Dairy sector strains hit Spain's cheese makers and Argentine shoppers

Spain recorded a record 435,000 tonnes of cheese imports in 2025 – a 6.4% rise over the previous year and three times the volume exported – driven mainly by shipments from Germany, the Netherlands and France. Although total cheese sales rose 3.6% to 463,000 tonnes, traditional Spanish sheep and goat cheeses did not keep pace, raising concerns for the domestic cheese industry. The sector points to falling consumer disposable income, higher prices for cow‑milk cheese and competition from low‑cost goat milk produced in the Netherlands as key pressures, and calls for greater promotion of traditional Spanish cheeses.

In Argentina, vice‑president of the National Warehouse Federation Fernando Savore warned that persistent inflation is eroding purchasing power, noting that “prices always outpace wages.” He highlighted ongoing price hikes in dairy products, flour, cookies and oils, and cited the cost of a gas bottle rising from 15,000 to 25‑30,000 pesos. Consumers are shifting to private‑label brands and cash discounts, while small retailers balance credit extensions with their own sustainability.

Both stories illustrate how rising prices and increased competition are squeezing the dairy sector and consumers in Europe and South America.