What this market covers
Hard cheese made from cow milk and aged for flavour, sold in blocks, slices and shreds. Buyers are grocery retailers, food service operators and food manufacturers.
Typical segments
- Mild and mature cheddar
- Shredded and sliced
- Processed cheddar
- Block for foodservice
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +62% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +12% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €382.5 million of products under CN code 04069021 (Cheddar) from outside the EU in 2025. | 382.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 04069021 were up 62% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€236.0 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +62 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 04069021 to countries outside the EU were worth €578.3 million in 2025. | 578.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 04069021 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €1.12 billion in 2025. | 1.12 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United Kingdom was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 04069021 to the EU in 2025, with €355.4 million, or 93% of extra-EU imports. | 355.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 04069021 to the United States were €36.5 million in 2025. | 36.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 04069021 was €5.66 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 5.66 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Ireland was the largest EU exporter of CN 04069021 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €515.5 million. | 515.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 9,094 enterprises in NACE class C1051 (Operation of dairies and cheese making) in 2023. | 9,094 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1051 employed 380,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 380,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 727 private establishments in NAICS 311513 (Cheese manufacturing) in 2025. | 727 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 311513 employed an average of 62,493 people in US private industry in 2025. | 62,493 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 311513 changed by +12% between 2020 (55,968 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +12 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 311513 was $74,050 in 2025. | 74,050 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 04069021, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 382513224
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 04069021, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 235963780; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 382513224
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 04069021, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 578325651
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 04069021, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1118237574
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 04069021, partner GB, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 355363337
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 04069021, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 36499016
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 04069021, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 382513224, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 676067
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter IE, product 04069021, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 515527071
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1051, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 9094
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1051, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 380000
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 311513, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 11
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311513, annual_avg_estabs 727
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311513, annual_avg_emplvl 62493
- Figure 13
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 55968; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 62493
- Figure 14
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311513, avg_annual_pay 74050
- Figure 11
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Grocery retailers
- Foodservice operators
- Food manufacturers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU cheddar cheese market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €382.5 million of goods under CN 04069021 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €578.3 million.
Where does the EU import cheddar cheese from?
United Kingdom was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included New Zealand, United States, Norway.
What is the average import price of cheddar cheese in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €5.66 per kilogram for CN 04069021 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most cheddar cheese?
Ireland led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Netherlands, Denmark.
How many US companies are in the cheddar cheese industry?
BLS counts 727 private establishments in NAICS 311513 (Cheese manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the cheddar cheese industry?
Eurostat counts 9,094 enterprises in NACE class C1051 (Operation of dairies and cheese making).
Ask about this market
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- Where does the 382.5 figure for the Cheddar cheese Market come from?
- How big is the Cheddar cheese Market?
- What does the Cheddar cheese Market cover?
- Who are the largest suppliers in the Cheddar cheese Market?
Answers come from the figures published on this site. Check the linked sources before relying on a number.
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