EU-28 Milk Production Update – May ’18
Executive Summary
EU-28 milk production figures provided by Eurostat were recently updated with values spanning through Mar ’18. Highlights from the updated report include:
EU-28 milk production has finished higher on a YOY basis over 13 consecutive months through Mar ’18. The Mar ’18 YOY increase in milk production was the smallest experienced throughout the past ten months on a percentage basis, however, as lingering winter weather conditions were experienced. Warmer weather conditions experienced throughout the month of April are expected to boost seasonal accelerations in milk production volumes going forward.
Mar ’18 YOY increases in production on an absolute basis were led by Italy, followed by Germany. Italy and Germany combined to account for over 95% of the total EU-28 YOY increase in production volumes experienced throughout Mar ’18. YOY declines in production on an absolute basis were led by the Netherlands, followed by the United Kingdom.
YOY gains in production on a percentage basis were led by Bulgaria (+9.3%), followed by Italy (+8.3%) and Austria (+7.5%), while declines in production on a percentage basis were most significant within Croatia (-4.3%), Latvia (-3.5%) and Sweden (-3.2%).
Six of the top ten milk producing member states experienced YOY gains in milk production during Mar ’18, as production within the top ten milk producing member states increased by a weighted average of 1.0% throughout the month. The top ten EU-28 milk producing member states accounted for over 85% of the total EU-28 milk production experienced throughout the month. Overall, 16 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Mar ’18.
Feb ’18 EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter finished higher on a YOY basis for the fifth consecutive month when normalized for slaughter days, increasing by 0.6%. YOY increases in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within Italy, followed by Poland and Spain.
EU-28 bovine slaughter increased 1.0% YOY throughout the ’15-’16 production season and finished up an additional 3.0% throughout the ’16-’17 production season. USDA expects the EU-28 dairy cow herd to be marginally lower throughout 2018 but recent culling is expected to have a positive impact on future per cow productivity as lower producing animals are culled.
- Mar ’18 EU-28 milk production finished higher on a YOY basis for the 13th consecutive month, increasing by 1.0% to record seasonal high for the month of March. The YOY increase in EU-28 milk production was the smallest experienced throughout the past ten months, however, as lingering winter weather conditions were experienced.
- Mar ’18 YOY increases in milk production were led by Italy, followed by Germany. Italy and Germany combined to account for over 95% of the total YOY increase in EU-28 production volumes experienced throughout the month. Overall, 16 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Mar ’18.
- EU-28 bovine slaughter rates finished higher on a YOY basis for the fifth consecutive month during Feb ’18 when normalized for slaughter days, increasing by 0.6%. YOY increases in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within Italy, followed by Poland and Spain.
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