Freshagenda analysis of Eurostat and AGEA (Italy) data indicates EU-27 raw milk supplies declined 0.7% YOY in January, following a 1.4% YOY contraction in December. Of all member countries, only France and Greece have not reported January milk production data on Eurostat at the time of editing.

Among major producing countries, supply in Germany was down 2.2% YOY. We estimate French output was down 1.4% YOY, based on reported weekly output data. Production in the Netherlands also fell – down 2.7% YOY. Danish output was near flat YOY in January, while Irish milk production fell for the second consecutive month – down 4.1% YOY.

The Netherlands is the only major producing country having reported February 2022 milk production data on Eurostat – supplies were down 1.5% YOY – the smallest contraction in nine months, but the solids content is also falling, particularly for protein. Poland’s February milk supply was reported as 3.8% higher in YOY terms, the fifth consecutive monthly increase despite much lower dairy cow numbers.

According to the most recent data, French milk production fell 1.7% YOY in week 9 (ending 12 March), the fourth consecutive weekly contraction. German supply fell 1.9% YOY in week 9, the 42nd consecutive weekly decline. AHDB reports UK production declined 3.9% YOY in the first 12 days of March after falling 2.6% YOY in February.