Almeria fourth largest exporter of goat’s milk

ALMERIA province’s primary sector activities have grown in the first months of 2012, reaching up to 4.3 per cent of Spain’s total milk exports.

According to the Spanish Foreign Trade Institute, goat milk exports have risen in the past months, making Almeria the fourth largest goat milk exporter in the country. Despite a descent in overall production, with 500,000 litres less than in 2010, the product quality has improved. According to the Junta’s Agriculture council, its market value has also grown, because of which goat milk production grossed € 23.3 million last year.

The exported milk has all gone to dairy producers in France, where it is highly valued for cheese processing. Just this year the province has earned more than € 2.6 million; 12.6 per cent more than before. Financially, processed dairy is not very important in the area despite a 38 per cent recent growth in the Andorra market. However, the Andalucian government considered these improvements to be a sign of “Almeria’s efforts to branch out and improve its products as well as search for new markets”. The Junta has also supported the growing cheese factories and goat milk production projects such as La Pastora de Taberno, Los Filabres and Caprinova.