The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) index has recorded another decline in its latest trading event today (Tuesday, July 7).

The index was down by 4.9%, for an average price of €3,323/t.

This is the third consecutive decline.

26,316t were sold today, with 148 people bidding.

111 winning bidders emerged after 17 bidding rounds in an event that lasted two hours and 46 minutes.

Products

In terms of individual product sub-indices, there was a decline in the butter index of 5.0%, for a price of €4,669/t.

Cheddar also declined, down 12.3% for a price of €3,412; while mozzarella was up by 3.8%, bringing the price to €3,410/t.

Decreases were noted for whole milk powder, which dipped by 4.4% to €2,997/t; skim milk powder, which was down 7.0% to €2,743/t; and anhydrous milk fat, down 3.9% to €5,548.

Lactose also dipped, down 3.6% to €1,515/t.

Butter milk powder rose by 8.2% to €3,313/t.

Domestic milk intake

In other dairy news, domestic milk intake by milk processors and co-ops was down 1.6% - 19.1 million litres - year-on-year in May, according to the latest analysis from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Estimates suggest domestic milk intake in May 2026 was 1.16 billion litres - which is 5.1% or 56.9 million litres - higher than it was in May 2024.

The CSO carries out a monthly survey of milk processors and co-ops to gather data on monthly collection and use of cow’s milk by the dairy sector.

The key findings highlight a trend which has emerged in recent months of a drop in monthly domestic milk intake.

According to the CSO, from January to May 2026, domestic milk intake was estimated at 3.55 billion litres - which represented a fall of 25 million litres (-0.7%) when compared with the same period in 2025.

However when the intake from January to May 2026 was compared to the same period in 2024, it was up 228.1 million litres (+6.9%).