Irish milk processors are hitting new records for the volume of milk processed in the month of May. It looks increasingly likely that Irish processors will go very close to processing a combined 1bn litres of May milk.

Big three bounce

Our national survey results this week predicting May milk supplies compared with May 2016 show most processors forecasting an 8% volume increase compared to the same month last year.

The big three – Glanbia, Dairygold, and Kerry – all report significant increases in May volumes compared with 2016.

Glanbia is predicting an 8% volume increase, Dairygold is also 7.5% up, while Kerry is slightly back on this figure at 4.5% for the month of May. Kerry estimates it is about 2% ahead year to date at the moment, while Glanbia estimates it is about 8% ahead year to date.

In west Cork, May supplies continue to move ahead of last year.

All four west Cork co-ops report increases between 8% and 11%.

Drinagh, Bandon and Barryroe report increases of 8% compared with last May, while Lisavaird reports a figure of 11% up on May 2016.

Aurivo reports milk supplies up 6%, Arrabawn reports supplies up 8% while LacPatrick and Lakeland report supplies up 5% and 6% respectively.

Intake

In May 2016, CSO statisitcs showed monthly domestic milk intake was estimated at 918m litres. An additional 6% to 8% on this volume as the processor tallies above suggest would push May milk up between 55m to 75m litres and just short of 1bn litres for the month of May.

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