Milk production on Irish farms this year has continued well ahead of 2016 levels, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
During the month of May, production increased by 7.3% compared to the same month last year.
Domestic milk intake by creameries and pasteurisers was estimated at 997 million litres during the fifth month of this year, a rise of 67.4 million litres, the CSO added.
Comparing year-on-year figures, the total milk sold for human consumption decreased by 0.5% – to 45.1 million litres – in May 2017. Meanwhile, butter production was up 14.9% – to 28,060t.
In April, milk production in Ireland jumped by 12.1%, when compared to the same month in the previous year.
This followed on from a year-on-year increase of 3.9% in March. Prior to this, falls of 4.6% and 7.8% (versus 2016 figures) were recorded in January and February respectively.
Source: CSO
In the first five months of the year, a total of 2,905.8 million litres was produced on Irish farms. This represented a jump of 186.1 million litres or an increase of 6.8%, compared to the same period last year.
Ornua’s PPI for June expected to make a ‘significant jump’
Earlier this week, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) claimed that Ornua’s Purchase Price Index (PPI) for June should make a “significant jump“.
The notable rise in dairy markets should result in a substantial increase, the Chairperson of the ICMSA’s Dairy Committee, Gerald Quain, explained.
All market indicators have moved on strongly – with EU statistics showing that butter prices have increased by 17%, skimmed milk powder (SMP) prices are up by 14%, whole milk powder (WMP) prices rose by nearly 9% and cheddar prices are up by over 7% since late April, he added.
Other lesser market indicators are following these trends or, in many cases, exceeding them. Farmer-suppliers are fully justified in anticipating an increase in the Ornua PPI for June, Quain said.