Argentina’s dairy story in 2022 moves fast from what households drank to what exporters shipped. Fresh milk consumption hit 165 liters per person while total fluid milk use climbed to 6.8 billion liters, yet drought pulled raw cow milk output down to 10.95 billion liters, down 1.2% year over year. If you add the ARS 1.2 trillion industry revenue and 120,000 tons of whole milk powder exported, the contrast between backyard production scale and global demand becomes hard to ignore.
Key Takeaways
- Per capita fresh milk consumption in Argentina was 165 liters in 2022.
- Total fluid milk consumption reached 6.8 billion liters in 2022.
- Cheese consumption per capita was 12.5 kg in 2022.
- Industry revenue from dairy reached ARS 1.2 trillion in 2022.
- Dairy sector contributed 1.5% to Argentina's GDP in 2022.
- Employment in dairy industry totaled 120,000 direct jobs in 2022.
- Argentina exported 120,000 tons of whole milk powder in 2022.
- Cheese exports totaled 45,000 tons in 2022, mainly to Russia.
- Top export destination for milk powder was Algeria with 25,000 tons in 2022.
- Total cheese production in Argentina reached 285,000 tons in 2022.
- Whole milk powder output was 190,000 tons in 2022.
- Skim milk powder production totaled 75,000 tons in 2022.
- In 2022, Argentina produced 10.95 billion liters of raw cow milk, marking a 1.2% decline from 2021 due to drought conditions.
- Average milk yield per cow in Argentina reached 5,600 liters annually in 2022, up from 5,450 in 2021.
- The number of dairy cows in Argentina stood at 1.96 million heads in 2022.
In 2022, Argentina’s dairy stayed strong despite drought, producing 10.95 billion liters and driving ARS 1.2 trillion revenue.
Related reading
01 · Category
Domestic Consumption18 stats
01
Per capita fresh milk consumption in Argentina was 165 liters in 2022.
02
Total fluid milk consumption reached 6.8 billion liters in 2022.
03
Cheese consumption per capita was 12.5 kg in 2022.
04
Yogurt per capita intake was 7.2 kg in 2022.
05
Milk powder domestic use was 50,000 tons in 2022.
06
Butter per capita consumption stood at 4.8 kg in 2022.
07
Ice cream consumption per capita was 8.5 kg in 2022.
08
Urban households consumed 70% of total fluid milk in 2022.
09
School milk programs distributed 200 million liters in 2022.
10
Organic dairy consumption grew 15% to 20,000 tons in 2022.
11
Low-fat milk share of consumption was 35% in 2022.
12
Powdered milk home reconstitution was 30 liters per capita equivalent.
13
Cheese in fast food outlets consumed 25,000 tons in 2022.
14
Plant-based milk substitution was 5% of total dairy in 2022.
15
Elderly consumption of fermented milk products rose 10% in 2022.
16
Total dairy expenditure per household was ARS 15,000 monthly in 2022.
17
Regional consumption highest in Buenos Aires at 180 liters/capita milk.
18
Milk tea consumption equivalent added 10 liters/capita in 2022.
Interpretation
Domestic Consumption Interpretation
For domestic consumption in Argentina, dairy demand is broad and sustained in 2022, with per capita fresh milk at 165 liters and total fluid milk reaching 6.8 billion liters, while households also steadily eat cheese (12.5 kg), yogurt (7.2 kg), and butter (4.8 kg).
02 · Category
Industry Economics15 stats
01
Industry revenue from dairy reached ARS 1.2 trillion in 2022.
02
Dairy sector contributed 1.5% to Argentina's GDP in 2022.
03
Employment in dairy industry totaled 120,000 direct jobs in 2022.
04
Average milk producer price was ARS 450 per 100 liters in 2022.
05
Farmgate milk price index rose 95% year-over-year in 2022.
06
Total investment in dairy farms was USD 500 million in 2022.
07
Profit margin for producers averaged 15% in 2022.
08
Export revenue per liter of milk equivalent was USD 0.45 in 2022.
09
Debt levels in dairy sector at 40% of assets in 2022.
10
R&D spending in dairy was ARS 5 billion in 2022.
11
Cooperative share of production was 30% in 2022.
12
Top 10 processors handled 65% of milk in 2022.
13
Energy costs 25% of processing expenses in 2022.
14
Sustainability investments USD 200 million in 2022.
15
Average wage for dairy workers ARS 250,000 monthly in 2022.
Interpretation
Industry Economics Interpretation
In 2022, Argentina’s dairy industry stood out economically with ARS 1.2 trillion in revenue and 1.5% of GDP, while a 95% year over year rise in the farmgate milk price index and ARS 450 per 100 liters signaled strong pricing pressure and investment momentum alongside 120,000 direct jobs and USD 500 million in farm investment.
03 · Category
International Trade19 stats
01
Argentina exported 120,000 tons of whole milk powder in 2022.
02
Cheese exports totaled 45,000 tons in 2022, mainly to Russia.
03
Top export destination for milk powder was Algeria with 25,000 tons in 2022.
04
Dairy export value reached USD 1.2 billion in 2022.
05
Skim milk powder exports were 40,000 tons to China in 2022.
