Cow’s Milk Consumption Drops by 1.8% in March – CSO Report Reveals

The latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the volume of domestic milk intake by creameries and pasteurisers in Ireland decreased by 1.8% in March 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022. The figures also revealed a 4.3% decrease when compared to March 2021. The estimated intake for March 2023 was 793.8 million litres, compared to 808.6 million litres in March 2022. Dr. Grzegorz Glaczynski, statistician for the CSO, commented that “domestic milk intake declined by 0.3% (4.1 million litres) during the period January to March 2023, compared with the same period in 2022.”

Butter production also saw a decrease, with a drop of 3,600t from 24,400t in March 2022 to 20,800t in March 2023. The latest figures also provide a breakdown of the fat and protein content of the 793.8 million litres of milk taken in by Irish creameries and pasteurisers in March 2023. “Fat content increased to 4.34% in March 2023 from 4.33% in March 2022, while protein content dropped to 3.31% from 3.33% over the same period,” said Dr. Grzegorz Glaczynski.

The CSO also noted a decrease in milk consumption for human consumption in March 2023, with a provisional 43 million litres, compared to 43.2 million litres in March 2022. However, skimmed milk powder production saw an increase, with data showing a rise of 600t, with the CSO statistics recording 10,300t for March 2023, compared to 9,700t in March 2022.

In other dairy news, the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) price index reported its second consecutive increase following the latest trading event. The price index rose by 2.5% as a result of trade event 331 held on May 2. This follows an increase of 3.2% after the previous auction on April 18, marking the first gain for the dairy commodity index since February. Despite the two recent bounces, the GDT index remains at levels last seen in late 2020.

The dairy industry in Ireland is a critical component of the country’s economy. As one of the largest exporters of dairy products globally, the sector contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. The latest figures from the CSO indicate a decrease in domestic milk intake and butter production, which could have implications for the sector’s overall performance. However, the increase in skimmed milk powder production and the consecutive rise in the GDT price index are positive developments that may help offset some of the negative effects. The industry will be closely monitoring these trends in the coming months.