The bar charts illustrate the production levels of four different dairy products – milk, cheese, butter, and milk powder – by the top three producing countries or regions in 2012. The data is measured in metric tonnes.
Overall, milk was produced in vastly greater quantities than any other dairy product. The European Union was a dominant producer across most categories, while India was the clear leader in butter production. The top producers for milk powder were notably different from the other categories.
Focusing on milk, the European Union was the largest producer, with an output of 142,970 metric tonnes. India followed with a significant production of 127,000 tonnes, while the United States ranked third at 90,038 tonnes. The European Union also led in cheese production, manufacturing 7,120 tonnes. The United States was the second-largest cheese producer at 4,925 tonnes, whereas Brazil’s production was considerably lower, at only 700 tonnes.
In the butter market, India was the standout producer, with 4,500 tonnes, more than double the 2,040 tonnes produced by the European Union. The United States was a distant third with 810 tonnes. The market for milk powder showed a different set of leaders. China was the top producer with 1,200 tonnes, followed closely by New Zealand at 1,110 tonnes. The European Union was the third-largest producer in this category as well, with 770 tonnes.