More people, inspired by travel and new tastes, are choosing premium varieties alongside popular options. As global awareness and appreciation for culinary diversity continue to grow, Poland’s interest in high-quality cheese is rising every year. Poland produces roughly 925.000–980.000 tons of cheese annually, placing it among the leading producers in the European Union.
Beeld: © Photo by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash
What Poland brings to the table
Cheese production in Poland has deep agricultural roots and has historically been linked to pastoral traditions in mountainous and rural regions. Traditional cheeses such as oscypek, bryndza podhalańska, and various fresh curd cheeses (twaróg) formed the foundation of Polish cheese culture.
A significant transformation of the cheese sector occurred after Poland joined the European Union in 2004. EU accession accelerated modernization, investment in processing technologies and compliance with European food safety standards. As a result, Polish cheese production increased substantially and the country became one of the largest dairy producers in the EU. Poland produces roughly 925.000–980.000 tons of cheese annually. By comparison, cheese production in the Netherlands reaches around 970,000 tons, while the EU as a whole produces approximately 10.8 million tons of cheese per year. So both countries produce almost 20% of the total EU production.
Polish consumers have also been consuming more cheese since the beginning of the century. Was it still approximately ±10 kg per person per year in 2000, in 2024 this has -due to rising prosperity, outdoor dining and higher national production - grown to ~16-18 kg and still rising slightly. In the EU the average consumption per year per person is ~17-25 kg where the Dutch eat about 20kg.
Best bites
Cheese production is concentrated in regions with the largest milk supply, Podlaskie, Mazovian and Warmia-Mazury in the north-east and , Greater Poland in the center-west. These regions host many of Poland’s largest dairy processors such as Mlekovita, Mlekpol and Polmlek.
The structure of cheese production in Poland is dominated by several key categories:
- Hard and semi-hard cheeses (yellow cheeses), this is the largest segment of production and includes cheeses similar to Gouda, Edam and Maasdam. These products are widely exported across Europe.
- Fresh cheeses, fresh curd cheeses (twaróg) remain an essential component of the Polish diet and account for a large share of domestic consumption.
- Processed cheeses, produced mainly for retail and food processing industries.
- Regional cheeses, traditional cheeses with protected status include oscypek and bryndza podhalańska.
Beeld: © Photo by Dana Ward on Unsplash
The cheese exchange
In 2025, cheese and curd (‘wrongel’) represented the largest category of Polish dairy exports, reaching approximately 220.000 tons with a value of about € 998 million, almost one third of total dairy exports. Germany, Romania, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, UK and Ukraine are the most important export destinations.
Poland imports mainly specialty cheeses that are less commonly produced domestically. The main suppliers include Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and France. These imports are largely composed of premium European cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Camembert and specialty Dutch cheeses.
Ukraine has become an increasingly important market for Polish dairy (mainly cheese) exports. In 2025 alone, exports of cheese from Poland to Ukraine exceeded ~€ 100 million, compared to ~€ 90 million in 2024. This reflects growing regional integration and Poland’s role as a major supplier of cheese products to Eastern Europe.
Consumption of cheese continues to rise as well in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, creating export opportunities for Poland.
The future of Polish Dairy
The Polish dairy sector is currently at a crossroads, facing a series of challenges that test its resilience. A primary concern remains the volatility of global milk prices, which fluctuate alongside shifting international demand and feed costs. Furthermore, producers must navigate increasingly strict EU environmental regulations. EU climate policies require reductions in agricultural emissions and improved sustainability practices, which increase short term costs for dairy farms. Beyond the farm, changing consumer habits, such as the rise of plant-based alternatives, are reshaping the market.
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More information
The Netherlands Agricultural Network team at the Dutch Embassy stands ready to help any Dutch company interested in doing business with Poland.
For more information about this topic, please contact: war-lvvn@minbuza.nl