Accredited official statistics

United Kingdom milk prices and composition of milk - March 2019 statistics (published 25 April 2019)

Updated 20 February 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/historical-statistic-notices-on-uk-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk-2019/united-kingdom-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk-march-2019-statistics-published-25-april-2019

1. 1.1 Key messages

  • This release shows the latest information on average farm-gate milk prices, volumes and the butterfat and protein content of UK produced milk.

  • The UK average farm-gate milk price for March is 28.94 pence per litre (ppl). This represents a 1.4% (0.41 ppl) decrease on February 2019 and a 1.6% increase on the same month last year. (Figure 1.2).

  • Butterfat is up 0.5% on last month at 4.12%. Compared to last year butterfat is 2.1% lower than March 2018. (Figures 1.3a).

  • March volumes are 1,320 million litres up 4.1% on March 2018. (Figure 1.4).

2. 1.2 United Kingdom farm-gate milk price (pence per litre)

United Kingdom farm-gate milk price (pence per litre) to March 2019

3. 1.3 Average butterfat and protein content of United Kingdom produced milk

3.1 1.3a. Butterfat %

Butterfat % to March 2019

3.2 1.3b. Protein %

Protein % to March 2019

4. 1.4 United Kingdom wholesale milk production (million litres)

United Kingdom wholesale milk production (million litres) to March 2019

5. 1.5 Percentage change in key items: March 2019 compared to March 2018

Percentage change in key items: March 2019 compared to March 2018

Figures 1.2 to 1.4 above show the values for the latest 12 months along with the maximum and minimum monthly values. Trends can be seen, notably the spring flush in milk production as the dairy herd diet changes when they are put out to grass in the summer. There is a strong positive correlation between milk composition (butterfat and protein content) and milk price.

7. 1.7 Retrospective payments

Some companies make retrospective bonus payments. We do not reflect these payments in the monthly milk price figures. The annual average price for farm-gate milk in 2017, including retrospective payments, is 28.86 ppl, 0.16 ppl more than the annual average price without retrospective payments (28.70 ppl). In 2017 total retrospective payments were 2.5% lower than 2016 at £24.2 million.

A retrospective payment is when a company makes a payment to a farmer that is outside the normal contract price they receive and is generally paid on prior production, for example profit sharing.

8. 1.8 Revisions and estimates

England and Wales survey response in March was 97%. Northern Ireland data for March 2019 is an estimate.

The next update of this monthly notice is at 09:30 on 30th May 2019.

Enquiries to: Julie Rumsey, Tel: +44 (0) 208 026 6306

email: [email protected]

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