Domestic milk intake up over 20 million litres in the first quarter of 2026
Domestic milk intake by milk processors and co-ops was estimated at 815.7 million litres in March 2026, a decrease of 6.1 million litres (0.7%) when compared with March 2025 but up 58.6 million litres (7.7%) when compared with the same month in 2024. File photo
In the first quarter of 2026, domestic milk intake was estimated to have risen by 20.4 million litres.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) estimate a total domestic milk intake of 1.33 billion litres within the first three months of the year. This represents an increase of 1.6% (20.4 million litres) when compared to 2025 figures and 6% (75 million litres) when compared to 2024 figures in the same period.
Butter production increased by 5,400 tonnes, from 38,800 tonnes in quarter one 2025 to 44,200 tonnes in quarter one 2026.
Commenting on the latest release, Stephanie Kelleher, statistician in the Agriculture Section of the CSO, said: “Production of butter was up 3,100 tonnes, from 24,000 tonnes in March 2025 to 27,100 tonnes in March 2026.”
Domestic milk intake by milk processors and co-ops was estimated at 815.7 million litres in March 2026, a decrease of 6.1 million litres (0.7%) when compared with March 2025 but up 58.6 million litres (7.7%) when compared with the same month in 2024.
Fat content for March 2026 was 4.48%, up from 4.34% in March 2025, and protein content for March 2026 was 3.38%, unchanged from March 2025.
Total milk sold for human consumption figures, which doesn’t include imported milk, dropped to 37.5 million litres in March 2026. A drop from both 2025 and 2024 figures, which were 40.2 million litres and 39.7 million litres respectively in the same period.
From the total figure, the whole milk sales in March 2026 amounted to 23.6 million litres and skimmed and semi-skimmed milk sales amounted to 14 million litres.
