rank7 of 123
Imports7,958 t USD 55.3 m
Importer rank72 of 192
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/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of cheese from whole cow milk in New Zealand?

New Zealand produced 375,000 t in 2023, 1.6% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does New Zealand rank in the world for production of cheese from whole cow milk?

New Zealand ranked 14th of 95 countries in 2023. The largest producer was United States with 27.9% of the world total.

### How has the production of cheese from whole cow milk in New Zealand changed?

It rose by 21% between 2013 and 2023, compared with +25% for the world. The record was 380,000 t in 2018.

### Does New Zealand export or import cheese from whole cow milk?

In 2024 New Zealand reported exports of 338,680 t (USD 1.48 bn) and imports of 7,958 t (USD 55.3 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/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/united-states/)[Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/germany/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/france/)[Italy](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/italy/)[Netherlands](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/netherlands/)[Poland](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/poland/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/turkey/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/russia/)[Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/canada/)[United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/united-kingdom/)[Denmark](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/denmark/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/argentina/)
[All countries producing cheese from whole cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-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/)[Butter of cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/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/)
[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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