A cooperative story 

Milcobel is a producer of dairy products, known throughout the world for its mozzarella, a key ingredient for the food industry. Japan and over a hundred other countries import the Belgian cooperative’s dairy ingredients. 

Formed by Belgian farmers, Milcobel is a cooperative that groups together about 1,600 family-run dairy farms. It has production sites in Belgium and France. 

More than mozzarella

Milcobel Premium Ingredients, one of the Milcobel Group’s three business units, focuses on the production and worldwide commercialisation of dairy and cheese ingredients. Milcobel also specialises in the manufacture of butter, cream, whey and value-added milk powders. 

Japan: a major dairy consumer 

Japan is the largest importer of cheese products in the Asia-Pacific region, with annual growth rates of over 4%. Japanese consumers seek out Belgian products that are valued for their quality and stability. The company’s approach is well-suited to the Japanese market, where highly discerning customers expect high quality, reliability and responsiveness. 

“Japan is synonymous with quality and innovation, and this goes hand-in-hand with Japanese companies’ commitment and loyalty to their business partners,” says Francis Relaes, managing director at Milcobel Premium Ingredients. 

“Milcobel stands for dialogue, transparency, reliability and sustainability. We believe in solid partnerships and long-term customer relations. This works well with Japan." 

Milcobel wants all the links in the dairy chain to be involved in the effort to deliver sustainability and top quality, from milk collection on the farm to production and local marketing and service close to the customer.

A boost from the EPA

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan directly supports Milcobel and its customers in Japan, who are willing to make a long-term commitment to products for which tariffs are not only predictable, but will also be predictably reduced to zero over time.

Since the EPA came into force in 2019, the amount of dairy products that European companies can export to Japan at a lower tariff has increased each year. At the same time, the tariff rate is being reduced gradually. From 1 April 2033 onwards, mozzarella and other fresh cheeses will even enter duty-free. 

The volume of Milcobel’s exports to Japan has increased by 80% from the end of 2018 to 2023, and we consider this largely an effect of the business conditions facilitated by the EU-Japan EPA.

Francis Relaes,
Managing Director, Milcobel Premium Ingredients

Key facts:

• Founded: 2005
• Headquarters: Kallo, Belgium
• Employees: 1,700 employees in Belgium and France
• Dairy farms: 1,600 member cooperants