France dairy production: cheese from cows' milk
France dairy production: cheese from cows' milk stood at 148.84 thousand tonnes in Jul 2026, according to Eurostat – slaughtering in slaughterhouses, monthly (apro_mt_pheadm), Agreste. It is one of the indicators in the Livestock production (monthly) table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1968 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Livestock production (monthly) table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk collection and dairy products | |||||||||||
| Cheese from cows' milk | 148.84 | 144.91 | 154.56 | 157 | 154.44 | 140.49 | 153.27 | 148.58 | 148.92 | 158.53 | |
| Skimmed milk powder | 28.21 | 32.24 | 36.47 | 37.5 | 40.46 | 34.18 | 38.65 | 39.15 | 29.89 | 32.3 |
Understanding france dairy production: cheese from cows' milk
Tracking the aggregate weight of solid fermented dairy goods ready for distribution, this series measures the total industrial output of cheese derived exclusively from bovine milk sources. The dataset encompasses various ripening stages, moisture levels, and fat categories produced within commercial dairies, ranging from fresh varieties to hard aged blocks. Excluded from this specific total are cheeses manufactured from sheep, goat, or mixed-species milk, as well as processed cheese food analogues containing non-dairy additives. Unlike liquid milk collection metrics that measure raw fluid inputs, this figure captures finished manufactured goods ready for commercial markets, reflecting industrial conversion yields.
Interpreting this production volume requires accounting for scheduled factory maintenance periods and seasonal shifts in milk availability that dictate processing schedules. Initial monthly output figures are frequently revised as dairies submit late production tallies or correct moisture adjustments for aged products. Analysts should always prefer year-on-year comparisons over sequential month-on-month evaluations, because summer grazing patterns and holiday demand surges create deep, regular swings in production. A common pitfall is treating this tonnage metric as an indicator of retail sales, since manufactured cheese often enters cold storage warehouses for long-term aging rather than immediate market consumption.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this cheese production measure include goat and sheep milk varieties?
- No, this specific series is restricted entirely to products manufactured from bovine milk sources.
- Why do early production estimates often change in subsequent releases?
- Dairies frequently update their figures after accounting for final moisture loss in aged varieties and reconciling late plant submissions.
- Is a monthly drop in cheese output a sign of falling consumer demand?
- Not necessarily, as monthly declines frequently reflect seasonal reductions in raw milk collection or planned factory maintenance.