Saudi Arabia cheese market

Saudi Arabia is the third largest cheese market in the Middle East. Zenith puts consumption at more than 370,000 tonnes in 2025, or around 10 kg per person.

Consumption grew by more than 4% a year between 2020 and 2025. Zenith expects growth of more than 1% a year to 2030, passing 390,000 tonnes.

Saudi Arabia is both a major producer and a major importer. Imports supply close to two thirds of consumption, making it one of the five largest cheese importers in the database, while local dairies export processed and white cheese across the Gulf. Processed cheese is the largest category.

The Zenith Global Cheese Database 2026 covers Saudi Arabia with production, imports, exports and consumption for 39 cheese types, actuals from 2020 to 2025 and forecasts to 2030. Volume data covers totals, broad categories and separately measured cheese types, in tonnes. Consumer retail value covers total cheese only, in local currency and USD; import and export trade values cover HS 0406 total only, in USD. Monetary values are not broken down by individual cheese type or broad category. Retail shelf prices cover total cheese and five broad categories: hard and semi-hard, fresh, mould, processed, and other non-specified cheese, in local currency/kg and USD/kg, not individual prices for all 39 cheese types. Import and export unit prices cover HS 0406 total and available HS subheadings, in USD/kg. Retail value is estimated retail volume multiplied by regular shelf prices, including sales tax. Trade values are customs values, using CIF for imports and FOB for exports. Production is measured as formally manufactured cheese.