Inside Milk
German milk supply starts year lower than average
Total milk production in Germany last year was 0,4% higher than the year before. The new year does not necessarily start positively with regard to milk production. The milk supply in January is below the long-term average. The gap with last year is even bigger.
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German dairy farms produced 2.731.400 tons of milk in the first month of the year. This is demonstrated by the latest data supplied to the European Commission. It is an increase of approximately 2,6% compared to a month before. In the last month of the year, milk supplies amounted to 2,66 million tons. German dairy farmers thus ended the year with a total milk supply of 32,53 million tons, which is 0,4% higher than the year before. The fact that 2020 was a leap year also plays a role.
This year starts lower
While German dairy farms produced plenty of milk in the first months of the year last year, that is not immediately the case this year. In January, the German milk supply is approximately 1,5% lower than in this month last year. Compared to the 5-year average (2,731 million tons), a negative difference of 0,25% is visible. One reason for the lower milk supply may be the fact that it was colder in January this year than last year.
For next month, if we look at the seasonal trend, a decrease in production is expected. The milk supply then shows a plus again in the months of March and April, before reaching its seasonal peak in May.