Portugal milk producers protest new price cuts

The Portuguese dairy sector is facing a further reduction in the farmgate price of milk. Cooperatives linked to Lactogal announced a cut of €0.015 per litre for producers on the mainland from 1 August, while the Azores’ Prolacto and Insulac reduced prices by €0.02 and €0.015 per litre respectively.

The Associação dos Produtores de Leite de Portugal (Aprolep) says the cuts come as production costs rise sharply due to higher fuel, feed and irrigation needs driven by heat waves. It warns the lower prices could force older farmers to abandon dairy farming and deter younger entrants. Aprolep also criticises the government’s support as insufficient compared with aid given to Spanish farmers, and urges buyers to restore prices in September and to promote domestic cheese and yogurt to offset a €400 million dairy import deficit.