Analysis Milk
Irish milk production remains below last year's level
Irish milk supply remains below last year’s level in August. We’ve seen that for the rest of the year. Wet weather, which prevented early cow turnout, put pressure on production earlier this year. Irish production has shown little recovery since then.
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However, we do see that milk production moves along with the annually recurring production pattern. Milk supply usually peaks in May and then decreases again.
In August, milk supply was 915.260 tonnes. This is the lowest since 2020, when milk production was 893.370 tonnes. Last August, milk supply was 936.140 tonnes. The five-year average is 927.140 tonnes.
The total milk supply up to and including August in 2024 amounted to 6.396.640 tonnes. This is considerably lower than the 6.712.630 tonnes in the same period last year. In 2022, milk production up to and including August was 6774.690 tonnes higher than in 2023, making the decline more apparent. In 2021, production in the same period was 6803.910 tonnes.
Typically, Ireland's milk production peaks in April, May, June and July. Those months are now over. Ireland produces around 8,5 billion litres of milk per year. 95% of that milk is exported. As a result, Ireland has relatively little influence on world prices.