National statistics

Milk utilisation – statistics notice (data to February 2024)

Updated 28 March 2024

This release shows the latest monthly information on the volume of milk used by dairies in the United Kingdom for the production of a range of milk products.

1. Key messages

• In February, UK dairies processed 1,098 million litres of milk. The 12 month rolling average up to February saw a 0.2 increase compared to the milk processed in the 12 months to January - Figures 2.1 and Table 2.1.

• Production of liquid milk, which usually remains relatively constant around 500-550 million litres per month, decreased 7.7% to 476 million litres in February. The 12 month rolling average up to Febuary saw a 0.1% increase in cheese compared to the 12 months to January - Figures 2.1 and Table 2.1.

• Cheese production continues to be the largest manufactured product Figure 2.2 with cheddar the most popular cheese by far Figure 2.3.

2. Monthly milk utilisation

Figure 2.1 Monthly milk use: liquid milk and other products (million litres)

Figure 2.2 Milk use by product, excluding liquid milk (million litres)

Figure 2.3 monthly utilisation of milk by cheese type (million litres)

Product	Feb 23	Jan 24	Feb 24
Cheddar	249.0	288.1	259.3
Long life territorials	23.5	20.2	19.3
Short life territorials	5.1	5.4	5.6
Blue vein	8.1	7.2	7.1
Other	72.1	71.1	70.1

Table 2.1 Utilisation of milk at UK processors

	Monthly total	Monthly total	Percentage change	12 month rolling average to	12 month rolling average to	Percentage change
	Jan 24	Feb 24		Jan 24	Feb 24
Milk available to processors (million litres)	1,169	1,098	-6.1%	1,179	1,181	0.2%
Liquid milk production (million litres)	516	476	-7.7%	499	499	0.0%
Cheese production (‘000 tonnes)	41.8	38.5	-7.8%	42.5	42.6	0.1%
Butter production (‘000 tonnes)	17.3	15.6	-10%	16.9	16.9	-0.1%
Milk powder production (‘000 tonnes)	6.3	4.4	-30%	7.8	7.8	0.1%

3. About these statistics

3.1 Methodology

E&W statistics presented in this dataset are from the monthly survey of milk availability and usage by dairies in England and Wales. It is a voluntary sample survey with the largest 33 dairies sampled monthly and an additional 20 dairies surveyed quarterly (the quarterly data is apportioned into monthly data for the relevant 3 month period).

These 53 dairies cover approximately 90% of the total milk available for processing (based on the long term comparison with RPA volume data) so the survey data is raised to 100% of milk delivered to dairies in England and Wales.

UK results are derived as a sum of the survey results from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Similar surveys are run by the Scottish Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland results are available at the Daera milk-ultilisation statistics webpage. Data for Scotland are not available separately due to confidentiality reasons. Scottish Government publications are available at the Scottish government’s publication webpage

The wholesale production figures (e.g. for butter and cheese) are estimated from the volume of milk used for each production and compared to conversion factors advised by the dairy industry. Conversion factors can be variable and fluctuate on a monthly basis so average conversion factors have been used for calculating production volumes.

3.2 Revisions policy

Data for Northern Ireland from January 2022 is estimated.

Figures in this release are provisional and subject to revision. We will provide information about any revisions we make to previously published information in this statistics release, and the associated datasets. Revisions could occur for various reasons, including:

• If we have not received survey data from respondents we make an estimate based on their previous returns. These estimates are replaced with actual figures when they are received.

• Survey respondents occasionally supply amended figures for previous periods.

• Estimates have been used for some companies while awaiting clarification on data.

3.3 Data users/uses

The milk utilisation statistics accompany another Defra monthly publication on farm gate milk prices, this is available at the UK milk prices and composition publication webpage which shows the prices paid to milk producers by dairies. This data, alongside the milk utilisation data, gives a comprehensive overview of the UK milk market and is used heavily by the dairy industry, in particular the division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) known as DairyCo (who represent milk producers) and Dairy UK (who represent milk processors). DairyCo consider the price and utilisation statistics vital for assessing market trends and to carry out further analysis on how changing prices affect the sector. Milk utilisation data provides insight into market characteristics and to monitor where milk is being used for domestic production. It provides insight to how production of products (such as butter, cheese etc.) changes in response to changes in global demand and market conditions.

Milk utilisation statistics are also used heavily by the British Cheese Board to monitor volumes of national cheese production over time.

The information in this release is also used by the UK government as evidence for assessing market conditions and evaluating agricultural policy. Other users include academia and the general public.

3.4 Future publications

The next monthly release will be published at 09:30 on 2nd May 2024.

Full UK and England/Wales time series of milk utilisation, production of milk products (butter, cheese etc.) and import/export volumes of milk products are all available on the gov.uk website at “Milk utilisation by dairies”

3.5 Other info

The data are subject to a variety of validation checks, which identify inconsistencies in the data. All data are cleaned prior to publication in discussion with the survey respondents.

4 Conversion factors

Table 4.1: Conversion factors: litres of milk to produce 1 kg of product

Product	Conversion factor (litres/kg)
Butter (from Cream)	2.04
Cheddar	9.5
Other Long Life Territorials	9.2
Short life Territorials	8.1
Blue vein	9.1
Mozarella	9.8
Cottage cheese /Fromage frais	3.6
Soft cheese	8
Non-specified cheese	9.7
Condensed Milk	2.7
Milk Powder (from Whole milk)	8.5
Milk Powder (from Skim milk)	10.1
Milk Powder (from Cream)	12.3
Cream (from cream)	1
Yoghurt	1.1

5. Accredited official status

Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. An explanation can be found on the Office for Statistics Regulation website.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

These accredited official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in 2014. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards (see contact details below). Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

6. What you need to know about this release

Contact details

Livestock statistics team

Email: DEFRA.FISU@defra.gov.uk

Public enquiries: +44 (0) 2080 266306

Defra, Rm 201,
Foss House,
Kings Pool,
1-2 Peasholme Green,
York,
YO1 7PX