More milk price increases on way across EU
Irish milk prices have been gaining ground on EU mainland prices, according to the June prices comparison by the Dutch LTO farmer organisation, .
It showed prices in euros per 100kg of €32.86 at Glanbia, €32.98 at Kerry Agribusiness, and €33.80 at Dairygold.
This compared with an average across 15 milk buyers of €33.69.
However, rolling average prices for the last 12 months at the three Irish co-ops are €28.42, €29.02, and €33.80, respectively, with only the latter, Dairygold, exceeding the average of €31.21 across 15 milk buyers.
According to LTO, more price increases are on the way from several buyers, including €4 in July and August at DMK in Germany, €2.70 at Arla, €1.70 at FrieslandCampina, and €4 at Lactalis (including September).
According to LTO, the June milk prices across the EU compared with €47.44 paid by Emmi in Switzerland (rolling average €47.12); €34.23 paid by Fonterra in New Zealand (€33.28); and €36.97 (€37.35) for Class 3 milk in the US.
Meanwhile, ICMSA has called for further increases in July milk prices in Ireland, to bring them into line with the EU average, at least.
The Chairperson of ICMSA’s Dairy Committee, Gerald Quain, said the May EU average milk price was 1.6c/kg above the Irish price, worth almost €5,000 a year for a 300,000 litre dairy farmer.
“We do acknowledge the progress that has been made,” said Mr Quain.
“But we will continue to draw attention to the quite substantial gap that has existed and still exists between what we are asked to believe is the maximum milk price our co-ops can pay, and the average prices being paid in the EU.”
