Report 23 – Released on June 10, 2021

WESTERN EUROPEAN OVERVIEW:

Sources in Germany and France, the two largest EU milk producing countries, have come to believe that 2021 milk production may end the year slightly behind 2020. The slow start to 2021 may be hard to overcome as the first quarter is often the highest producing quarter in a year. However, strong production in some other large Western European countries such as Italy and Ireland is still expected to push the EU to higher 2021 milk production than 2020 production.

The European Union has withdrawn consideration of a proposal to ban the use of terms such as “buttery” and “creamy” by nondairy manufacturers in promoting dairy alternative products. The proposal would have also prohibited nondairy products from using packaging similar to what is used by dairy products.

On June 2 the existing members of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreed to commence discussions with the United Kingdom about joining the TPP. On June 15 the prime ministers of Australia and the United Kingdom are scheduled to meet. There is speculation that at the meeting it may be announced that the countries have reached agreement as to a trade deal between them.

EASTERN EUROPEAN OVERVIEW:

Czech Republic milk production January – April 2021 decreased 3.8 percent from January – April 2020 according to CLAL data made available to USDA. Other January – April 2021 production changes from January – April 2020 include cheese, +2.4 percent; butter, -8.4 percent, WMP +4.2 percent; and SMP -1.7 percent.