Ireland’s Whole Milk Powder Trade Rose 166.2% Within the EU
Trade data compiled by DCA Market Intelligence show that Ireland’s whole milk powder (WMP) shipments to EU member states rose to 9,283 tonnes in January-May 2026. EU-wide intra-EU WMP movements increased by 2.9% over the same period, reaching 91,997 tonnes. Exports from the bloc to destinations outside the EU grew by 2.2% to 78,051 tonnes, with Germany contributing strongly to that expansion.
The increase in Irish WMP shipments took place during a wider rise in European dairy-powder prices. By early September, food-grade skimmed milk powder was priced at €3,205 per tonne, 9.6% higher than a month earlier and 44.4% above the level a year before. Feed-grade skimmed milk powder reached €3,225 per tonne, a 41.1% year-on-year increase.
Prices also advanced across the whey market. Food-grade sweet whey powder was up 79% annually, while feed-grade sweet whey powder rose by 94.4%. Lactose prices increased by 59%. The powder benchmarks reached their highest levels since 2022, according to the report.
Milk availability increased in several continental European countries through July. German collections rose by 6.4% to 20.16m tonnes, French volumes grew by 2.2% to 14.66m tonnes, and output in the Netherlands and Poland increased by 4.5% and 3.1%, respectively. Irish milk collections were broadly stable at 5.80m tonnes, down 0.4% from the previous year.
European processors directed more milk towards skimmed milk powder production. EU output of the product rose by 11.7% in the first half of 2026 to 865,019 tonnes, while Irish production increased by 19.4%. Intra-EU shipments of skimmed milk powder climbed by 13.5% to 286,920 tonnes, and exports outside the bloc grew by 10.6% to 367,628 tonnes. Belgium, Germany and France supplied major volumes to non-EU markets.
Other milk and cream powder production in the EU fell by 3.4%. The report said Ireland’s increase in WMP shipments occurred as European processors and food manufacturers absorbed more powder within the bloc. It also noted that European prices had moved closer to international competitors, while whole milk powder prices remained slightly below their levels a year earlier.
