United Kingdom milk prices and composition of milk – statistics notice (data for May 2024)
Updated 27 June 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk/united-kingdom-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk-statistics-notice-data-for-may-2024
1.1 Key messages
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This release shows the latest information on average farm-gate milk prices, volumes and the butterfat and protein content of UK produced milk.
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The UK average farm-gate milk price for May 2024 is 37.92 pence per litre (ppl). This represents a 1.3% (0.49 ppl) decrease on April 2024 and a 2.9% increase on the same month last year. (Figure 1.2).
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Butterfat decreased 2.6% from last month at 4.15%. Compared to last year, butterfat is 1.9% lower than May 2023. (Figures 1.3a).
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Protein decreased 0.8% from last month at 3.37%. Compared to last year, protein is 0.8% lower than May 2023. (Figures 1.3b).
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May volumes are 1,377 million litres, up 5.0% on April 2024 and down 0.9% on May 2023. (Figure 1.4).
1.2 United Kingdom farm-gate milk price (pence per litre)
1.3 Average butterfat and protein content of United Kingdom produced milk
1.3a. Butterfat %
1.3b. Protein %
1.4 United Kingdom wholesale milk production (million litres)
1.5 Percentage change in key items: May 2024 compared to May 2023
| Item | Percentage change |
|---|---|
| Milk price | 2.9 |
| Milk volume | -0.9 |
| Butterfat | 1.9 |
| Protein | -0.8 |
1.6 Trends
Figures 1.2 to 1.4 above show the values for the latest 12 months along with the five year average, maximum and minimum monthly values.
1.7 Retrospective payments
Some companies make retrospective bonus payments. We do not reflect these payments in the monthly milk price figures. The annual average price for farm-gate milk in 2019, including retrospective payments, is 29.10 ppl, 0.23 ppl more than the annual average price without retrospective payments (28.87 ppl). In 2019 total retrospective payments were 2.0% lower than 2018 at £34.7 million.
A retrospective payment is when a company makes a payment to a farmer that is outside the normal contract price they receive and is generally paid on prior production, for example profit sharing.
1.8 Revisions and estimates
England and Wales survey response in May was 89%.
1.9 Accredited official status
Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. An explanation can be found on the Office for Statistics Regulation website.
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.
These accredited official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in 2014. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.
You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards (see contact details below). Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
The next update of this monthly notice is at 09:30 on 25th July 2024.
Enquiries to: Julie Rumsey, Tel: +44 (0) 208 026 6306
email: julie.rumsey@defra.gov.uk
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