GB milk deliveries: Further growth in March brings the 25/26 season total to a record high

Key points

• GB milk deliveries are estimated to have totalled 1,132 million litres in March, up 1.8% year-on-year, compounding on 2025’s growth.
• Daily deliveries averaged 36.51 million litres.
• GB milk production for the 2025/26 season is estimated to have reached 13.02bn litres, up by 5.0% year-on-year.

The increase in March deliveries brings the GB estimate for the 2025/26 season total to 13.02bn litres, a significant increase of 5.0% compared to the previous season and in-line with our forecast. This is the highest volume recorded for a milk-year.

Despite price cuts since late autumn, milk volumes have been slow to fall as the milk-to-feed-price-ratio (MFPR) remained in the expansion zone, particularly once seasonality and quality of milk composition were factored in.

Recent April milk price announcements held mostly steady, though this hold is at an unsustainably low level for many. Additionally, rising input costs are also pressurising margins. As the spring flush approaches, processing capacity is an increasing concern.

Ground and forage conditions have been supporting milk from grass production. The Met Office reported a warmer than average March, with spring sunshine continuing into the start of April. Particularly as margins are being squeezed, maximising value from forage is essential.

The latest milk forecasting forum discussed the effects of the cuts to farmgate milk prices and consensus suggested that the momentum of higher production is likely to continue until at least the second half of the milk year.

Figure 1. GB daily milk deliveries (7‑day rolling average)

Source: AHDB

Figure 1 is a line chart showing GB daily milk deliveries, using a 7‑day rolling average, from 1 April to 31 March. It compares 2026/27, 2025/26 and the five‑year average (million litres per day).

The vertical axis shows million litres per day, ranging from 29 to 41 million litres. Three lines are shown:

2026/2027 (light blue, data point)
2025/2026 (dark blue, top line)
Five‑year average (orange, bottom line)

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