How much milk does France produce and export?
France is the nullth largest producer of milk: 24.2 million tonnes in 2024, 3.1% of the world's 788.6 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the 5th largest exporter by value: $1.1 billion in 2024, 5.1% of world exports of milk powders (HS 0402) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is the Netherlands, which takes 14% of its milk exports by value.
All about milk · All about France · Milk price history
France's milk production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.2 million tonnes | 3.1% | -0.3% a year | 2024 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.1% |
France's milk exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $1.1 billion | 5.1% | 445,783 t | $2,517 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 0402 (Milk and cream, concentrated or sweetened (powders)).
Where France's milk goes
| Destination | Value | Share of France's exports |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $157M | 14% |
| Italy | $99M | 8.8% |
| Belgium | $95M | 8.5% |
| Germany | $81M | 7.2% |
| Algeria | $72M | 6.4% |
France as a buyer of milk
Of its $317.5 million of milk imports in 2024, 27% came from Belgium and 25% from Germany, among 69 suppliers.
How much milk France uses
France's domestic supply of milk was 25.8 million tonnes in 2023, 2.4% of the world's. Food supply was 259 kg per person a year, 11th highest of 142 countries with a million or more people. It produced 97% of what it used (self-sufficiency) and imported 36%. FAO's item is "Milk, excluding butter (whole-milk equivalent)". Consumption · Self-sufficiency.
The milk price France sells into
The benchmark price, Milk, USDA Class III spot, United States, was $19.66/cwt in August 2026, down 7% over twelve months. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Milk price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "France milk: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/FRA/milk/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.