Report 9 – Released on February 27, 2020

In many of the largest milk producing countries in Western Europe, winter has been quite mild. This has resulted in favorable conditions for milk production. In Germany and France during recent weeks, production volumes have been ahead of last year at this time. Dairy manufacturers comment that fluid milk availability is quite good for this time of the year.

Calendar year EU milk production increased 0.6 percent according to Eucolait. The year ended stronger, with EU December 2019 milk production up 1.2 percent from December 2018. The December YOY strength was driven by stronger December increases in Germany, France, Italy,and especially Netherlands, which had 3.7 percent higher December 2019 YOY results.Calendar year 2019 milk production in the two largest producing countries, Germany and France, lagged 2018. Full year production increased in Ireland, United Kingdom,and Spain.

Cheese production in the EU during December 2019 increased 1.5 percent YOY. Calendar year 2019 production increased 0.2 percent. Germany, the largest cheese producer, was up 5.3 percent in December YOY and up 2.1 percent for the year. France, the second highest cheese producer, increased 0.6 percent for the year even though December YOY was 0.6 percent lower.

EASTERN OVERVIEW:

Poland, the leading Eastern European milk producing country, recorded a 1.9 percent increase in milk production for calendar year 2019, according to Eucolait. December 2019 YOY milk production increased 1.8 percent. Cheese production in Poland for 2019 increased 3.9 percent. December YOY cheese production increased 5.5 percent.

     Information for the period February 17 - 28, 2020, issued biweekly

     Published by:
     Dairy Market News - Madison, WI
     Eric Graf, 608.422.8590
     Email: Eric.Graf@usda.gov

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