EU-28 Milk Production Update – Feb ’20
Executive Summary
EU-28 milk production figures provided by Eurostat were recently updated with values spanning through Dec ’19. Highlights from the updated report include:
The Dec ’19 YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes was the 11th experienced in a row and the largest experienced throughout the past eight months on a percentage basis. USDA expects EU-28 milk production volumes to remain higher on a YOY basis throughout the 2020 calendar year as pasture conditions are expected to continue to rebound from recently experienced drought related forage shortages. USDA is projecting a 0.4% YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes throughout the 2020 calendar year, slightly smaller than the 0.6% YOY increase in production volumes experienced throughout 2019.
Dec ’19 YOY increases in production on an absolute basis were led by the Netherlands, followed by Germany and France, while YOY declines in production on an absolute basis were led by the United Kingdom.
YOY increases in production on a percentage basis were led by Bulgaria (+10.8%), followed by Luxembourg (+7.8%) and Cyprus (+7.5%), while declines in production on a percentage basis were most significant within Ireland (-4.7%), followed by Sweden (-3.6%) and Croatia (-3.2%).
Eight of the top ten milk producing member states experienced YOY increases in milk production during Dec ’19 as production within the top ten milk producing member states increased by a weighted average of 1.4% throughout the month. The top ten EU-28 milk producing member states accounted for over 85% of the total EU-28 milk production experienced throughout the month. Overall, 22 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Dec ’19.
Nov ’19 EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter finished lower on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive month when normalizing for slaughter days, declining by 2.6%. YOY declines in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within France, followed by the Netherlands and Romania.
’18-’19 annual EU-28 bovine slaughter increased on a YOY basis for the fifth consecutive year, finishing up 0.5% to the highest figure on record, despite declining by 1.0% on a YOY basis over the second half of the production season. USDA expects the EU-28 dairy cow herd to decline 0.4% throughout the 2020 calendar year due to feed shortages stemming from the recent drought but noted additional culling rates, coupled with improved genetics, are expected to have a positive impact on future per cow productivity as lower producing animals are culled.
- EU-28 milk production finished higher on a YOY basis for the 11th consecutive month during Dec ’19, increasing 1.2% to a record high seasonal level. The YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes was the largest experienced throughout the past eight months on a percentage basis.
- Dec ’19 YOY increases in milk production were led by the Netherlands, followed by Germany and France, while YOY declines in milk production were led by the United Kingdom. Overall, 22 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in milk production throughout the month.
- EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter rates finished lower on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive month during Nov ’19 when normalizing for slaughter days, declining by 2.6%.
The Dec ’19 YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes was the 11th experienced in a row and the largest experienced throughout the past eight months on a percentage basis. USDA expects EU-28 milk production volumes to remain higher on a YOY basis throughout the 2020 calendar year as pasture conditions are expected to continue to rebound from recently experienced drought related forage shortages. USDA is projecting a 0.4% YOY increase in EU-28 milk production volumes throughout the 2020 calendar year, slightly smaller than the 0.6% YOY increase in production volumes experienced throughout 2019.
Dec ’19 YOY increases in production on an absolute basis were led by the Netherlands, followed by Germany and France, while YOY declines in production on an absolute basis were led by the United Kingdom.
YOY increases in production on a percentage basis were led by Bulgaria (+10.8%), followed by Luxembourg (+7.8%) and Cyprus (+7.5%), while declines in production on a percentage basis were most significant within Ireland (-4.7%), followed by Sweden (-3.6%) and Croatia (-3.2%).
Eight of the top ten milk producing member states experienced YOY increases in milk production during Dec ’19 as production within the top ten milk producing member states increased by a weighted average of 1.4% throughout the month. The top ten EU-28 milk producing member states accounted for over 85% of the total EU-28 milk production experienced throughout the month. Overall, 22 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Dec ’19.
Nov ’19 EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter finished lower on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive month when normalizing for slaughter days, declining by 2.6%. YOY declines in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within France, followed by the Netherlands and Romania.
’18-’19 annual EU-28 bovine slaughter increased on a YOY basis for the fifth consecutive year, finishing up 0.5% to the highest figure on record, despite declining by 1.0% on a YOY basis over the second half of the production season. USDA expects the EU-28 dairy cow herd to decline 0.4% throughout the 2020 calendar year due to feed shortages stemming from the recent drought but noted additional culling rates, coupled with improved genetics, are expected to have a positive impact on future per cow productivity as lower producing animals are culled.