EU ice cream production reaches 3.3 billion liters in 2024

Brussels – Pistachio, hazelnut, chocolate, stracciatella, or a fruity flavor, perhaps. Summer means beach time and…ice cream. The product synonymous with the warm season and holidays in Europe is increasingly in demand, so much so that 3.3 billion liters of it were produced in 2024, more than the 3.2 billion in 2023. Eurostat continues its traditional snapshot of the product loved by young and old, and figures released today (July 29) confirm how, once again, Germany is the king of cones and cups in all possible flavor and taste combinations.

 With 607 million liters, it was the leading producer of ice cream in the EU, followed by France (501 million liters) and Italy (492 million liters). The list of top producers, though showing a clear gap in production capacity, also includes Spain (378 million liters) and Poland (298 million liters). 

However, the figures could be deceptive. The leading countries did not drive the 2 percent growth in ‘Made in EU’ ice cream between 2023 and 2024. Looking at the details, compared to 2023, only Poland recorded a 29 percent increase in production. The European Statistical Institute pointed out that France recorded a decline of 12 percent, Italy a drop of 7 percent, Spain 6 percent, and Germany a 1 percent dip. Also driving European ice cream were ‘minor’ producers such as Belgium (+35 percent production), Bulgaria (+19 percent), and the Czech Republic (+15 percent).

The ranking changes when looking at sales. France emerges as the world’s largest exporter of EU ice cream in 2024 (55.9 million kg), accounting for a fifth (21 percent) of total ice cream exports to non-EU countries. Italy (42.6 million kg) and the Netherlands (31.9 million kg) follow. Germany, the largest producer and fourth largest exporter to foreign countries, therefore directs its sales more within the single market, and to its domestic consumers.