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For more information on this release:
E-mail: milk@cso.ie Carmel Hinchion (+353) 21 453 5272 Sophie Emerson (+353) 21 453 5453 Aine Barrett (+353) 21 453 5359
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-566X
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Milk Statistics

February 2021

Domestic Milk Intake
2020 2021 % change
million litres  
February331.7346.24.4%
January - February507.9 534.7 5.3%

Domestic Milk Intake up by 4.4% in February 2021

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Domestic milk intake by creameries and pasteurisers was estimated at 346.2 million litres for February 2021. This represents an increase of 4.4% over February 2020. See figure 1.

The Protein content increased from 3.38% in February 2020 to 3.44% in February 2021. The Fat content also increased from 4.29% to 4.45%.

During the period January to February 2021, domestic intake was estimated at 534.7 million litres, an increase of 5.3% when compared to the corresponding period of 2020.

Comparing the February 2021 milk produce figures with those for February 2020 shows that:

  • Whole milk sales decreased by 1% to 25.6 million litres.

See Table 1 for more details.

The information used to compile this release was collected under EU Directive 96/16/EC.

Table 1 Milk Statistics
CategoryYearUnitJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Domestic milk intake2019million175.3303.6708.7953.31072.21001.0943.2842.8721.9604.7418.1241.47,986.2
   by creameries and2020litres176.2331.7725.7982.71115.31031.0985.0867.6725.4645.6450.8255.88292.8
   pasteurisers2021188.5 ¹346.2          
       
    Fat content2019%4.214.324.233.943.853.923.964.164.424.744.844.584.17
 20204.314.294.273.973.873.974.044.174.434.714.854.674.20
 20214.414.45           
              
   Protein content2019%3.42 3.473.323.403.443.463.463.553.793.943.853.623.54
 20203.48 3.383.293.433.463.45 3.513.573.783.993.853.673.55
 20213.50 3.44           
              
Imported milk intake ²2019million71.371.172.056.955.560.153.3*58.9***710.6
   2020litres*************
 2021**     
        
Total milk sold for human2019million44.841.946.745.245.345.044.745.143.445.443.741.8533.2
    consumption ³2020litres43.142.545.847.147.345.747.444.441.741.138.243.9528.1
 202143.4 ¹40.4          
       
of which:2019million26.925.329.028.528.229.429.128.626.828.926.825.8333.1
   Whole milk sales2020litres26.125.829.132.031.630.631.528.926.726.323.728.1340.2
 202126.725.6          
      .. 
    Skimmed & semi-2019million17.916.617.716.817.215.615.716.616.716.516.916.1200.1
    skimmed milk sales2020litres17.016.716.715.215.715.115.915.415.014.814.515.9187.9
 202116.7 ¹14.7          
       
Butter2019'0008.210.622.228.431.028.128.225.522.320.215.110.9250.8
 2020tonnes7.2 ¹11.222.629.029.830.330.926.224.022.917.7 ¹10.7 ¹262.5 ¹
 20216.6 ¹9.9          
       
Skimmed milk powder2019'0005.2*5.821.424.218.419.112.39.18.6*10.2142.5
 2020tonnes*2.8 ¹7.218.924.620.120.317.912.5 ¹8.3**148.7 ⁴
 2021**      
       
Cheese 2018tonnes3.511.625.425.630.732.926.629.931.027.120.05.2269.4
 20193.69.225.027.731.733.328.631.432.226.823.55.4278.4
 20203.39.330.628.231.634.328.729.733.927.821.46.8285.4
               
1 Revised.
2 Raw milk imports and imported milk for processing on contract. This does not include imported packaged milk for retail sale.
3 Does not include imported packaged milk for retail sale.
* Confidential.
4 Provisional
Table 2 EU Milk intake by creameries and pasteurisers‘000 tonnes
CountryJan - Dec 19Jan - Dec 20% change
   Austria3,1403,137-0.1
   Belgium4,2884426 23.2
   Bulgaria6596945.4
   Croatia436434-0.4
   Cyprus23927414.5
   Czech Republic3,0743,1923.9
   Denmark5,6155,6670.9
   Estonia7637883.3
   Finland2,3302,3621.4
   France24526 324660 30.5
   Germany32,44232,5490.3
   Greece6316523.3
   Hungary1,5761,6182.7
   Ireland8,2238,5393.8
   Italy11965 311895 3-0.6
   Latvia785 3791 30.7
   Lithuania1,3581,3600.1
   Luxembourg** 
   Malta42432.8
   Netherlands13,80213,9601.1
   Poland12,17512,4572.3
   Portugal1,8921,9201.5
   Romania1122 31135 31.1
   Slovakia8158342.3
   Slovenia5645802.9
   Spain7265 37428 32.2
   Sweden2,7042,7732.5
    
  Source: New Cronos database, Eurostat (except Ireland and European Union total, CSO).
2 Estimate.
3 Provisional.
*Confidential

Background Notes

Coverage

The monthly milk and milk products inquiry is a census of all creameries and pasteurisers.

Milk intake by creameries and pasteurisers

Whole milk purchased by creameries and pasteurisers from domestic producers through collection depots and separating stations including whole milk obtained from herds owned by the creameries and pasteurisers.  The fat content of the whole milk is also collected.  To convert milk intake from million litres to ‘000 tonnes use the following formula:

                1 tonne liquid milk = 971.164 litres.

Skimmed milk

Milk with less than or equal to 0.3% fat content.

Semi-skimmed milk

Milk with between 1.5% and 1.8% fat content.

Skimmed milk powder

Milk powder with not more than 1.5% milk fat content.

Cheese

The cheese figures are not adjusted to a calendar month basis.

Imported Milk Intake

Raw milk imports and imported milk for processing on contract. This does not include milk already packaged for retail sale.

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