Production of butter across the EU grew by 6.2% in 2025, when compared to the previous year, according to new data.

The latest European Commission milk market report shows that production also increased for cheese by 1.9% and skim milk powder (SMP) by 5.1%.

However, EU production of whole milk powder (WMP) was down 8.6%, cream was back 1.5%, drinking milk fell 0.8% and condensed decreased by 10%.

Milk report

The report shows that collection of cow's milk in the EU strongly increased by 5.7% (650,000 tonnes) in December 2025, compared to the same month a year previously.

Milk deliveries increased in 19 member states, with the highest growth recorded in Cyprus, Belgium and Austria.

Production strongly increased in Germany (7.8%), France (8%), the Netherlands (7%) and Poland (4.4%).

EU milk collection in 2025 was 1.6% higher than in 2024 (up 1.9% with leap year adjusted).

Prices

The commission said that in December 2025, average EU farm gate milk prices were down by 3.8% compared to the previous month, to 48.15c/kg.

This price is 12% lower than in December 2024, but 1.9% higher than 5-year average.

The report noted that member states’ estimates point to a further decrease of milk prices in January 2026 (-1.9%), down to 47.23c/kg.

Compared to a year ago, the highest decreases of milk prices were in Belgium (-27%), Lithuania (-26%), Ireland (-24%) and the Netherlands (-24%).

In 10 member states, milk prices were higher than a year ago.

In December 2025, 3.6% of total EU raw milk collected was organic.

The highest organic cow’s milk prices in December 2025 were reported in Cyprus (104.1c/kg), Ireland (81.7c/kg) and Italy (68.6c/kg)

The average EU organic cow’s milk price was 63c/kg in December.

Dairy

According to the report, dairy prices decreased in the 4 weeks up to February 15 for butter (-3.8%), cheddar (10.1%).

There were increases for whey powder (6.1%), SMP (8.3%) and WMP (1.1%).

When compared to 5 years average, butter (-23.6%), SMP (-16.9%), and WMP (-17.7%) are lower, while whey powder prices are 18.4% higher.

EU dairy exports increased from January to October 2025 for SMP (8%), whey powder (2%) and cheeses (1%) but decreased forbutter (-1%), WMP (-21%), butter oil (-15%) and condensed (-12%).