How much was exported butter sold for on average in the first five months of the year?

The butter exported between January and May was sold at an average of 3.66 francs per kilo, a price significantly lower than the approximately 12 francs per kilo of the wholesale price on the Swiss domestic market.

What is the stock of butter in Swiss warehouses and what is the estimated loss?

At the end of May, inventories in Swiss cold stores amounted to 7,903 tons, an increase of 25% compared to the previous year. The sale abroad of the surpluses resulted in an estimated loss of about CHF 27 million for the sector.

Which countries imported the excess Swiss butter?

Almost 900 tons were destined for China. Quantities in excess of 100 tonnes in the form of frozen blocks ended up in Egypt, Morocco, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Spain and France, while a smaller share was purchased by Oman.

Swiss butter abroad: exports and losses for 27 million (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 16 August 2026

Swiss butter surpluses are exported at rock-bottom prices compared to the domestic market, generating an estimated loss of CHF 27 million.

Context

In a nutshell

Butter surpluses exported at 3.66 francs per kilo
Wholesale price on the domestic market at about CHF 12
Inventories in Swiss refrigerators at an altitude of 7,903 tons
Estimated total loss for the sector of 27 million

Key facts

What: Sale abroad of surplus Swiss butter at reduced prices.
When: First five months of the year.
Where: Refrigeration warehouses in Switzerland and foreign markets including China and Egypt.
Who: Category organization of milk producers and the dairy sector.
Amount: 3.66 francs per kilo the export price.

The management of surpluses in the Swiss dairy sector continues to be discussed following the publication of data on exports and inventories recorded in the first months of the year. Buying Swiss butter overseas can cost up to three times less than the price on the Swiss market, a dynamic directly linked to the production surpluses accumulated in warehouses. Analysis of trade flows shows that the quantity exported between January and May was sold at an average price of 3.66 francs per kilo. This figure contrasts sharply with the approximately 12 francs per kilo required for wholesale industrial butter within national borders.

Inventory and warehouse dynamics

The origin of this gap lies in the increase in stocks stored in the country's cold stores.

Operational details

The economic analysis carried out on sales operations abroad shows a significant financial impact for the entire agricultural and industrial sector. Based on the calculations made, the international marketing of surpluses resulted in an estimated loss for the sector of approximately CHF 27 million. This figure represents the loss of profit that would have been possible if the same amount of butter had been placed on the Swiss market applying the normal price practiced by the food industry.

# Comparison with consumer prices and the milk market

The economic gap becomes even more marked by observing consumer price lists applied to retail. According to the published comparisons, Swiss butter costs 277% more than the similar product sold in Germany, while the percentage difference for fresh milk is 57%. At the base of this complex system is the price of milk, centrally established by the producer category organization. While this mechanism was born with the declared objective of protecting Swiss farmers, some previous studies have shown that it contributes to generating particularly high margins within the butter processing chain, although the trade organisation firmly rejects these accusations.

The perspective of milk producers

For the

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Key points

The search for structural solutions for the future of the dairy sector remains a central theme for economic operators and agricultural producers. In the long term, industry insiders argue that the most effective strategy should consist of finding a better and more stable balance between actually produced quantities, real industrial processing capacities, and concrete market outlets, thus avoiding the need to resort to loss-making exports to dispose of surpluses accumulated in cold storage.

Analysis of possible future strategies

The debate within the Swiss agricultural sector focuses on the need to revise production planning and price setting mechanisms. The centralized management of milk prices, while guaranteeing a baseline of protection for local farmers, requires constant monitoring to avoid imbalances between supply and demand that inevitably reflect on storage costs and extraordinary export operations. To delve deeper into expense management and compare costs related to life and consumption, you can use the online calculator.

Economic planning and control tools

Industry operators continue to monitor the evolution of agri-food markets to understand future trends in wholesale and consumer prices. Transparency in data regarding warehouse inventories and export volumes represents a fundamental element for assessing the health of the Swiss dairy supply chain and planning targeted corrective interventions to protect producers' profitability without excessively burdening the sector's budgets.

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Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

How much was exported butter sold for on average in the first five months of the year?: The butter exported between January and May was sold at an average of 3.66 francs per kilo, a price significantly lower than the approximately 12 francs per kilo of the wholesale price on the Swiss domestic market.
What is the stock of butter in Swiss warehouses and what is the estimated loss?: At the end of May, inventories in Swiss cold stores amounted to 7,903 tons, an increase of 25% compared to the previous year. The sale abroad of the surpluses resulted in an estimated loss of about CHF 27 million for the sector.
Which countries imported the excess Swiss butter?: Almost 900 tons were destined for China. Quantities in excess of 100 tonnes in the form of frozen blocks ended up in Egypt, Morocco, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Spain and France, while a smaller share was purchased by Oman.