How many did Ireland, UK, Italy and Poland milk in 2019?

Milk production in Italy amounted to just over 1 million tons in December last year, a fraction less than the same month in 2018. Milk supply in the southern European country was regularly above that of the year in the first half of 2019. before it, and then regularly went into hiding in the second half of last year.

Ultimately, milk production in Italy for 2019 amounts to 11.965.000 tons. This is only slightly higher (0,2%) than the more than 11.944.000 tonnes in 2018, as can be seen from the figures from DataView, compiled from the supply figures that the European member states have submitted to the European Commission in Brussels.

Poland's milk production in December 2019 was also slightly above Italy, at more than 1 million tons. Dairy farming in the Eastern European country has been undergoing rapid development for years, with milk production reaching a higher level year after year. This was also the case last year, in which the milk supply was consistently above the 1 level, with the exception of one dip in June.

The milk supply for 2019 amounts to around 12.175.000 tons. This means that Polish milk production has surpassed 12 million tons for the first time. The year 2018 ended with a supply of 11.945.600 tons. As a result, Poland has managed to increase milk production by 1,2% in one year and has now surpassed Italy in terms of supply.

In its last year within the EU, the United Kingdom has managed to recover excellently from the difficult year of 2018. At that time, many dairy farms suffered from a shortage of grass due to the drought, which quickly meant that a lot of roughage and concentrates had to be fed to the animals. and hay had to be imported. In the first three quarters of 2019, milk supply was consistently above the 2018 level. Only in recent months has there been a small dip.

The United Kingdom's milk production will therefore amount to 2019 tonnes in 15.429.700. This is 1,6% higher than for the whole of 2018 and almost 2,2% more than the 5-year average of British dairy farming.

Irish milk production also received a significant boost last year, although the level is much lower than in Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. This is partly because Irish dairy farming is still very grass-based and therefore production mainly takes place when the cows can go out to pasture. However, the development of Irish dairy farming was of such magnitude in the spring and summer of 2019 that the Irish dairy industry reached the maximum of its processing capacity.

After this strong growth, milk supply in the last quarter of 2019 fell slightly below that of 2018. Total Irish milk production therefore amounted to around 8.241.240 tonnes. This is a plus of no less than 5,6% compared to 2018 and 11,5% compared to the 5-year average.