European milk production surplus narrows in August

European milk production remains above last year, but the surplus is narrowing as growth loses momentum. Germany continues to record the strongest expansion, although at a slower pace, while production in France, the Netherlands and Poland was broadly stable in August. Differences in milk composition are also becoming increasingly relevant for milk solids availability.France French milk production stabilized in August after three consecutive months of year-over-year (YoY) contraction. Deliveries totalled 1.94 million tons, broadly unchanged from August 2025, following declines of 1.4% in May, 1.2% in June and 0.2% in July. Organic milk collections moved in the opposite direction, falling by 14.1% YoY to 75,710 tons.Milk composition remained relatively supportive. Protein content increased by 0.6% YoY to 3.25%, while fat edged 0.3% lower to 3.96%, leaving milk solids (MS) production slightly higher at 139,700 tons (+0.2%).Strong growth earlier in the year has nevertheless kept cumulative production above 2025 levels. Deliveries reached 16.59 million tons through August (+1.9%), while MS increased by 2.7% to 1.22 million tons. Organic collections moved in the opposite direction, falling by 4.1% to 755,940 tons as the contraction since April weighed on the total result.Germany Germany continues to record the strongest production growth among the countries analysed, although growth is losing momentum. Deliveries reached 2.81 million tons in August, up 3.1% YoY, compared with 5.8% growth in both June and July and around 6–7% during the first half of the year. Organic collections also moved lower for the first time this year, declining by 1.1% to 125,850 tons.At the same time, weaker milk components reduced the increase in effective availability. Fat content declined by 1.0% YoY to 3.96% and protein by 0.6% to 3.42%, limiting MS growth to 2.2%.Despite the slowdown, the surplus accumulated earlier in the year remains sizeable. Through August, milk production reached 22.97 million tons (+6% YoY), while MS increased by 5.9% to 1.74 million tons. Organic collections were also 6.4% higher at 1.09 million tons.Netherlands The production surplus also narrowed in the Netherlands. August deliveries were only 0.7% above last year at 1.17 million tons, compared with growth of 3.1% in July and 4–6% during the first months of 2026.Unlike Germany, however, milk composition provided some additional support. Fat content increased by 0.9% YoY to 4.36%, while protein remained unchanged at 3.64%, allowing MS production to increase by 1.2% to 93,520 tons.The stronger performance earlier in the year leaves cumulative milk production 4.0% higher at 9.62 million tons, with MS up 4.2% to 782,030 tons. Organic milk remains the clear outperformer, increasing by 11% through August to 206,080 tons, although monthly growth slowed to 2.5%.Poland In Poland, the slowdown becomes more pronounced when looking beyond liquid milk volumes. Deliveries reached 1.17 million tons in August, just 0.3% above last year.Nevertheless, milk composition has continued to deteriorate. Fat content declined by 2.3% YoY to 3.88%, while protein fell by 1.5% to 3.31%. This pushed MS production 1.6% below last year to 84,390 tons, despite liquid milk production remaining marginally positive.This divergence is also visible in the cumulative figures. Milk deliveries reached 9.56 million tons through August, up 2.7% YoY, while MS production increased by only 1.7% to 706,070 tons. Organic collections declined by 21.4% to 7,790 tons.Milk prices recover, but remain below 2025Milk prices showed some recovery in August, although they remain well below last year's levels. The EU average increased from €41.80 per 100 kg in July to €42.75 in August but remained 19.7% lower year-over-year. A similar monthly recovery was seen across the countries analysed, with prices reaching €44.59 in France, €42.50 in the Netherlands, €41.45 in Poland and €41.15 in Germany. However, the gap with 2025 remains particularly large in Germany (-24.2%), the Netherlands (-24.4%) and Poland (-22.3%), while France was comparatively closer to last year at -10.6%.