In general, milk production across Europe is in growth mode.

In Germany, the largest milk-producing country in Europe, July milk supply stood at 2.7bn litres, which was almost 1% ahead of the same month last year.

This brings German milk production for the first seven months of 2020 to a cumulative 18.8bn litres of milk, which is 1%, or 180m litres, ahead of last season.

In neighbouring France, the second-largest milk producer in Europe, July milk production stood at just over 1.9bn litres, which is up a very strong 3% year on year.

For the first seven months of 2020, French milk production stands at a cumulative 14.4bn litres, which is almost 1%, or 130m litres, ahead of the same period last year.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, August milk production stood at 1.1bn litres, which was down 1.5% on the same month last year.

However, year-to-date Dutch milk supplies are still running 2% ahead of last year and stood at a cumulative 9.1bn litres for the first eight months of 2020.

Polish milk supplies also continue to grow, with August milk production in Poland up 2% at just over 1bn litres.

Irish milk production also continues to grow in 2020 and the figures show it is ahead by 4% on last year.

The only weakness in milk supplies from the major producers in Europe is in the UK, where milk collections for the first eight months of 2020 are down 0.7% year on year at 10.1bn litres.