German milk imports from neighboring countries plummet

Milk supply in Germany amounted to 2,548 million tonnes in October. This is a decrease of 2,3% compared to the same month in 2023. Since June, growth has been out of German milk production and since then the deficit has increased every month. In September, the deficit was still 1,7%. The increasing decline is a result of dairy farmers ceasing to produce in combination with bluetongue outbreaks on German dairy farms.

In the first months of 2024, 0,5% less was milked than in the same period last year. This means that German milk production is heading for a decline this calendar year for the first time since 2021. This is a remarkable turnaround, because in May, milk supply was still the highest since 2018. 

Much less imported milk
A limited part of the supply in October came from (spot) milk purchased by processors from other Member States, mostly neighbouring countries such as the Netherlands or France. In October, this volume was 68.105 tonnes, or more than 2,5% of the total German milk pool. It is striking that this volume is much lower than in previous years. In October, the volume was 8,8% lower than the same month last year. Over the first ten months, the deficit is even 11,5%, according to figures from the German Ministry of Agriculture. This may be because processors in neighbouring countries are less willing to sell spot milk to German processors, due to a declining supply in their own country.