EU-28 Milk Production Update – Apr ’20
Executive Summary
EU-28 milk production figures provided by Eurostat were recently updated with values spanning through Feb ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
The Feb ’20 YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes was the 13th experienced in a row. USDA expects EU-28 milk production volumes to remain higher on a YOY basis throughout the 2020 calendar year as pasture conditions are expected to continue to rebound from recently experienced drought related forage shortages. USDA is projecting a 0.4% YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes throughout the 2020 calendar year, slightly smaller than the 0.6% YOY increase in production volumes experienced throughout 2019.
Feb ’20 YOY increases in production on an absolute basis were led by France, followed by Spain and Germany, while YOY declines in production on an absolute basis were led by Italy, followed by the United Kingdom.
YOY increases in production on a percentage basis were led by Cyprus (+7.8%), followed by Luxembourg (+7.7%) and Greece (+6.0%), while declines in production on a percentage basis were most significant within Italy (-4.8%), followed by Croatia (-3.3%) and the United Kingdom (-2.6%).
Seven of the top ten milk producing member states experienced YOY increases in milk production during Feb ’20 as production within the top ten milk producing member states increased by a weighted average of 0.7% 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, 20 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Feb ’20.
EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter finished higher on a YOY basis for the second consecutive month during Jan ’20 when normalizing for slaughter days, increasing by 0.6%. Beef & dairy cow slaughter figures had finished lower on a YOY basis over six consecutive months prior to the two most recent increases. YOY increases in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within Germany, followed by the Netherlands and Spain.
’18-’19 annual EU-28 bovine slaughter increased on a YOY basis for the fifth consecutive year, finishing up 0.5% to the highest figure on record, despite declining by 1.0% on a YOY basis over the second half of the production season. USDA expects the EU-28 dairy cow herd to decline 0.4% throughout the 2020 calendar year due to feed shortages stemming from the recent drought but noted additional culling rates, coupled with improved genetics, are expected to have a positive impact on future per cow productivity as lower producing animals are culled.
- EU-28 milk production finished higher on a YOY basis for the 13th consecutive month during Feb ’20, increasing 0.8% to a record high seasonal level.
- Feb ’20 YOY increases in milk production were led by France, followed by Spain and Germany, while YOY declines in milk production were led by Italy, followed by the United Kingdom. Overall, 20 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in milk production throughout the month.
- EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter rates finished higher on a YOY basis for the second consecutive month during Jan ’20 when normalizing for slaughter days, increasing by 0.6%.
The Feb ’20 YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes was the 13th experienced in a row. USDA expects EU-28 milk production volumes to remain higher on a YOY basis throughout the 2020 calendar year as pasture conditions are expected to continue to rebound from recently experienced drought related forage shortages. USDA is projecting a 0.4% YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes throughout the 2020 calendar year, slightly smaller than the 0.6% YOY increase in production volumes experienced throughout 2019.
Feb ’20 YOY increases in production on an absolute basis were led by France, followed by Spain and Germany, while YOY declines in production on an absolute basis were led by Italy, followed by the United Kingdom.
YOY increases in production on a percentage basis were led by Cyprus (+7.8%), followed by Luxembourg (+7.7%) and Greece (+6.0%), while declines in production on a percentage basis were most significant within Italy (-4.8%), followed by Croatia (-3.3%) and the United Kingdom (-2.6%).
Seven of the top ten milk producing member states experienced YOY increases in milk production during Feb ’20 as production within the top ten milk producing member states increased by a weighted average of 0.7% 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, 20 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Feb ’20.
EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter finished higher on a YOY basis for the second consecutive month during Jan ’20 when normalizing for slaughter days, increasing by 0.6%. Beef & dairy cow slaughter figures had finished lower on a YOY basis over six consecutive months prior to the two most recent increases. YOY increases in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within Germany, followed by the Netherlands and Spain.
’18-’19 annual EU-28 bovine slaughter increased on a YOY basis for the fifth consecutive year, finishing up 0.5% to the highest figure on record, despite declining by 1.0% on a YOY basis over the second half of the production season. USDA expects the EU-28 dairy cow herd to decline 0.4% throughout the 2020 calendar year due to feed shortages stemming from the recent drought but noted additional culling rates, coupled with improved genetics, are expected to have a positive impact on future per cow productivity as lower producing animals are culled.