Domestic milk intake up almost 400 million litres compared to 2024
Domestic milk intake by processors and co-ops just for September is estimated at 774.7 million litres, an increase of seven million litres.
Domestic milk intake by milk processors and co-ops from January to September shows an estimated rise of 399.5 million litres compared to 2024 figures of the same period.
This increase in domestic milk intake has occurred despite dairy cow numbers falling in the last few years, with numbers falling from June 2023 to June 2024 by 1.4%, and then falling by a further 2.2% from June 2024 to June 2025.
According to the latest release from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the intake went up 399.5 million litres (5.7%) when compared to 2024 in the same period and by 92.1 million litres (1.3%) when compared with 2023.
Except for February, all months so far in 2025 have exhibited an increase in milk intake when compared to 2024 figures.
Domestic milk intake by processors and co-ops just for September is estimated at 774.7 million litres, an increase of seven million litres, or 0.9%, when compared to 2024 and an increase of 11 million litres (1.4%) against the same month in 2023.
Fat content for September 2025 was 4.69% up from 4.60% in 2024 in the same period. Protein content has decreased slightly to 3.84% in September 2025, compared to the 2024 protein content, which was 3.89%.
Commenting on the release, Statistician in the Agriculture Section of the CSO, Stephanie Kelleher, said: “Production of Skimmed Milk Powder was up by 2,200 tonnes, from 10,900 tonnes in September 2024 to 13,100 tonnes in September 2025. Quarterly Skimmed Milk Powder production increased by 6,400 tonnes, from 38,400 tonnes in Q3 2024 to 44,700 tonnes in Q3 2025.”
In Quarter 3 2025, the domestic milk intake was estimated at 2.72 billion litres, which is up 97.1 million (3.7%) when compared with the same period in 2024, and rose by 37 million litres (1.4%) when compared to 2023.
Domestic milk intake has continued to recover following the drop experienced in September 2023. In the last 50 years, from September 1975 to September 2025, domestic milk intake peaked in September 2022 at 785.6 million litres.
Within the EU, Ireland has experienced the largest positive percentage change in milk intake by Milk Processors and Co-ops from January to August with a 6.3% growth from 2024 figures.
