EU Farm Milk Prices Down Almost 20% Year on Year Despite Higher Output
European Commission data show EU milk deliveries rising this year, yet the average farm-gate price in August was 42.8 cents per kilogram, 19.7% lower than a year earlier.
Milk supply, dairy production and exports are all growing in the European Union this year, but prices paid to farmers keep falling. This is shown by the latest market figures from the European Commission, the EU's executive body. The price drop means larger volumes have not yet translated into higher income for dairy producers.
Prices and deliveries
Between January and August, EU milk collection was 3% higher than in the same period last year. In August the average farm-gate milk price reached 42.8 cents per kilogram. That is 19.7% below the level of a year earlier and 8.3% under the five-year average. Compared with July, however, the August price rose by 2.3%, and a further 0.9% increase is estimated for September, to 43.11 cents per kilogram.
The sharpest annual price falls were in Hungary (29%), followed by Czechia and Lithuania (both 26%), Slovakia (25%), and the Netherlands and Germany (both 24%). Cyprus was the only EU country where prices rose.
In August, cow's milk collection in the EU was 0.6% higher than in August 2025, with deliveries up in 19 countries. Greece saw the strongest growth (13.3%), followed by Slovakia (9.6%) and Denmark (4%). The biggest declines were in Romania (13.6%), Estonia (11.7%) and Ireland (8.4%). Organic milk made up 3.2% of total collection, with Austria having the highest share at 16.5%.
Production and exports
Over the first eight months, output of several dairy products grew: skimmed milk powder by 9%, butter by 7.7%, cheese by 3.6% and fermented milk products by 5.1%. Whole milk powder production fell by 4.4% and condensed milk by 3.7%.
In the four weeks to 18 October, skimmed milk powder prices rose by 9.1%, while butter prices dropped by 3.8%. Year on year, skimmed milk powder is up 54.6% and whey powder 52.3%.
EU dairy exports grew by 11.9% in milk-equivalent volume between January and July, but their value fell by 1.5%, even though it exceeded €9.47 billion. Demand increased in China, the US, the UK and several Middle Eastern and Asian markets.
