UK dairy exports rise sharply in February as imports decline

UK dairy exports remained strong in February, increasing by 9.08%, equivalent to an additional 25 million kilo LME. This follows an exceptionally strong performance in January, when exports rose by 19.61%.Export growth was recorded across most product categories, with declines observed only in whey, lactose, FFMP, I/F, and milk. The strongest increases in February were seen in SMP, cheese, and fermented drinks. UK dairy exports February Product 2025 2026 ∆ ∆% SMP 3,827 8,997 5,170 135.09% WMP 699 838 139 19.89% Whey 6,424 5,409 -1,015 -15.80% WPC80/WPI's 1,242 1,611 369 29.71% Lactose 1,267 1,025 -242 -19.10% FFMP 262 102 -160 -61.07% I/F 893 729 -164 -18.37% Cheese 14,840 19,259 4,419 29.78% Butter 1,696 1,926 230 13.56% AMF 1,289 1,471 182 14.12% Cream 2,625 3,250 625 23.81% Fermented 3,365 5,846 2,481 73.73% Condensed 3,161 4,712 1,551 49.07% Milk 60,876 23,620 -37,256 -61.20% Year-to-date (YTD) exports through February also maintained strong momentum. Declines were limited to lactose, I/F, AMF, cream, and milk. Overall, YTD February exports increased by 15.49%, or 86 million kilo LME. UK dairy exports YTD February Product 2025 2026 ∆ ∆% SMP 7,883 14,570 1,346 33.19% WMP 1,424 1,612 48 6.62% Whey 11,343 10,450 122 2.48% WPC80/WPI's 2,657 3,306 280 19.79% Lactose 2,065 1,333 -490 -61.40% FFMP 413 396 142 94.04% I/F 1,636 1,313 -159 -21.40% Cheese 31,021 45,066 9,587 59.25% Butter 3,375 4,796 1,176 70.04% AMF 2,880 2,820 -242 -15.21% Cream 6,300 6,163 -801 -21.80% Fermented 6,805 13,460 4,158 120.87% Condensed 6,293 9,030 1,185 37.84% Milk 122,027 79,384 -10,050 -16.43% Imports declined both in February and on a YTD basis, in line with the significant increase in milk production during 2026, which rose by 92 million kilo. Milk production in the UK Month 2025 2026 ∆% ∆ January 1,321,600,000 1,370,200,000 3.68% 48,600,000 February 1,212,600,000 1,255,800,000 3.56% 43,200,000 Total 2,534,200,000 2,626,000,000 3.62% 91,800,000 Negative import developments were recorded across approximately half of the product categories. February imports decreased by 4.96%, equivalent to 17 million kilo LME. UK dairy imports February Product 2025 2026 ∆ ∆% SMP 898 986 88 9.80% WMP 1,184 1,200 16 1.35% Whey 5,289 3,853 -1,436 -27.15% WPC80/WPI's 1,667 1,011 -656 -39.35% Casein 199 306 107 53.77% Caseinates 27 59 32 118.52% MPC 137 339 202 147.45% Lactose 715 422 -293 -40.98% I/F 5,197 3,559 -1,638 -31.52% Cheese 34,334 35,809 1,475 4.30% Butter 4,302 3,776 -526 -12.23% AMF 689 171 -518 -75.18% Cream 1,690 1,401 -289 -17.10% Fermented 22,278 26,331 4,053 18.19% Condensed 4,397 6,068 1,671 38.00% Milk 10,826 10,624 -202 -1.87% YTD February imports declined by 3.84%, or 27 million kilo LME, with more than half of the product categories recording decreases. UK dairy imports YTD February Product 2025 2026 ∆ ∆% SMP 1,905 3,399 1,494 78.43% WMP 2,472 2,361 -111 -4.49% Whey 10,968 7,857 -3,111 -28.36% WPC80/WPI's 2,879 2,508 -371 -12.89% Casein 465 608 143 30.75% Caseinates 104 95 -9 -8.65% MPC 250 610 360 144.00% Lactose 1,429 982 -447 -31.28% I/F 8,809 6,640 -2,169 -24.62% Cheese 72,435 73,222 787 1.09% Butter 8,227 8,216 -11 -0.13% AMF 1,443 325 -1,118 -77.48% Cream 3,661 2,992 -669 -18.27% Fermented 45,901 53,194 7,293 15.89% Condensed 9,002 8,606 -396 -4.40% Milk 20,750 21,330 580 2.80% As of YTD February, dairy stock levels amounted to 1.8% of YTD February milk production.