The total number of registered liquid milk suppliers fell by 32 to 1,196 across the country last year.

This continuing decline is now a cause of concern for the National Milk Agency – the statutory body for the regulation of the supply of milk for processing for liquid consumption in Ireland.

Its annual report for 2024 has found that both the number of farmers producing liquid milk and the level of consumption in Ireland are in decline.

Just 7% of dairy farmers in Ireland are liquid milk suppliers. Annual liquid milk supplies reached 771m litres in 2024, which was the equivalent of 9% of the domestic milk supply. The number of farmers in liquid milk supply contracts is reducing.

In the 2023/24 milk year 1,196 milk supply contracts for supplies of 424m litres of milk for processing for liquid consumption were registered with the agency.

Fall in numbers

This represents decreases of 3% in contracts and 4% in registered milk supplies. All year round contracts represented 90% of contracts and 98% of supplies while winter-months-only contracts represented 10% of contracts and 2% of supplies, according to the report.

A total of 564m litres of fresh milk was consumed in Ireland in 2024, with consumption decreasing by 8m litres, or 1%, on 2023.

Despite this decrease, Irish consumers continue to have one of the highest per capita consumptions of milk in the world, with a per capita consumption of 105 litres.

Annual per capita consumption of fresh milk in Ireland has decreased by 29% from 147 litres per capita in 1995 to 105 litres per capita in 2024.

Retailers account for over three-quarters of fresh milk sales while the remainder is sold through the food service channel and doorstep sales.

The national average retail milk price for the year was unchanged at €1.16c/l.

The market share of domestic processors and producers declined to 70% as imports of packaged milk and raw milk for processing for liquid consumption gained a 30% share last year.