UK dairy powder exports up, says DairyCo

UK milk powder exports in the first four months of 2014 have risen significantly from levels in previous years, according to information supplier and division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, DairyCo. “With attractive returns from global markets for powders, manufacturers utilised a higher proportion of available milk for powder production. In addition, powder production would have been further supplemented by the upturn in milk deliveries during the 2013/14 milk year,” it notes.

Exports of milk powders (whey, SMP and WMP) totalled 64,000 tonnes between Jan-Apr 2014, more than double the same period last year and 25% more than for 2012, a more typical production year.  The key growth area has been in traded volumes within the EU, although there has been some growth in non-EU exports for WMP in 2014.

“Whether this signifies the beginning of a growth trend for powder exports depends on what caused the increase in EU imports – higher demand from food manufacturers, the impact of stock shortages from 2013 and/or capacity issues through the spring flush,” the organisation concludes.