Milk Statistics February 2025

Background Notes

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) carries out a monthly survey of milk processors and co-ops in Ireland to gather data on monthly collection and use of cow’s milk by the dairy sector.

These data are a requirement of the Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 on statistics on agricultural input and output, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2745 on animal production statistics. The Directive 96/16/EC under which these data were previously collected is now repealed.

Coverage

The monthly milk and milk products inquiry is a census of all milk processors and co-ops.

Milk Intake by Milk Processors and Co-ops

Whole milk purchased by milk processors and co-ops from domestic producers through collection depots and separating stations including whole milk obtained from herds owned by the milk processors and co-ops. The fat content of the whole milk is also collected. To convert milk intake from million litres to ‘000 tonnes use the following formula:

                1 tonne liquid milk = 971.1585 litres.

Skimmed Milk

Milk with less than or equal to 0.3% fat content.

Semi-Skimmed Milk

Milk with between 1% and 1.8% fat content.

Skimmed Milk Powder

Milk powder with not more than 1.5% milk fat content.

Cheese

The cheese figures are not adjusted to a calendar month basis.

Imported Milk Intake

Raw milk imports and imported milk for processing on contract. This does not include milk already packaged for retail sale.

Note: As figures in the text and tables have been rounded, there may be slight discrepancies between the sum (or difference) of the constituent items and the totals shown.