Domestic milk intake by milk processors and co-ops was estimated at 760.4 million litres in September 2026, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

According to the Milk Statistics September 2026 report, this is a decrease of 12.8 million litres or 1.7% when compared with September 2025.

The figure is also down 7.3 million litres or 0.9% when compared with the same month in 2024.

Milk intake

In September 2026, fat content was 4.81%, up from 4.69% in September 2025.

The data shows protein content also rose slightly from 3.84% in September 2025 to 3.85% in September 2026.

Butter production was down 1,500 tonnes, from 30,100 tonnes in September 2025 to 28,600 tonnes in September 2026.

Oisín Reade, statistician in the agriculture section of the CSO, said domestic milk intake across July, August, and September (Q3) 2026, was estimated at 2.61 billion litres.

This is a reduction of 4% compared with the corresponding months in Q3 2025.

"When compared with Q3 2024, domestic milk intake was down 13.8 million litres (-0.5%) in Q3 2026.

"Quarterly butter production decreased by 5,100 tonnes, from 93,100 in Q3 2025 to 87,900 in Q3 2026.

"The year-to-date (January 2026 - September 2026) domestic milk intake was 7.2 billion litres, a reduction of 172.1 million litres (-2.3%) when compared with the same period in 2025," he added.