Glanbia milk prices near top in Dutch board’s price league
The Kilkenny-based co-op’s €44.35 for 100kg helped it register a rolling average for 12 months of €37.40, just ahead of the €37.37 average in the price league. The Glanbia price used in the league for November includes a winter bonus of € 5.50.
Kerry’s €38.85 November price was the 13th best in the Dutch Dairy Board list, and Kerry’s rolling average for 12 months is given as €36.80.
Only Friesland Campina in Holland paid more for November milk than Glanbia, in the EU section of the price league. But Swiss farmers supplying Emmi were paid €51.57. It was the first time since the start of the Dutch Dairy Board milk price comparison that the average monthly price exceeded €40, having increased 12% compared to November, 2013.
According to the accompanying milk price comparison commentary, dairy farmers in New Zealand have profited more than Europeans and Americans from the 2013 price jump. Within Europe, milk prices at Milcobel, Alois Müller, Kerry and Glanbia, increased the most (by 20 to 23%), followed by DMK, FrieslandCampina, DOC Kaas and Arla (by 15% to 18%).
According to the Dutch Dairy Board, markets continue fairly strong, but expanding milk production in important producing regions threatens high prices. However, seasonal peak production in the southern hemisphere was insufficient to satisfy current buyer demand, and in general, low supplies in the pipeline from processors to end consumers are driving continuous demand. Price pressure is not expected until the northern hemisphere production peak after March.
Last week, the first 2014 GlobalDairyTrade auction saw the overall price index fall only marginally from its all-time record average in mid-December.
