The given chart illustrates the production volumes of four different dairy products in the top three producing countries in 2012, measured in metric tons (MT).
From a general perspective, it is evident from the data that, while the European Union (EU) led in the production of milk and cheese, India and China were the top producers of butter and milk powder, respectively. Notably, milk production stood out as the most significant one across all categories.
Moving onto further details, it can be seen that the lion’s share of milk production was observed in the EU, with 142,970 MT, followed closely by India (127,000). With the lowest figure at 90,038 MT recorded in the United States, milk production was by far the most substantial, while other fields couldn’t surpass 10,000 MT. Additionally, regarding cheese production, the EU once topped the list with 7,120 MT, which was tenfold higher than that of Brazil (700). The United States ranked second, with 4,925 MT of cheese being produced in 2012. Despite leading in cheese and milk, the EU had the lowest milk powder output, suggesting less emphasis on processed dairy.
Taking a closer look at the remaining products, India dominated the butter market with 7,500 MT. The other two nations, namely the EU and the United States, produced considerably less, with the former at 2,040 MT and the latter at 810 MT. Meanwhile, milk powder was the least prominent market, with China being the major producer at 1,200 MT, followed closely by New Zealand and the EU at 1,110 MT and 770 MT, respectively.