Ireland’s 13% milk increase in the spotlight

Fingers are being pointed at Ireland from the other side of the world, as under-pressure New Zealand milk processors blame the growth of milk supply in Europe and the US for the deepening global dairy market slump.

“Dairy farmers in Europe are receiving above-market prices for milk, due to processors overpaying for milk, as farmers adapt to the removal of quotas and find a new sustainable farm gate price,” said Matt O’Regan, chairman of the Westland dairy co-op in New Zealand, as he announced a lower milk price forecast.

EU milk deliveries in the first 11 months of 2015 were 2.2% higher than in the same period in 2014, and production in November alone was up 5.5%.