10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey – According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database, there are 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey. These countries basically have a large number of whey productions in 2020. Whey is the yellow-green liquid substances in milk processing which has been curdled and strained and it is a derivative product in the manufacturing of cheese or casein. Functionally, many people used the whey to Increase muscle mass, strength, and body weight. Commonly, the type of whey cab be differentiated into sweet whey and acid whey. Sweet whey is a byproduct of ripened cheese production around pH 5.8–6.6 whereas acid whey came from cottage cheeses at pH 3.6–5.1 (Anand et al., 2013).
According to FoodData Central, USDA, in every 100-grams of whey, it contains many nutritional contents which is good for human. the content in 100 grams of whey include Protein, Carbohydrate, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Vitamin C, and others. Furthermore, the magnitude of the content can be seen in the picture above.
The World’s Production of Whey From 1970 to 2020
| Years | Production of Whey |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| 1970 | 527,059 |
| 1971 | 636,058 |
| 1972 | 781,213 |
| 1973 | 813,689 |
| 1974 | 956,209 |
| 1975 | 848,930 |
| 1976 | 918,477 |
| 1977 | 922,667 |
| 1978 | 1,007,849 |
| 1979 | 1,064,702 |
| 1980 | 1,090,584 |
| 1981 | 1,114,234 |
| 1982 | 1,178,641 |
| 1983 | 1,235,433 |
| 1984 | 1,283,919 |
| 1985 | 1,361,981 |
| 1986 | 1,374,922 |
| 1987 | 1,451,982 |
| 1988 | 1,539,714 |
| 1989 | 1,547,368 |
| 1990 | 1,585,737 |
| 1991 | 1,625,360 |
| 1992 | 1,767,404 |
| 1993 | 1,719,871 |
| 1994 | 1,727,167 |
| 1995 | 1,820,988 |
| 1996 | 1,866,441 |
| 1997 | 1,838,800 |
| 1998 | 1,913,568 |
| 1999 | 1,910,095 |
| 2000 | 1,959,260 |
| 2001 | 1,981,872 |
| 2002 | 2,079,476 |
| 2003 | 2,054,591 |
| 2004 | 2,104,506 |
| 2005 | 2,213,996 |
| 2006 | 2,299,592 |
| 2007 | 2,427,116 |
| 2008 | 2,456,853 |
| 2009 | 2,335,690 |
| 2010 | 2,587,680 |
| 2011 | 2,637,697 |
| 2012 | 2,675,015 |
| 2013 | 2,634,650 |
| 2014 | 2,656,550 |
| 2015 | 2,812,070 |
| 2016 | 2,783,321 |
| 2017 | 2,803,552 |
| 2018 | 2,795,799 |
| 2019 | 3,256,031 |
| 2020 | 3,172,038 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
Statistically, according to FAOSTAT database in 2020, the world’s production of Whey from time to time was still in increasing trendline. In the year of 1970, the whey production was in 527 thousand tons. Meanwhile, after 50 years, exactly in the year of 2020, the world’s production of whey has become into 3.1 million tons. The higher demand along with growth of population and dairy industries makes the production whey has been improving from time to time.
The World’s Production of Whey Based on Continent
| Continent | Production of Whey in 2020 |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| Africa | 2,957 |
| Americas | 587,374 |
| Asia | 77,408 |
| Europe | 2,379,874 |
| Oceania | 124,426 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
According to Continental production database, the whey production can be concentrated in many regions. The Europe still become the primary areas with production of whey in 2020 reached 2.3 million tons. America in the second with production was around 587 thousand tons. Oceania in the third with production of whey reached 124 thousand tons. Furthermore, Asia and Africa have small production with output of whey around 77 thousand and 2.9 thousand tons, respectively.
Specifically, in the country’s region, there are 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey. Here is the rank of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey according to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT).
The Rank of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey
| Rank | Countries | Production of Whey in 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | ||
| 1 | United States of America | 434,994 |
| 2 | France | 429,770 |
| 3 | Germany | 317,200 |
| 4 | Poland | 309,290 |
| 5 | Ireland | 258,500 |
| 6 | Italy | 239,530 |
| 7 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 200,660 |
| 8 | Belarus | 127,400 |
| 9 | Australia | 94,946 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 86,130 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | ||
Brief Description of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey
1. United States of America
United State of America still became the world’s biggest producer of Whey in 2020. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Whey from United States of America (USA) reached 434,994 tons in 2020. Functionally, in the United States of America (USA), the production of whey is allocated into human consumptions, amounting 65% of total production and animal feed (35% of USA production) (Chalermthai et al., 2019). Geographically, according to its States, Wisconsin still becomes the largest producer of whey in the stars and stripes country.
