Executive Summary

EU-28 milk production figures provided by Eurostat were recently updated with values spanning through Apr ’18. Highlights from the updated report include:

• Apr ’18 EU-28 milk production finished higher on a YOY basis for the 14^th consecutive month, increasing by 1.4% to new monthly record high figure. The YOY increase in EU-28 milk production was the second smallest experienced throughout the past 11 months, however, trailing only the Mar ’18 growth rate.
• Apr ’18 YOY increases in milk production were led by Germany, followed by Italy. Germany and Italy combined to account for over 95% of the total YOY increase in EU-28 production volumes experienced throughout the month. Overall, 19 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Apr ’18.
• EU-28 bovine slaughter rates finished higher on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive month during Mar ’18 when normalized for slaughter days, increasing by 0.6%. YOY increases in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within Italy, followed by Poland and Austria.

Additional Report Details

According to Eurostat, Apr ’18 EU-28 milk production increased 4.4% MOM on a daily average basis and 1.4% YOY, finishing at new monthly record high figure. Apr ’18 production volumes finished 0.2% above the previous monthly record high figure experienced during May ’17. EU-28 milk production volumes typically reach seasonal highs throughout the month of May.

EU-28 milk production has finished higher on a YOY basis over 14 consecutive months through Apr ’18. The Apr ’18 YOY increase in milk production was the second smallest experienced throughout the past 11 months on a percentage basis, however, trailing only the Mar ’18 growth rate, as lingering winter weather conditions were experienced. Warmer weather conditions experienced throughout the later portion of April are expected to boost seasonal accelerations in milk production volumes going forward.

Apr ’18 YOY increases in production on an absolute basis were led by Germany, followed by Italy. Germany and Italy combined to account for over 95% of the total EU-28 YOY increase in production volumes experienced throughout Apr ’18. YOY declines in production on an absolute basis were led by Ireland, followed by the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom.

YOY gains in production on a percentage basis were led by Bulgaria (+15.9%), followed by Cyprus (+14.0%) and Romania (+10.7%), while declines in production on a percentage basis were most significant within Ireland (-5.9%), Croatia (-3.5%) and Sweden (-3.3%).

Six of the top ten milk producing member states experienced YOY gains in milk production during Apr ’18, 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, 19 of the 28 member states experienced YOY increases in production volumes during Apr ’18.

Mar ’18 EU-28 beef & dairy cow slaughter finished higher on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive month when normalized for slaughter days, increasing by 0.6%. YOY increases in beef & dairy cow slaughter were most significant within Italy, followed by Poland and Austria.

EU-28 bovine slaughter increased 3.0% YOY throughout the ’16-’17 production season and finished up an additional 0.2% throughout the ’17-’18 production season. USDA expects the EU-28 dairy cow herd to be marginally lower throughout 2018 but recent culling is expected to have a positive impact on future per cow productivity as lower producing animals are culled.