As shown in the latest UK agri-food trade data, trade with the EU is well below normal levels across all sectors and dairy is no exception. Volumes of UK dairy exports to the EU during February were marginally higher across most products than in January. Despite this small month-on-month increase, they remain notably lower than volumes exported this time last year.
Both milk and bulk cream[1] shipments to the EU are well behind typical levels. In February 2020, just under 76,5600 tonnes of milk and 901 tonnes of bulk cream were exported to Europe. This compares to just 131 and 436 tonnes of milk and cream respectively sent in February 2021.
Exports of other key products also remained low in February compared to year earlier levels. Milk powders, whey products and cheese saw much improved exports volumes in February, with butter exports seeing a more limited month on month increase.
Buttermilk & yogurt was the only dairy category to see exports decline further in volume on the previous month. This puts exports of these products in February at just 7% of year earlier levels.
[1] Milk includes trade codes 0401.10 and 0401.20 (milk of a fat content <6%) and Cream included trade code 0401.5039 (milk and cream of a fat content >21 & <45%, in containers >2L)
Source: ahdb.org.uk
