Butter imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of butter by the United Kingdom reached $357.9 million in 2024 (50.8 thousand tonnes). It ranks 7th of 221 countries for imports of this product. That is 32% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $357.9M | 50.8K t |
| 2023 | $271.5M | 44.9K t |
| 2022 | $301.7M | 46.0K t |
| 2021 | $240.0M | 47.0K t |
| 2020 | $267.2M | 68.2K t |
| 2019 | $323.4M | 68.1K t |
| 2018 | $439.2M | 73.1K t |
| 2017 | $413.6M | 76.7K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports butter from
Ireland alone supplied 62% of it. Among the main suppliers, New Zealand grew fastest (+677% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | $223.4M | 62% |
| France | $45.4M | 13% |
| Denmark | $41.2M | 12% |
| Netherlands | $15.3M | 4.3% |
| New Zealand | $11.4M | 3.2% |
| Belgium | $8.5M | 2.4% |
| Poland | $5.9M | 1.6% |
| Germany | $2.6M | 0.7% |
| Portugal | $2.0M | 0.6% |
| Finland | $1.3M | 0.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $7.04 per kg, close to the world average of $6.72.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Butter exports from the United Kingdom
Exports of butter by the United Kingdom reached $60.8 million in 2024 (10.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were Ireland (21%), Libya (11%), Netherlands (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 43%. Among the main buyer markets, Kuwait grew fastest (+167% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | $12.8M | 21% |
| Libya | $7.0M | 12% |
| Netherlands | $6.2M | 10% |
| Morocco | $5.7M | 9.3% |
| France | $5.0M | 8.2% |
| Belgium | $3.7M | 6.1% |
| Egypt | $3.0M | 4.9% |
| Kuwait | $2.3M | 3.8% |
| China | $1.4M | 2.3% |
| South Africa | $1.2M | 2% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom butter imports (HS 0405.10): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 0405.10: Dairy produce: derived from milk, butter.
Common questions
What is the value of butter imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported butter worth $357.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 50.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 7th of 221 countries worldwide, with 4% of world imports. The value was up 32% on 2023.
Which countries supply butter to the United Kingdom?
Ireland was the largest supplier with 62% of the value ($223.4 million), followed by France (13%) and Denmark (12%). The top three together account for 87%, out of 32 supplier countries in total. New Zealand grew fastest among the top ten, up 677% on the year.
What is the average import price of butter per kg?
The average declared import value was about $7.04 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $6.72 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of butter to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $413.6 million in 2017 to $357.9 million in 2024, a fall of 13%. The peak was 2018 at $439.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $326.8 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export butter?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $60.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Ireland, Libya and the Netherlands. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $297.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for butter?
The HS code for butter is subheading 0405.10. It sits in HS chapter 04 (dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0405 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
More trade data for the United Kingdom
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.