Value sales of cheese are expected to remain stable in Finland in 2025, as consumers continue to face economic pressures and rising living costs. This has led to increased price sensitivity, with many Finns reducing their purchases of premium or specialty cheeses in favour of more affordable private label alternatives. Additionally, growing health consciousness and a gradual shift towards plant-based alternatives are beginning to modestly affect traditional dairy cheese consumption. With the dom

Cheese has recorded modest growth in current value terms in 2025, underpinned by stable household consumption and a sustained interest in home cooking. While cheddar remained the dominant variety by volume, growth is increasingly being driven by non-cheddar formats, particularly mozzarella, parmesan, and snackable cheese, reflecting evolving consumer preferences for meal versatility, culinary experimentation, and premiumisation. These shifts have been further amplified by younger consumers who i

Value sales of cheese are falling slightly in China in 2025, representing a recovery as the decline has slowed significantly compared to 2023 and 2024. The recovery of processed cheese is key to the performance of the overall category. In the past, the vast majority of products in processed cheese were cheese sticks aimed at children, but with the gradual popularity of cheese snacks for adults, products like cheese cubes are becoming the new driving force for development.

Cheese has seen steady growth in current value terms in 2025 with retail volume sales remaining stable. The main factor behind the category’s growth has been unit price movement. This has been driven by the increase in milk prices, which is related to the fièvre catarrhale ovine (bluetongue virus) which has affected livestock and thus milk production. Cheese remains a highly relevant part of Belgian gastronomy, but beside price rises, two more factors have restrained volume growth. First, cheese

Retail value sales of cheese in Bulgaria increased in 2025, driven primarily by the sustained high price levels across the category. Elevated production costs, coupled with further increases in both minimum and average wages, continued to put upward pressure on retail prices. The resilience of consumer spending power, supported by rising incomes, allowed households to maintain regular cheese consumption despite the higher prices. In addition, the growing appetite for premium and specialty cheese

Retail value sales of cheese are set to increase in current terms in South Korea in 2025, largely driven by rising demand for cheese as a snack. Previously niche categories such as string cheese, packaged hard cheese, and spreadable cheese are gaining momentum as consumers seek convenient, nutritious, and premium snacking options. These formats often carry higher price points due to their added value in portability, packaging, and perceived quality, resulting in strong retail selling price (RSP)

Retail value sales of cheese in the Czech Republic are projected to continue to see a double-digit increase in 2025, albeit slightly slower than in 2024. Meanwhile, retail volume sales are expected to grow moderately, following stronger growth in 2024.

Value sales of cheese in Egypt are set to record a double-digit increase in 2025, driven primarily by significant price hikes, especially during the first quarter of the year. These increases were largely due to rising raw material costs, particularly milk, alongside a substantial fuel price surge in March 2025 that inflated operational expenses across the industry. Among cheese categories, soft cheese emerged as the leader in value growth, underpinned by its affordability, nutritional appeal, a

As with other dairy products categories, the demand for cheese experienced a marked decline in 2023–24 and demonstrated only a modest recovery in 2025. The principal factor underlying the previous year’s downturn was the broader economic context and the inflationary pressures that eroded disposable incomes. However, while inflation has now stabilised and economic recovery is underway, recovery is gradual.

Value sales of cheese in Canada grew in 2025, driven by its positioning as a versatile, indulgent, and naturally nutrient-dense food. The health and wellness trend continues to play a central role, with cheese widely perceived as a rich source of protein and healthy fats. This is complemented by demographic factors, particularly the exceptional population growth over the last two years, which has boosted household demand. Canadians are increasingly open to exploring the expanding variety of chee

Cheese has seen healthy growth in volume and value terms in 2025. Austria is a traditional cheese eating country which supports high volume sales while value growth has been driven by moderate price increases throughout the year. Hard cheese accounts for the largest share of cheese sales in 2025 with Gouda being the most popular type of hard cheese followed by Emmentaler, Großloch and Parmesan. Packaged hard cheese is extremely popular with consumers due to its high convenience factor and lower

Retail value sales of cheese are set to grow in current terms in Greece over the forecast period. Cheese is generally a popular category in the country with many brands and products being offered to consumers. Indeed, it is seen as part of the Greek culture and lifestyle and consumers are willing to pay more for premium products like PDO feta or kaseri. At the same time, there are many private label products available to also serve the cost conscious consumer. The cheese category is also very ve

In 2025, retail value sales of cheese in Chile are increasing. Data from the Chilean Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA) show that annual consumption is now at 11 kg per capita - the highest level in Latin America and a figure that continues to expand. Growth rests on two pillars: the steady development of new domestic varieties and a wider offer of imported cheeses that together stimulate interest and demand.

