UK diary output expands along milk solids in August

By August 2025, UK milk production increased by 4.56% compared with the same period in 2024, equivalent to an additional 477 million kilo of milk. When corrected for the leap year, the increase amounts to 519.2 million kilo.All months recorded higher production than the previous year, except February, which was affected by the leap year. The largest monthly gain occurred in April, with production up by 6.84%. February showed the lowest result, down 0.92% without leap-year correction and up 2.62% when adjusted.Regarding milk composition, fat content reached its peak in June with a year-on-year increase of 7.86%, while protein content peaked in August with a rise of 7.41%. February again recorded the lowest results for both fat and protein.When combining fat and protein, overall milk solids content showed steady growth. Despite a temporary dip in milk volume during February, combined fat and protein output rose both for that month and cumulatively up to August.By YTD August, UK milk solids production increased by 5.43%, equal to an additional 46.5 million kilo of fat and protein. Using Friesland Campina’s standard fat and protein percentages (4.45% and 3.58%, respectively), the EU’s total fat and protein output translates into an additional 5.8 million kilo of milk on top of the incremental milk volume.Surplus growth appears to have slowed, in line with trade data. Exports rose by 261,501,520 kilo of Liquid Milk Equivalent (LME), while imports increased by 243,250,650 kilo LME. In total, production (+477 million kilo) combined with imports (+243 million kilo) amounts to 720 million kilo, from which exports (-262 million kilo) must be deducted. This results in a net incremental availability of approximately 458 million kilo LME—equal to 3.75% of total YTD August milk production. Despite the positive production balance, theoretical stock levels have fallen by 24.13% since the beginning of the year.