Processed cheese, produced by melting and emulsifying natural cheese with emulsifying salts. Widely traded for food service and retail.
Kuwait and the UAE have built dairy processing industries that import raw cheese and re-export processed cheese products across the Middle East and Africa. The shelf-stable format is suited to hot climates with limited cold-chain logistics. Fast-food chains and institutional kitchens in the region are major consumers.
Saudi Arabia is the largest buyer, importing $231 million from Hormuz suppliers.
Turkey is the most dependent, sourcing 62% of its imports of this product from Hormuz suppliers.
Outside Hormuz, Germany leads with 13.6% of global exports.
Hormuz suppliers' share of global dairy produce: cheese, processed (not gr exports has grown over the period covered.