It is already known that the Dutch milk supply will turn red this year. However, the magnitude of the volume loss is astonishing.
Dutch dairies collected 1.066.665 tons of milk in November. Compared to the same month in 2017, this is a decrease of no less than 6,8%. In exact numbers there is a difference of 77,8 million kilos. In relation to the 5-year average, a negative difference of 1,5% can be seen.
Since September, the difference compared to 2017 has been increasing. Daily production in November was 35.555 tons, compared to 35.765 tons the previous month and 36.300 tons in September. In the period January to November, milk supply amounted to 12,7 million tons, a decrease of 2,6% compared to the same period last year.
Higher levels
Fat production is 48.332 tons, with an average fat percentage of 4,53%. About 1 year ago, the average fat percentage was still 4,47%. Although the volume shows a clear shrinkage, the fat content in the milk shows an increase. Moreover, the percentage is very high.
The downward trend in milk supply is related to the shrinkage of the livestock, mainly as a result of the phosphate reduction plan and the introduction of the phosphate rights system. The height of the milk prices However, this cannot have been a reason to reduce milk production, given that the payment prices (viewed generically) are above the critical milk price.