EU27 milk production rose 0.2% YOY in August, based on complete Eurostat and AGEA milk production data. This follows a 0.6% YOY expansion in July. Among major producing countries, German milk supplies rose 0.8% YOY for the month. Dutch supplies were also up 0.3% for the month while Denmark and Poland output rose 0.4% YOY and 1.3% YOY respectively. France milk production fell 1.8% YOY while Irish output also fell 1% YOY – the sixth consecutive monthly contraction. We estimate that since the start of the year, the growth in milk solids far surpassed the EU27 milk growth, reflecting the high quality of stored feed, elevated milk prices and favourable margins over feed cost. At 1.7% YOY, EU27 milk solids growth in August comprised a 1.9% YOY lift in fat and a 1.5% YOY increase in protein.

According to the most recent data, German supplies were up 0.6% YOY in week 40 (ending 7 October 2023). UK supplies fell 2.4% YOY in that same week. French milk production was down 4.9% YOY in week 39, the 46th consecutive decline, as supplies started falling sharply since the last week of August.