Report 15 – Released on April 11, 2019

WESTERN OVERVIEW:

Observers believe that February milk production in Western Europe recovered from the poor results reported for January. Some of the primary producing countries such as Germany, France and Netherlands are expected to have at least equaled February 2018 production when February 2019 data is final. January 2019 disappointed with each of the three producing less than in January 2018. Observers in Ireland believe February milk production will have exceeded February last year.

Early reporting by ZMB in Germany also notes good seasonal increases week to week. Production during the last week of March was up 0.5 percent from the previous week and up 0.6 percent from the same week in 2018. ZMB also reported milk production in France the last week of March was up 0.6 percent from one year earlier.

Cheese orders are strong in Germany. Manufacturers are dipping into aging stocks to keep up with demand. Schedules for making new cheese are as active as milk supplies support.

EASTERN OVERVIEW:

It is expected that February 2019 results for Poland will be that milk production is higher than last year. With Poland being among the top cheese producing countries in the EU, any extra milk will be welcomed by cheese manufacturers there.