Ornua’s purchasing price index (PPI) is 130.2 for the month of July, up slightly on the 130.1 June figure.

The index has been on a continuous upward curve since March 2026.

The PPI implies an indicative return of 34.64c/l excluding VAT for July’s milk at base constituents net of Ornua costs to the market and having deducted estimated processing costs for last month.

This is a decrease on the 35.11c/l ex VAT, quoted by the processor for June.

The estimate of member co-ops' processing costs increased by 0.5c/l to 10c/l for July, Ornua said.

This estimate is based on the average cost of processing the Ornua basket of products, which is not representative of any individual member co-op processor, while it excludes a member co-op margin.

Stable market returns

“The results reflect stable market returns for the month of July,” Ornua stated.

Ornua added that its value payment to member co-ops was €7.7m for July, which equated to 6.3% of gross purchases in the month.

The announcement of Ornua PPI movement came after Tuesday’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction in New Zealand saw average prices rise slightly by 0.7%.

Average prices paid for whole and skimmed milk powder increased; however, butter prices dropped.