Central Statistics Office (CSO) - Dublin, Ireland

The Central Statistics Office (CSO), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, stands as a cornerstone in the development of national economic strategies through its extensive statistical data services, particularly impacting the dairy market. With state-of-the-art facilities and a highly skilled team of data professionals, the CSO is committed to maintaining international standards of excellence in data collection and analysis, providing reliable and accurate statistics.

Financial Indicators and Projections

Recent projections by the CSO have indicated a 6.8% increase in the Output Price Index for 2024, which is a critical metric for pricing and revenue planning within the dairy market. Additionally, over the twelve months leading to March 2024, a 9.8% increase in producer prices for dairy products was documented, underscoring the sector's volatility. Looking ahead to 2025, an 11% rise in dairy producer prices is anticipated, reflecting ongoing industry challenges and changes.

Important Events

The CSO continues to enhance its services by collaborating with international statistical entities and adopting cutting-edge methodologies. This alignment with global best practices reinforces the office's reputation as a trusted source of accurate statistics. Among the significant challenges highlighted by the CSO is a pronounced 59% decrease in the average income for dairy farmers over the past year.

Company Plans

Looking to the future, the CSO is focused on advancing its data acquisition techniques and analytic methodologies. By incorporating advanced big data analytics, the office aims to provide more refined market insights, solidifying its role as an essential resource for data-driven decision-making both nationally and internationally.

Challenges and Sector Impact

The Irish dairy sector is currently facing significant challenges. The CSO's announcement of increased dairy product prices in November has broad implications, prompting strategic adaptations in the industry. Agricultural output prices surged by 21.9% up to November 2024, driven by a remarkable 41.9% increase in milk prices. As of December 2024, a 2% decrease in the number of dairy cows in Ireland was reported, suggesting potential long-term market adjustments. Furthermore, the CSO's consumer price index (CPI) data showed an annual inflation rate of 2.9% as of October 2025, the highest since March 2024. However, a substantial decline of over 11% in milk and crop prices was observed in the past year leading up to September 2025. Recent data also indicated a significant decline in milk prices, with a drop of 30.4% in the year leading up to December 2025.

In 2025, Ireland's dairy industry achieved a record production of 8.8 billion litres of milk, as reported by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), marking a significant milestone for the sector.

Modified: 2026/05/20