EU dairy prices rise in August as milk supply growth slows

Dairy product prices in the European Union showed an upward trend in August compared to July. According to data from the Kempten market in Germany, butter prices rose by 3.6%, skimmed milk powder (SMP) increased by 5.4%, whole milk powder (WMP) rose by 8.7%, Edam cheese by 0.8%, and whey powder by 2.6%.

Despite the monthly increase, several products remain below their prices from a year ago. Butter, WMP, and Edam prices are lower than in August 2025. Conversely, SMP and whey powder prices are significantly higher than the previous year, with SMP up 22.5% and whey powder up 74.5%. Analysts at Areté attribute the rise in powder prices to expanding demand for proteins.

Regarding supply, EU milk deliveries are showing signs of slowing down after a period of significant growth. While deliveries between January and June 2026 were 3.4% higher than the same period in 2025, this growth rate has decelerated from the 5% increase observed in the first quarter of 2026.