Milk price changes

Updated 04 April 2024

The latest publicly announced milk price changes as reported by the processors.

Aligned milk cools, while cheese contracts get a boost in April price announcements

Prices on retailer aligned milk contracts have cooled following growth in recent months. Tesco and Co-op announced a further price hold in April, while M&S and Sainsbury’s lowered their pricing by -0.7ppl and -0.1ppl respectively as production costs tracked lower in the previous quarter. All eyes will be firmly on production volumes as we head into the spring flush, with fears of a negative impact of the ongoing wet weather on milk supplies.

On non-aligned liquid contracts, milk prices have generally seen an uptick in April. Paynes Dairies and Muller Direct have both announced an increase of 1.0ppl with Crediton increasing their price by 0.75ppl. Freshways continue to hold their price, meaning no change has been made since November 2023.

The changes announced on cheese contracts were in line with those of non-aligned liquid contracts. All processors on the AHDB league table made a positive change in April, with the exception of Saputo who have held in April after a good uplift in March. Leprino and Belton both moved their prices up by 1.0ppl. Lactalis, First Milk, South Caernarfon Creameries and Wyke Farms all moved their prices up between 0.7-0.8ppl. Wensleydale and Barbers made slightly smaller changes in April at 0.53ppl and 0.50ppl respectively.

Manufacturing contracts have seen mixed movements in April. Arla Direct increased their price by 0.84ppl and Pattemores made a smaller upward movement of 0.5ppl. However, Arla UK adjusted their price marginally down (-0.04ppl) reportedly on the back of quarterly currency movements.

The milk price changes may not be fully reflected in the AHDB League Table.

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