Executive Summary

Milk production figures throughout the major dairy exporting regions of New Zealand, the EU-27+UK, the U.S., Australia and Argentina were recently updated with values spanning through Sep ’21. Highlights from the updated figures include:

• Combined milk production within the major dairy exporting regions declined 0.6% on a YOY basis throughout Sep ’21, finishing below previous year levels for the first time in the past 27 months.
• Sep ’21 YOY declines in milk production were led on a percentage basis by New Zealand, followed by Australia and the EU-27+UK. Argentine milk production volumes increased YOY throughout the month while U.S. milk production volumes finished unchanged from the previous year.
• Milk production growth throughout the U.S. continued to outpace growth experienced throughout the other major dairy exporting regions for the 14^th consecutive month throughout Sep ’21.

Additional Report Details

Combined milk production within the major dairy exporting regions of New Zealand, the EU-27+UK, the U.S., Australia and Argentina rebounded seasonally to a four month high level but finished 0.6% below previous year levels throughout Sep ’21. The aforementioned regions combined to account for 90% of global butter, cheese, whole milk powder and nonfat dry milk export volumes throughout 2020.

Combined milk production volumes finished largely flat or lower on a YOY basis over eight consecutive months through Jun ’19, prior to finishing higher throughout each of the past 26 months through Aug ’21. The Sep ’21 YOY decline in combined milk production volumes was the first experienced throughout the past 27 months and the largest experienced throughout the past 31 months on a percentage basis.

Sep ’21 YOY declines in milk production on a percentage basis were led by New Zealand (-4.4%), followed by Australia (-2.9%) and the EU-27+UK (-0.5%). Sep ’21 milk production volumes increased on a YOY basis throughout Argentina (+4.6%) while U.S. milk production volumes finished unchanged YOY. The EU-27+UK produces significantly more milk than the other dairy exporting regions, accounting for nearly half of the combined production within the five exporting regions throughout Sep ’21.

Excluding the U.S., milk production within the major dairy exporting regions declined by 0.9% on a YOY basis throughout the month of September, remaining below the growth rate exhibited within the U.S. for the 14^th consecutive month.

More recent production figures for the month of October have been made available for New Zealand and the U.S. Milk production volumes finished below previous year levels throughout both countries throughout the month, declining by 3.3% throughout New Zealand and 0.5% throughout the U.S.