July 2026 Updates Spot Milk and Bulk Cream

 

 

The quietness in the market combined with no reported factory issues has narrowed the trading range for spot milk this last week. Prices are reported to be trading anything from 34ppl if having to sell, rising to as high as 48ppl to buy, prices very much depending on the whereabouts in the country. In the south higher prices generally although, having to buy in the north has become a little more expensive. The bulk of trading appears to be in the range of 40ppl to 44ppl delivered. That said some sellers in the north report barely getting a sniff of any prices much above the 40ppl level. 

 

 

While the price range for spot milk may have narrowed a little, the same can’t be said for spot bulk sweet cream. Obtainable prices for UK 25tBSC very much depending on its market destination. Lower b/f in the raw milk currently and demand for fresh product is helping UK prices to remain well above continental prices, with the price range for this cream attracting a range of £1.65kg to £1.68/kg ex works. Cream destined for butter manufacture or commodity ingredients the range falls to £1.50kg to £1.59kg ex works. Meanwhile, export of cream to mainland continental Europe is still the least favoured option, if any outlet is actually feasible as domestic prices across the channel struggle to reach the £1.30kg ex works equivalent level. Germany reported to be a low as £1.23kg ex works. Butter markets remain subdued with limited buyer interest, most of which is for short-term cover, prices circa £3,475/t for unsalted and £3,325/t for salted. SMP prices remaining stable around £2,360/t. 

 

 

 

 

The combination of slightly higher milk production due to the cooler temps, factory breakdowns in the north on top of the start of the school holidays have all contributed to depressing spot milk prices in the last week. At the same time a north/south divide between prices levels has also emerged with prices in the north ranging from 27ppl to 37ppl delivered, as some in a position of having to sell reporting a big struggle to find price levels anywhere near the mid 30ppl’s. In the south it is a different tale where milk is tighter the price range is more like 37ppl to 48ppl delivered, perhaps just the odd load making 50ppl although, we have had no definitive acknowledgment of any sale at this price level and therefore, we have tapered back the top end of our overall price range. 

 

 

Prices for UK 25tBSC have stabilised with the lower end of price range having eased up a little while the top end has fallen back a couple of pence the market reported to have resisted higher prices. Lower fat in the milk is also having a positive effect on helping to hold up uk domestic prices in the range of £1.58 to £1.68/kg ex works while cream values on the continent have eased to circa £1.23kg ex works. 

 

Wholesale butter prices are reported to be improving again with salted prices in the region of £3,300/t to £3,350/t with unsalted running around £100/t higher. The SMP market with holiday season subduing demand, prices have remained stable around £2,300/t to £2,340/t. 

 

 

 

Spot milk prices have risen again this week with the sustained high temperatures affecting grass growth and forcing more producers to introduce winter ration feeding to try and maintain milk volumes. The low end of the range has lifted considerably to tighten the overall range, having received no reports of anyone actually having to sell for lower prices, while at the top end prices are reported to have reached the 50ppl delivered level, especially where PDO status (Protected Designation of Origin) is an ongoing requirement. 

 

 

Strong demand for UK 25tBSC has seen prices lift again although, towards the end of the week more cream entering the market with fresh cream returns rising above the butter equivalent, there was some cooling in both demand and price reported towards the end of the week. On the continent prices are reported to have weakened slightly with prices still circa £1.28kg ex works equivalent with stronger sterling also having a negative impact. Wholesale butter prices are reported to be improving slightly with salted prices edging closer towards the £3,300/t. The SMP market is also seeing some improvement with buyers returning to the market to secure some short-term cover with the price range of £2,230/t to £2,265/t the previous week lilting to £2,300/t to £2,340/t. 

 

 

 

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.