Mahón-Menorca Cheese reaches a historic sales record in 2025

This Tuesday, March 31, the Councillor for Economy and General Services of Menorca, Maria Antònia Taltavull, and the president of the Regulatory Council of the Protected Designation of Origin Mahón-Menorca Cheese, Julio de Olives, together with the PDO manager, Carol Quevedo, have presented the production and marketing data of the product for the year 2025 and have made an assessment of the current situation.

The 47 dairies currently registered (41 of them are artisanal) in the Regulatory Council Protected Designation of Origin Mahón-Menorca Cheese produced a total of 3,298.711 tonnes of Mahón-Menorca cheese in 2025, of which 2,649.784 were marketed, 1.74% more compared to 2024 and the largest figure in its history.

“We could say that 2025 has been a year of consolidation in which, despite the challenges the sector has faced, the PDO Mahón-Menorca brand has demonstrated strength and has once again reached a historic marketing value, driven by the promotion strategy and the focus on the loyalty of national markets,” Quevedo explained. “From the Regulatory Council we want to thank the work carried out in all farms, dairies and maturation facilities to keep this tradition of ours alive. And also thanks for the support received both from the Island Council and the Balearic Government, essential to continue supporting the tradition linked to the territory,” Quevedo added.

64% of total marketing was semi-cured cheese, 19% cured cheese and the remaining 17% fresh cheese. This represented a value of around 25.2 million euros. The companies that market the product are currently 40, De Olives detailed, for whom this is his first annual balance as president.

In total, 93 farms are currently registered in the Regulatory Council Protected Designation of Origin Mahón-Menorca Cheese, with a milk production during 2025 of 38.6 million litres, of which 28.5 are allocated to the manufacture of cheese with PDO seal (74%).

In Menorca, around 90% of the cultivated surface is forage and cereals for feeding cattle. The breeds allowed for milk production for the PDO are: Menorcan, Friesian and Alpine Brown. A 5% of sheep milk of Menorcan breed is also allowed, although currently, in most cases, it is 100% cow’s milk.

“I want to highlight the constant effort of farmers, master cheesemakers and all the companies that are part of the production chain, making it possible for each piece of cheese produced to maintain standards of quality and authenticity,” the Councillor expressed.

“The challenge now is to continue growing in a balanced way, strengthening product quality, supporting local producers and consolidating new markets. In other words, the involvement of everyone continues to be essential so that such a well-known and valued product can continue to grow in sales. I believe that dissemination actions, participation in fairs and collaboration with the restaurant sector are the essential framework to continue positioning this product among consumers, thus further reinforcing the solidity of a production model that is also a symbol of Menorcan gastronomy,” the councillor added.

Thus, on the island 20% of the total is marketed, with 533,345 kilos, and in Mallorca and Ibiza almost half (48%) of the 2.6 million kilograms marketed is destined: 1,269,689, being the main attraction and differentiating factor of Mahón-Menorca cheese. In total, marketing in the Balearic Islands is 68%. In Catalonia 14% is destined with 363,000 kilos and to the rest of Spain 11%, reaching 297,439 kilograms.

Regarding exports, Mahón-Menorca Cheese is present in 43 countries and represents 7.03% of total marketing. During 2025, 186,311 kilos have been distributed, and the United States is the main importer, by a large margin. The United States receives 106,822 kilos of the Menorcan PDO, which represents a high 57.34% of total exports. It is followed by the Dominican Republic with 29,275 kilos and 15.71% of the total and Germany with 8,890 and 4.77%. France (6,771 kg) and Mexico (6,393 kg) are in fourth and fifth place.