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Global milk deliveries
Updated 29 February 2024
Trends in global milk supplies impact on prices. Deliveries in the six key exporting regions are tracked to provide an overview of current production levels and trends in global milk supplies.
The milk production regions included are the EU-27, UK, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Combined, they account for more than 65% of global cow's milk production and around 80% of global exports of dairy products.
Overview
- Global milk deliveries averaged 804.5 million litres per day in December, a decline of 3.4 million litres per day, (-0.4%) across the selected regions, compared to the same period last year. All regions except Australia and New Zealand recorded year on year volume decline.
- Milk deliveries in the EU averaged 358.8 million litres per day in December, a slight decline of 1.0 million litres per day (0.3%) compared to the same point last year.
- The decrease in EU total milk deliveries was mostly driven by a significant year-on-year production decline in Ireland, down 76.6 million litres (27%). Slight declines were also seen in France (6.4 million litres or -0.4%) and Germany (11.5 million litres or -0.4%). On the contrary, Italy and Poland recorded production increases in December, up 37.9 million litres and 25.6 million litres year on year, respectively.
- UK daily deliveries averaged 39.5 million litres per day in December, down only 0.2 % on last year. Some farmers were looking towards maintaining cash flow via milk cheques, despite the margin situation, which may have moderated the decline in production despite continued challenging conditions.
- US production was down 0.4% year on year, with a 1.0 million litre decline on the average daily deliveries in December, compared to the same month last year. This might signify an easing in the contraction of the US dairy herd following a period of high cow culling.
- Australia recorded a slight increase in milk production, with deliveries up 0.5 million litres (2.2%) compared to last year, to sit at an average of 26.0 million litres per day.
- New Zealand deliveries were also up 0.7 million litres on last year’s figure, with December’s average daily deliveries at 81.8 million litres per day.
- Argentina’s production further declined, down 7.7% (2.5 million litres) versus last year, on average daily deliveries in December. Reports describe that some farms have ceased production whilst others are culling cows or reducing feed to cut costs, following the Government’s devaluation of the currency meaning that milk prices plummeted.
Additional information
- The tracker is a baseline for comparing against actual production, not a forecast of milk production.
- The baseline is calculated using historic month-on-month movements in milk production, providing information on a typical milk year in each of the key regions.
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While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.