Retail value sales of cheese are set to decline in current terms in Japan in 2025. The decline resulted primarily from a fall in volumes due largely to price increases. Prices of Oceania-produced cheese imported from Australia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 (January to June) were up about 15% compared to the second half of 2024 (July to December). Japan imports 80% of the cheese it consumes domestically, and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) accounts for 40% of total imports, which

Retail value sales of cheese in Saudi Arabia grew by 8% in current terms in 2025, reaching SAR3.4 billion. This growth was driven by strong consumption patterns across Saudi households, as cheese continued to benefit from its versatility and convenience, fitting seamlessly into daily meals, school lunches, and quick snacking occasions. Despite inflationary pressures, many local consumers maintained cheese as a regular purchase, although they became more selective, often choosing pack sizes that

Cheese is expected to maintain double-digit retail current value growth in India in 2024. The country has a high population base of vegetarians, with 32% of respondents to Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumer Survey in January-February 2024 saying, “I am vegetarian”. The vegetarian diet can often be low in protein content due to a lack of meat. To increase the intake of protein and have a more balanced diet, consumers are increasingly turning towards cheese, especially paneer, a type of cottage c

Brazil’s weather patterns are affected by the alternating La Ninã and El Niño phenomena, which have had greater impacts in recent years. El Niño, which started in 2023 and continued in 2024, caused one of the biggest natural disasters in the history of the country in the first quarter of 2024, in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. After experiencing heavy rain and historic floods, 94% of the municipalities in the state were under water, and hundreds of thousands of people were

After a strong spike in 2022, the average unit price of cheese in Peru continues to slow in 2024. Despite this stabilisation, there has not been a corresponding strong increase in retail volume sales, although they remain positive and above pre-pandemic levels.

Cheese continues to witness stable consumer demand in Slovenia in 2024, bolstered by its versatility as both a staple food and an increasingly popular snacking option. Many cheese connoisseurs and health-conscious consumers, particularly those following low-carbohydrate diets or seeking to increase their protein intake, are turning to cheese as a healthier alternative to carbohydrate- and sugar-laden snacks. This shift in snacking preferences is driving the steady consumption of cheese throughou

Cheese in Sweden is facing maturity as a category in 2024, though its products remain trendy for snacking and for use in cooking and sandwiches. As such, the per capita consumption continues to rise. The flavour experience continues to be the main attraction of cheese, with players working to offer Swedes more premium flavours and deliver new flavours and mouthfeel. Arla introduced several new cheeses, which the brand states as “bringing more flavour to everyday life.” The Arla Billinge cheese i

Cheese in Kenya continues to be negatively affected by price-sensitivity at the end of the review period. Average retail current unit prices are set to see double-digit increases across categories over 2024. This is driving consumers towards more affordable alternatives to cheese, especially amidst a high cost-of-living and inflation rate. This shift is also reflected in their purchasing decisions within cheese, with a preference for budget-friendly over more premium varieties. For example, loca

Cheese is struggling in retail volume terms in Slovakia in 2024, with value sales better supported by high prices. Meanwhile, foodservice volume sales are notably stronger, due to the wide use of cheese as an ingredient in local cuisine.

Cheese in Uzbekistan is expected to register modest volume and constant value growth in 2024. Continuing population growth support volumes sales. Soft cheese is more traditional in Uzbekistan continues to account for most value sales and is also expected to register the highest value and volume growth. Within hard cheese, unpackaged is much more popular, though packaged is expected to register higher volume growth in 2024, as brands offer more competitive prices to encourage sales. Examples of b

The significant increase in cheese prices in Serbia in 2024 has led to a decline in volume sales, although the unit price growth has simultaneously driven up the overall value sales of cheese. This price surge has heightened price sensitivity among consumers, leading to a widespread presence of discounts. Retailers often offer substantial price reductions, with some discounts reaching as much as 40% off for 1 kg packs of cheese. In contrast, smaller package sizes typically come with more modest