The countries that imported €324 million worth of Halloumi from Cyprus in 2024

Halloumi exports continued their upward trend in 2024, confirming the product's momentum and its importance in Cypriot trade.

At the same time, recent decisions have contributed to safeguarding the exports of one of Cyprus' most important exports.

It is recalled that, as recently reported by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, the decree for the period from 20 March to 31 July sets the quota of goat and sheep milk in mixed Halloumi at 20%, while for the period from 1 August to 31 December the quota will be set at 15%.

As Panayiotou explained, the decision was made in the face of the risk of losing 40% of Halloumi production, which will have a knock-on effect on the sustainability of all those involved (sheep and goat farmers, cattle farmers, cheesemakers), as the Department of Agriculture's software, which is taken into account when determining the quota in the decrees, recorded low availability of sheep and goat milk.

Moreover, in an effort to increase the production of goat and sheep milk, the allocation of 26 state-owned plots and livestock plots was announced for the construction of a new licensed livestock unit, with a capacity of over 800 productive goats and sheep each, with the simultaneous granting of subsidies of €600,000 to new farmers and €400,000 to existing farmers.

A pillar of exports

Halloumi remains one of Cyprus' most important export products, with exports worth €323.9 million, accounting for 13.4% of exports of domestically produced products.

According to CySTAT data, in 2024, more than 42,427 tonnes of Halloumi worth €323,949,410 were exported, compared to 39,078 tonnes worth €315,506,102 in 2023. It is estimated that Halloumi exports increased annually by 2.67% in value, while in volume they increased by 8.6%.

The top Halloumi supporters

By far the largest importer of Cypriot Halloumi is the United Kingdom with over 18,558 tonnes worth a total of over €143 million in 2024, accounting for approximately 44% of exports.

Following somewhat far behind the United Kingdom are Greece (3,376 tonnes of Halloumi worth over €24.5 million), Germany (3,256 tonnes worth over €24.8 million), Sweden (3,247 tonnes worth over €25.3 million), while the top five is completed by distant Australia with 2,041 tonnes of Halloumi worth over €15.6 million.

Some 1,908 tonnes of Cypriot Halloumi worth over €14.2 million were exported to Poland in 2024, 1,524 tonnes worth over €11.8 million to Saudi Arabia, while Halloumi exports reach the US with 1,037 tonnes worth almost €9.6 million.

In Finland, Halloumi exports amounted to 1,008 tonnes, with a value of over €7.6 million, while the top ten also includes Denmark (934 tonnes worth almost €7 million) and Austria (928 tonnes worth almost €7.5 million).

(Source: InBusinessNews)