Lactalis jumps six places in DairyCo’s milk price league table

Lactalis Caledonian Cheese shot towards the top of DairyCo’s milk price league table in May, jumping up six places since March.

Although prices were not directly comparable due to changes in the standard litre, Lactalis’s rolling average price (profile contract) increased from 34.03p/litre in March to 34.21/litre in May.

As well as Lactalis’s 0.12p/litre increase from April to May, there were four other price changes, including a 0.49p/litre increase for Parkham Farms and a 0.8p/litre drop for Payne’s Dairies.

“Milk production in May continued to outperform previous year levels, with deliveries for the month 8% higher at 1.3 billion litres,” said the DairyCo report. “Daily deliveries continue to be 5% higher, averaging 40.7m litres/day in the two weeks to 28 June.”

Strong domestic demand was supporting UK wholesale prices, but global commodities were under pressure, it added.

“The second price cut to Arla’s price for July suggests there may be further easing of milk prices on the Continent. This may filter through to the UK in the absence of any significant event to support the market.”