July 2026 Updates Spot Milk and Bulk Cream

 

 

Spot milk prices have continued to climb and with so little distressed milk needing to find homes the market has a quieter feel about it. Prices being achieved in some cases are reported to edging closer to the 50ppl level however, we are not quite there yet although it’s just a matter of time. The low end of the range holds as some companies with larger milk volumes report levels still starting with a 3 if having to sell out a little. 

 

 

UK domestic cream prices continue to increase with many reporting trades for 25tBSC around £1.60kg ex works. Our premier sellers managing to secure a higher range of £1.62kg to £1.68kg ex works. Exports into Ireland report a lower price range of £1.48kg to £1.50kg ex works return which won’t stimulate a great deal of interest. Neither sending to mainland Europe, if there is any update at all close to our prices currently with the EU domestic price reported to be £1.25kg to £1.28kg ex works. Wholesale butter market are reported to be subdued with prices still put around the £3,250/t level with having to compete against competitively priced Irish supply coming into the country at still under £3,200/t. With the rising prices for fresh cream the temptation must be growing for churners to divide some fresh cream onto the market which might take some of the heat out of the cream price. The SMP market is also reported to be fairly quiet at the moment with expectations of sellers and buyers creating a wider price range of £2,230/t to £2,265/t. 

 

 

 

Ex farm milk recovery from the heatwave the week before last is being slow to come back, the consensus generally that previous levels are unlikely to be restored tht quickly, certainly not in the short term. With GB volumes down by around 1.5mltrs/day (approx 55 artic loads a day) spot milk prices have firmed by around 10ppl in the last week, the actual price range also tightening considerably to around 4ppl. Tighter volume means buyers are now having to start dialling more phone numbers in search of top up requirements. The cheap deals for those cheesemakers with capacity having also disappeared. 

 

 

Prices for 25tBSC have jumped this week with sellers looking to push on prices towards the £1.50kg ex works level. The bulk of prices this week have landed between £1.40kg and £1.42kg ex works with our premium sellers achieving as high as £1.48p kg ex works.