06
Butter exports hit 15,000 tons primarily to Brazil in 2022.
07
Whey powder exports totaled 10,000 tons to Southeast Asia in 2022.
08
Cheese export growth to Russia was 20% in 2022.
09
Milk powder export share of production was 55% in 2022.
10
Total dairy import volume was 20,000 tons in 2022, mostly specialty cheeses.
11
Brazil imported 12,000 tons of Argentine butter in 2022.
12
Algeria's import from Argentina milk powder up 15% to 28,000 tons.
13
EU imported 5,000 tons of Argentine cheese in 2022 under quotas.
14
China SMP imports from Argentina 35% of total SMP exports.
15
Dairy trade balance surplus was USD 1.1 billion in 2022.
16
Port of Buenos Aires handled 70% of dairy exports in 2022.
17
New markets opened in Morocco for 3,000 tons cheese in 2022.
18
Export certification for 50 plants active in 2022.
19
Dairy export logistics costs averaged 12% of value in 2022.
Interpretation
International Trade Interpretation
In 2022 Argentina’s dairy exports totaled USD 1.2 billion, led by whole milk powder shipments of 120,000 tons and especially 25,000 tons to Algeria, showing that international trade demand is strongly concentrated on a few destination markets.
More related reading
04 · Category
Product Specific Output18 stats
01
Total cheese production in Argentina reached 285,000 tons in 2022.
02
Whole milk powder output was 190,000 tons in 2022.
03
Skim milk powder production totaled 75,000 tons in 2022.
04
Butter production in Argentina was 85,000 tons in 2022.
05
Fresh cheese (Queso Fresco) output hit 120,000 tons in 2022.
06
Semi-hard cheese production was 110,000 tons in 2022.
07
Yogurt production reached 45,000 tons in 2022.
08
UHT milk output was 1.2 billion liters in 2022.
09
Sweetened condensed milk production totaled 25,000 tons in 2022.
10
Cream production was 30,000 tons in 2022.
11
Ice cream output reached 350,000 tons in 2022.
12
Milk powder export-oriented production was 60% of total in 2022.
13
Reggianito cheese production was 15,000 tons in 2022.
14
Blue cheese output totaled 8,000 tons in 2022.
15
Mozzarella production hit 40,000 tons in 2022.
16
Milk chocolate dairy content production was 20,000 tons in 2022.
17
Whey powder production reached 12,000 tons in 2022.
18
Casein output was 5,000 tons in 2022.
Interpretation
Product Specific Output Interpretation
In 2022 Argentina’s product specific output shows a strong concentration in dairy powders and cheeses, with 190,000 tons of whole milk powder and 75,000 tons of skim milk powder alongside 120,000 tons of fresh cheese and 110,000 tons of semi hard cheese.
05 · Category
Production Volume20 stats
01
In 2022, Argentina produced 10.95 billion liters of raw cow milk, marking a 1.2% decline from 2021 due to drought conditions.
02
Average milk yield per cow in Argentina reached 5,600 liters annually in 2022, up from 5,450 in 2021.
03
The number of dairy cows in Argentina stood at 1.96 million heads in 2022.
04
Pampas region accounted for 82% of total milk production in Argentina in 2022.
05
Milk production per farm averaged 1.2 million liters in 2022 for Argentine dairy farms.
06
Total dairy farm count in Argentina was approximately 8,500 in 2022.
07
Feed costs represented 60% of total production costs for milk in Argentina in 2022.
08
Average farm size for dairy operations in Argentina increased to 120 hectares in 2022.
09
Milk production in Santa Fe province reached 3.2 billion liters in 2022.
10
Córdoba province contributed 2.8 billion liters to national milk output in 2022.
11
Buenos Aires province produced 2.1 billion liters of milk in 2022.
12
Entre Ríos dairy output was 1.1 billion liters in 2022.
13
Milk production growth rate in Argentina was -2.5% in the first half of 2023.
14
Total milking parlors in Argentina numbered over 12,000 in 2022.
15
Average daily milk yield per cow hit 18.5 liters in 2022.
16
Organic milk production in Argentina was 150 million liters in 2022.
17
Irrigation coverage in dairy farms reached 25% in key regions by 2022.
18
Milk fat content averaged 3.4% in Argentine raw milk in 2022.
19
Protein content in milk averaged 3.2% nationwide in 2022.
20
Somatic cell count averaged 250,000/ml in 2022 for Argentine milk.
Interpretation
Production Volume Interpretation
In the Production Volume category, Argentina’s 2022 output fell to 10.95 billion liters of raw cow milk despite higher yield per cow reaching 5,600 liters and a dairy herd of 1.96 million, showing that drought-related pressure outweighed the gains in productivity.
report visual · Breakdown
Argentina Dairy Demand Snapshot (2022)
A mix of high-level demand indicators highlights per-capita consumption, total fluid consumption, and key consumer focus areas.
70%
Urban households consumed 70% of total fluid milk in 2022.
30%
Cooperative share of production was 30% in 2022.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Argentina Dairy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/argentina-dairy-industry-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Argentina Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/argentina-dairy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Argentina Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/argentina-dairy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
59 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level