French Milk Production Rises Slightly in 2024 Following Three Years of Decline

The French milk industry has experienced a modest recovery, with a 1% rise in production in 2024. This has brought the production to approximately 23 million liters, after nearing 24 million liters at the beginning of the 2020s.

Behind this upturn are significant regional differences, with declines reported in southern and eastern France, likely due to outbreaks of bluetooth disease. Despite these challenges, the improved production has allowed the sector to increase exports compared to the previous year, with volumes up by 9% and value by 2.5%.

On the global stage, the presence of the main exporting countries has remained stable since 2022, following several years of growth. Conversely, milk production in Asian countries is booming, leading to a decrease in demand. The price paid to producers has stayed relatively stable since 2022, averaging around 450 euros per 1,000 liters, compared to around 350 euros between 2019 and 2021.

The market has faced inflationary pressures, yet dairy products have held their ground, bolstered by sales of cream and cheese. A slight slowdown in the growth of generic brands was observed after a peak during the inflation period.