EU dairy imports fall 19%, exports top €12 billion
A European Commission report shows EU dairy imports dropped 19% in the first seven months of 2026, while exports rose 2%. The sector's trade surplus reached almost €11 billion.
The European Union's foreign trade in dairy has tilted further towards exports in the first seven months of 2026: imports of dairy products have fallen sharply, while shipments abroad have grown. The figures come from the European Commission's latest report on agri-food trade and show the bloc's position in the global dairy market.
Imports down
From January to July, EU dairy imports totalled €1.32 billion. That is €308 million, or 19%, less than in the same period of 2025, when imports stood at €1.63 billion. The Commission says the drop followed an exceptionally high import level last year, when high dairy prices on the EU market encouraged more purchases from abroad. A lower import value does not necessarily mean smaller volumes, since price changes on international markets also affect the result.
Exports up
The value of dairy exports over the seven months was €12.31 billion, which is €245 million, or 2%, more than a year earlier. As a result, the sector's trade surplus grew by €553 million to €10.99 billion. The EU remains a major net exporter of dairy, with the value of sales abroad many times higher than imports.
The report also notes a rise in exports of "other animal products" by €549 million, or 11%. This was mainly due to higher milk protein prices and larger volumes of fur skin exports.
Wider context
Imports of all agri-food products into the EU fell by 4% over the period, to €108.6 billion; the Commission links this mainly to lower cocoa prices. Exports of the sector reached €138.7 billion, 1% lower than last year. Thus, despite a slight decline in total exports, the dairy sector keeps positive momentum in foreign sales.
