Türkiye could narrow Europe’s butter supply shortage, says industry leader
A fresh block of butter, partially sliced, placed on parchment paper over a wooden surface. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Türkiye’s butter production reached an all-time high in 2024, and the country could help meet Europe’s demand if export restrictions were lifted, said Harun Calli, president of the Turkish Packaged Milk and Dairy Products Industrialists Association (ASUD).
Calli noted that butter shortages in Europe have been a recurring issue, leading to significant price increases in recent months.
He pointed out that Türkiye currently imposes export restrictions on butter to protect the domestic market, saying: “As a country, we can only export packaged products of 1 kilogram or less.”
“For exports to Europe, milk must be sourced from approved farms. Currently, 41 facilities in Türkiye are capable of exporting butter to Europe,” Calli said.
“If we have a surplus in butter production, allowing exports to Europe would benefit our industry.”
Emphasizing the importance of supporting dairy producers, Calli highlighted the need to promote the export of high-value products, particularly cheese.
Türkiye hits record butter production as Europe faces supply shortages
Butter prices in Europe have surged because of rising costs and production shortages, prompting restrictions on sales. According to Eurostat, the average butter price in Europe increased by 21.3% year-over-year in December 2024.
Meanwhile, Türkiye’s butter production rose by 15.2% in 2024, reaching a record-breaking 100,321 metric tons (110,584 tonnes), according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
