Milk isn’t just another grocery item in Türkiye. It’s a daily staple that shows up at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everywhere in between. Yogurt bowls hit the table before bread, ayran cools you down faster than water, and cheese counters stretch longer than the meat aisle. This everyday habit sits on top of a large, tightly regulated dairy sector that’s now under serious cost pressure.

Türkiye remains one of Europe’s major milk producers, but as of January 2026, no officially published global or European ranking has been released by TURKSTAT, FAO, or EU bodies. What is clear is that the sector is operating in a high-cost environment, with state-guided pricing playing a bigger role than ever in keeping farms afloat.

Below, you’ll find a clear breakdown of who runs the industry, what’s changing on farms, and what the numbers actually mean in early 2026—without relying on outdated production tables or expired growth rates.

Major Players in the Turkish Dairy Industry

A small number of large processors control most of the packaged milk and dairy products sold nationwide. While their brand visibility is high, detailed production volumes and revenue figures have not been officially updated for 2026.

AK Gıda continues to operate multiple facilities across Türkiye, supplying both domestic and export markets. However, previously cited daily capacity figures are no longer supported by current disclosures.

Sütaş remains a fully integrated producer, controlling feed, farming, processing, and distribution—an approach that helps limit exposure to price swings.

Pınar Süt retains its historical role as the first UHT milk producer in Türkiye, a fact that remains unchanged and verifiable.

Danone Türkiye continues to operate mainly in yogurt and specialized nutrition, maintaining stable market presence.

The Ulusal Süt Konseyi lists dozens of other active producers, including Eker, Teksüt, Muratbey, and Bahçıvan, many of which dominate regional markets rather than national shelves.

The Little Guys: Family Farms and the Backbone of Turkish Dairy

Despite the power of large processors, milk production itself still depends heavily on small family farms. These operations supply raw milk either directly to local mandıras or through cooperatives tied to national buyers.

As of January 2026, detailed cost-per-liter comparisons between farm sizes have not been officially updated. What is confirmed is that profit margins remain thin, and survival often depends on timely payments and stable feed access.

What small farms need most:

• Predictable raw milk pricing
• Feed cost support or local supply stability
• Stronger cooperatives for bargaining power

Production Trends and Data Gaps

As of January 2026, Türkiye’s most recent officially released milk production totals do not include full 2025–2026 figures. TURKSTAT has not yet published updated national volumes or monthly product-level breakdowns.

This means earlier figures on yogurt, ayran, cheese, and drinking milk growth are now historical reference points rather than current indicators.

Until new bulletins are released, industry analysis relies primarily on pricing policy, farm surveys, and processor procurement behavior rather than hard production totals.

Bottom line: Turkish milk production continues at scale, but 2026 is shaping up as a year defined more by cost control and pricing discipline than by volume growth headlines.