EU milk solids production surpasses liquid milk growth in November

The EU’s milk production gained renewed momentum in November, with Germany, France, Italy, and Poland all reporting solid growth in monthly deliveries. While the higher output and improved milk composition supported milk solids availability, farmgate prices were increasingly pressured as the year progressed.Milk production in Germany reached 2.64 million tons in November, marking a 7.54% increase year-over-year. Additionally, this reflected an acceleration in production growth over October (+6.8%) and contrasted with lower production volumes between January and July. Despite the recovering output, cumulative production remained only marginally higher as of November, rising by 0.31% year-over-year to 26.68 million tons.Yet again, milk composition improved steadily throughout 2025. Average milk fat content increased to 4.11%, up 0.03 percentage points, while protein content rose to 3.50%, also gaining 0.03 percentage points. As a result, the availability of milk solids for dairy processing expanded more significantly than the volume of liquid milk. Cumulative milk solids production increased by 1.12% year-over-year, reaching 2.26 million tons by November.Price developments, however, became less supportive toward the end of the year. With the higher farmgate prices supporting production during most of 2025, the annual price gap narrowed significantly and turned negative in October. This negative gap widened further in November, with average prices falling by 9.8% over the previous year to €49.34 per 100 kilo.FranceFrench milk production also expanded in November, with deliveries increasing 6.25% year-over-year to 1.96 million tons. Milk output has grown steadily in the country since April, allowing year-to-date production to rise 1.5% year-over-year, reaching 22.08 million tons as of November.Milk composition developments were not as positive, with average milk fat content facing an annual decline of 0.01 percentage points to 4.09%, while protein content remained unchanged at 3.50%. As a result, growth in milk solids fell behind liquid volumes. Cumulative milk solids production increased by 1.28% year-over-year, totaling 1.63 million tons by November.Milk prices played an important role in supporting production earlier in the year. Farmgate prices were 6.8% above the previous year in January and remained relatively firm throughout the summer, even increasing until September. However, higher milk availability during autumn weighed on prices. By November, the annual price premium had narrowed to +1.93%, with average prices at €50.66 per 100 kilo.ItalyMilk deliveries in Italy totaled 1.03 million tons in November, reflecting a 6.23% year-over-year increase. Production faced considerable headwinds earlier in the year but recovered gradually, growing consistently from August onwards. That said, this was not enough output to offset earlier declines, and cumulative production still showed a 0.52% annual contraction, reaching 11.74 million tons as of November.Milk composition improved markedly throughout the year. Average fat content increased by 0.05 percentage points to 3.98%, while protein content rose by 0.02 percentage points to 3.46%. These gains translated into a notable improvement in milk solids availability, with cumulative milk solids output increasing by 0.45% over the previous year to 873,830 tons as of November, despite the contraction in liquid milk volumes.Price dynamics in Italy differed from those in the other countries. Tighter milk availability earlier in the year helped keep prices relatively stable month-over-month. The average farmgate price has remained at €58.25 per 100 kilo since August, among the highest in the region. However, the annual price gap narrowed sharply, declining from +17.56% in January to +6.08% in November, largely due to gains in the 2024 baseline.PolandPoland recorded milk production of 1.09 million tons in November, up 5.27% year-over-year. While this was the lowest monthly growth rate among the countries analyzed, Poland stood out for its consistent expansion throughout the year. Cumulative production increased by 2.93% year-over-year to 12.63 million tons, representing both the largest relative and absolute year-to-date growth.Milk composition developments further reinforced this trend. A minor decline of 0.01 percentage points in protein content to 4.07% was more than offset by a 0.05 percentage point increase in fat content to 3.43%. As a result, milk solids’ production expanded by 3.52% year-over-year, reaching 946,310 tons as of November. Poland’s solid output growth was also the strongest among the four countries on an absolute and percentage basis. Prices weakened notably toward the end of the year. After starting 2025 at relatively high levels, farmgate prices declined steadily after September. With an elevated price baseline in late 2024, the annual price gap narrowed rapidly, resulting in an 8.67% year-over-year decline to €50.76 per 100 kilo in November.