April milk price experiences drop of more than 23%

The Agricultural Input Price Index published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reported that milk experienced one of the most significant reductions in output price in the 12 months to April 2026. File picture

According to the latest Agricultural Price Indices, the milk price in April experienced a 23.1% drop when compared to 2025 figures.

The Agricultural Input Price Index published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reported that milk experienced one of the most significant reductions in output price in the 12 months to April 2026.

Overall, the agricultural output price index decreased by 14.6% in the 12 months to April. Other reductions during the same period included pigs, which dropped by 16.4%, and cattle by 10.9%.

Poultry and sheep were the only sectors which increased in the output price indices by 5.6% and 4.5%, respectively.

Crop output price experienced a drop of 8.6% on the annual price figures. From the 12 months to April 2026, potatoes (including seeds) dropped by 26.9%, cereals (including seeds) dropped by 7.5%, and industrial and forage dipped by 6.3%.

Vegetables were the only sector which experienced an increase in the annual percentage change of 3.2%.

In the month from March to April 2026, the output price index rose slightly by 0.5%.

Cian O'Riordan, statistician in the Agriculture Division, said: "The Agricultural Input Price Index increased by 2.4% in April 2026 when compared with March 2026. This was driven largely by an increase in the Motor Fuels Index (+5.4%) and Fertilisers (+6.2%).” 

Motor fuels have seen the largest spike in annual percentage change, which increased by 43.3% when compared to April 2025 figures. 

Electricity and lubricants both experienced increases in annual change of 3.3% and 2.3%, respectively. Overall Energy input price increase by 30.3% during the same period.

Total fertiliser prices increased by 21.2% when compared to 2025 figures. Straight fertilisers increased the most by 27.7% in annual change, followed by NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) fertilisers, which increased by 20.3%.

NP & PK (nitrogen-phosphorus & phosphorus-potassium) fertiliser input prices increased by 12.4%, and fertilisers categorised under ‘other’ increased by 2.4%.

The annual percentage change for veterinary expenses increased by 7.1% but remained unchanged on a monthly basis. Overall, the agricultural input price index increased by 8.1% in the 12 months to April 2026.

The terms of trade fell by 1.8% in April 2026 when compared with March 2026 and were 21.1% lower when compared with April 2025.