2. France
France also became one of the biggest producers of whey in 2020. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of whey from France reached 429,770 tons. Commonly, one of the main producers of Whey in France was Lactalis Group. Furthermore, Morea is one of whey-based beverages in France (Jeličić et al., 2008).
3. Germany
Germany become the third largest producer of whey in 2020. Statistically, the production of whey from Germany reached 317,200 tons. In this country, some of the whey producers are Glanbia Plc, Fonterra, Arla Food, Lactalis, DMK Deutches. Furthermore, In Germany, there are the products of beverage with whey content, namely Big M, Mango-Molke mix brands, Frusighurt, Frucht-Molke, Kur-Molke, Molken Frucht Nektar, Multivitamin-Molke (Jeličić et al., 2008).
4. Poland
Poland is the 4th largest producer of whey in 2020. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of whey reached 309,290 tons. “Serwovit” is one of the whey beverages which can be found in this country (Jeličić et al., 2008).
5. Ireland
Ireland also has huge production of whey. The production of whey from Ireland reached 258,500 tons in 2020. In this country, Ireland, there is a company which manufacturing ethanol from whey. Carbery Group (Cork, Ireland) becomes the first company in the world to operate a whey to ethanol process an industrial scale which started its production 1978 (Ryan and Walsh, 2016).
6. Italy
Italy is the 6th world’s largest producer of whey in 2020. Statistically, the production of whey from Italy reached 239,530 tons. Geographically, the main regions of whey can be found in some regions including Lombardia, Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Sardegna, Piemonte because these regions became the central regions of milk production in Italy (Umbria, 2015).
7. Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Netherlands also can produce of whey around 200,660 tons in 2020. In Netherland, there are the products of juice with whey content, namely Taksi and Djoez brand and yogurt with whey namely Yor brands.
8. Belarus
Belarus produced whey around 127 thousand tones in 2020. In Belarus, there are some areas of whey production. The production areas of whey in Belarus includes Brest region, Mogilyov region, and Grodno region.
9. Australia
Australia had also huge production of whey in 2020. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of whey reached 94,946 tons. in Australia, the whey powder can be processed into food (infant formula, ice cream, cake, biscuits, yoghurt, and others) and non-food (cosmetics, skin creams, detergents). Overall, around 30% of whey national production in Australia was used for domestic purpose (Das et., 2016).
10. Switzerland
Switzerland is the 10th world’s biggest producer of whey in 2020. According to FAOSTAT, the production of whey from Switzerland reached 86,130 tons. Historically, in Switzerland, there is one of the oldest whey beverages. It is called “Rivella” (Jeličić et al., 2008). Furthermore, Surelli and Fit also some of whey beverage in Switzerland.
The Summary of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey
Bibliographies of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Whey
Chalermthai, B., Chan, W. Y., Bastidas-Oyanedel, J. R., Taher, H., Olsen, B. D., & Schmidt, J. E. (2019). Preparation and characterization of whey protein-based polymers produced from residual dairy streams. Polymers, 11(4), 722.
FAOSTAT. 2023. Production of Whey, dry: top 10 producers. Available: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize
Food Data Central.Whey, sweet, dried (100 grams). Availabe at: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171283/nutrients. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Anand S., Chenchaiah M., Som Nath K., Whey and Whey Products. 2013, in: Milk and Dairy Products in Human Nutrition: Production, Composition and Health (eds. Y.W. Park and G.F.W. Haenlein). John Wiley & Sons, Oxford, pp. 477–492.
Ryan, M. P., & Walsh, G. (2016). The biotechnological potential of whey. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 15, 479-498.
Umbria, C. 2015. Report on Milk Supply Chain and Whey Production Italy. The central regions of milk production in Italy.
Das, M., & Ghosh, S. K. (2016). Comparative Study of Whey Utilization in India, New Zealand, and Australia-Identifying Untapped Potential and Means of Utilization. Journal of Solid Waste Technology & Management, 42(1).
Jeličić, I., Božanić, R., & Tratnik, L. (2008). Whey based beverages-new generation of dairy products. Mljekarstvo: časopis za unaprjeđenje proizvodnje i prerade mlijeka, 58(3), 257-274.