The National Milk Agency (NMA) has highlighted its concerns over the continuing decline in the number of registered liquid milk producers in the state.
The agency’s annual report shows that in the 2024/25 milk year, 102 registered producers with contracts exited the fresh milk supply chain, bringing the total number of registered producers to 1,094, a 9% decline in contracts compared with 2024.
Since the establishment of the agency in 1995, the total number of registered contracts has reduced by 67%, from 3,344 in 1995.
Total domestic milk supplies to creameries and pasteurisers were 8.8m litres in 2025, an increase of 407m litres on 2024. The number of milk producers in the state was estimated as 17,000, with an average annual milk supply of 520,000 litres per farm.
Consumption
National consumption of fresh milk declined by 17m litres during the year, according to the NMA. The report notes that the domestic fresh milk market is the largest consumer market for milk and milk products in the state, with an estimated retail value of €640m in 2025.
The report also notes that Irish consumers continue to have one of the highest per-capita consumptions of fresh drinking milk in the world, with a per-capita consumption of 100 litres.
The market is dominated by four domestic processors (Tirlán, Lakeland Dairies, Dairygold and Kinisla) which supply 90% of total supply. Winter milk contracts represent just 2% of fresh milk supplies during 2025.
The average price paid under year-round contracts in 2024/25 was 56.39c/l, an increase of 8.53c/l on the previous year. Based on a similar solids content for liquid and manufacturing supplies, the annual average liquid milk premium was 3.99c/l in 2025, compared with 4.61c/l during 2024.
Fresh milk imports into the state from Northern Ireland amounted to 150m litres during 2025 (equivalent to 27% of total supply) and comprised an estimated 99m litres of packaged milk and 51m litres of bulk raw milk, which was subsequently processed within the state.
From a financial perspective, the report notes that the agency’s milk levy income increased by €186,920 to €638,896 during 2025, while accumulated funds amounted to €834,001 at year end.