Report 51 – Released on December 17, 2020

The butter price range in Western Europe is mixed. Firming lower range prices are noted while the top range price is slightly lower. While a number of individual plants have been able to increase prices within the range for various customers, the highest prices stepped back slightly. Looking ahead, most price movement in coming weeks is expected to trend up.

Many plants in France seem to predominate the low range pricing. The highest butter prices are reported in Belgium, followed by Germany, Italy, then Netherlands. Some plants with pricing within the range notched prices higher in sales this period. The butteroil price range is mixed.

December holiday butter sales in retail stores remain strong, bolstered by increased advertising in Germany. Manufacturers have refocused on packaged butter sales to the extent they can, due to less dining out. Plants making bulk butter also report an uptick in sales interest. Slowly increasing milk production is helping butter plants maintain desired production schedules.

 Western Europe, 82% Butterfat, Free on Board - Port Butter
     Price Range - $/MT:                          3,925 - 4,150


     Western Europe, 99% Butterfat, Free on Board - Port Butteroil
     Price Range - $/MT:                          4,750 - 4,925


     Information for the period December 7 - 18, 2020, issued biweekly

Secondary Sourced Information:

EU butter production January – October 2020 increased 1.9 percent from January – October 2019 according to CLAL data made available to USDA. Among some of the butter producers, the percentage change January – October 2020 compared with January – October 2019 is Germany, +0.8 percent; France, +0.6 percent; Netherlands, -7.8 percent; and Ireland, +4.2 percent.

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

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