Five of Six Major Dairy Regions Increased Output
Data from the AHDB’s Global Milk Deliveries tracker showed that the six regions—EU-27, Britain, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand—added 17.8m litres to their combined daily output compared with July 2025. Together they account for more than 65% of global cow-milk production and about 80% of international dairy exports.
The EU-27 recorded the largest absolute increase. Average deliveries reached an estimated 404.3m litres a day, 10.4m litres above the same month last year, representing annual growth of 2.6%. AHDB said the European figure remained provisional. Germany was a major contributor, producing 155m litres more during the month than in July 2025, an increase of 5.8%.
US deliveries averaged 284.8m litres per day, 1.7% higher than a year earlier. AHDB reported that dairy-farm margins had eased from earlier highs but remained positive. It also identified beef production from dairy herds as an increasingly important source of revenue, as beef genetics are used for calves not required for herd replacement.
Argentina’s deliveries rose by about 1m litres a day, or 3.2% year on year. AHDB linked the increase to favourable weather and margins and said it was consistent with the recovery recorded by the country’s dairy industry during 2026. Australia produced 19.1m litres per day, 1.2m more than in July 2025, for annual growth of 6.6%. The agency associated the Australian increase with high milk prices and favourable weather.
New Zealand posted the fastest growth among the six regions. Its July output averaged 10.5m litres a day, 0.7m litres above the previous year, an increase of 7.4%. AHDB attributed the result to weather, positive margins and the use of technology. The agency said the figure marked a strong start to the New Zealand season, while noting that the tracker does not establish how long the pace will continue.
Britain was the only region to record lower production. Deliveries averaged 41m litres per day, down 2.6% year on year. AHDB had previously cited heat stress, weaker forage growth and bluetongue disease among factors affecting British deliveries. Higher production in Australia also did not translate into higher exports across every dairy category: Dairy Australia reported lower export volume in July and in the July-August period. AHDB’s monthly comparison is based on official and industry data and does not predict future output; inventories, trade, milk composition and regional demand also affect international dairy markets.
