- The ICECYL and the IGP Queso Castellano Association define actions for the international promotion of Queso Castellano in the European Union and the United States, with an investment of 1.5 million through the V Business Internationalization Plan
- Castilla y León reached a record figure of 21.212 million euros in exports in 2024, being the region that increased exports the most in Spain. Additionally, cheese exports exceeded 196 million euros
- The cheese industry is the most important in Spain, with one out of every three cheeses produced. The dairy sector accounts for 12% of the agri-food industry in the region, with 150 companies, 5,944 employees, and a turnover of 2.026 million euros
March 24, 2025
Castilla y León |
Ministry of Economy and Finance
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Carlos Fernández Carriedo, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, María González Corral, and the President of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Queso Castellano Association, Víctor Martín Osona, have participated in the signing of a General Protocol of Action to intensify international promotion and boost the exports of Queso Castellano.
The aim of the Protocol is to enhance the presence of Queso Castellano in international markets, for which mechanisms for identification and definition of international promotion are established, with the design of a program of actions planned between April 2025 and April 2027, with an investment of 1.5 million euros.
The actions will focus on the markets of the European Union and the United States, considered priorities after an analysis of their potential. Additionally, attention will be paid to the opening of alternative markets, taking into account the protectionist situation that arose in early 2025.
Furthermore, to boost these actions, the international promotion tools enabled by the Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León (ICECYL) in the V Business Internationalization Plan of Castilla y León will be used.
The following actions are already being promoted: identification and execution of promotion of Queso Castellano in the U.S. (compatible with other products from Castilla y León); support to distributors in the U.S.; identification of alternative markets to the U.S. and execution of parallel promotion actions; reverse trade missions of the sector; support to the international Cheese Fair in Zamora FROMAGO; boost to attendance at international cheese fairs; and participation in pairings at the main agri-food fairs worldwide in which the Junta de Castilla y León participates through ICECYL. This action has already started this year in Germany, within the framework of the PROWEIN fair.
Additionally, to ensure the development and monitoring of this protocol, a monitoring committee will be established, composed of four representatives from each party, which will develop a program of actions covering two years of activity.
2024, record exports
Castilla y León achieved a new record in exports in 2024, with a total figure of 21.212 million euros, reflecting the strength and competitiveness of its business fabric. Additionally, the region has been, for the second consecutive year, the one that has increased exports the most in Spain.
Within this volume of exports, the agri-food sector plays a fundamental role, ranking second in exports, with a figure of 3.485 million euros. Specifically, cheese reached 196 million euros in 2024, a figure that demonstrates the importance of this representative product of the region and its international projection.
Cheese Sector in Castilla y León
The cheese industry in Castilla y León is the most important in Spain, producing one out of every three cheeses in the country. It represents between 10% and 12% of the agri-food industry in the region, ranking second in volume and importance, only behind the meat sector. Beyond its economic weight, the cheese sector maintains a close connection with the territory and the primary sector, directly supporting the region’s dairy farmers. In total, Castilla y León has around 150 dairy sector companies, employing 5,944 workers and generating a turnover in dairy product production of 2.026 million euros.
In this sense, Castilla y León also stands out for its leadership in milk production at the national level. It is the top sheep milk producer, with 55.3% of the national total (268,890 tons), and the second national cow milk producer, with 12.2% of the total (893,220 tons). Additionally, it ranks fifth in goat milk production, with 6.6% (27,915 tons). The sum of these figures raises the regional milk production above 1,190,000 tons, supporting a strong business fabric dedicated to cheese production: approximately 70% of sheep cheese, 15% of cow cheese, and 40% of mixed cheese produced in Spain.