Dukat procured 291 million kilograms of fresh raw milk last year, which is 43 percent of the total offered quantities, further solidifying its position as the largest milk purchaser in Croatia, the company announced.
In 2009, a total of 675 million kilograms of fresh raw milk was produced in Croatia, of which the highest quality, EU quality, accounted for 79.9 percent. Compared to the previous year, the production of fresh raw milk in Croatia increased by 2.65 percent. Dukat, on the other hand, increased its procurement of fresh raw milk by 3.5 percent during that period, which is 0.85 percent above the Croatian average growth rate of milk production. In Dukat’s total procurement from 12,250 producers, EU quality milk accounts for 77.10 percent. The share of EU quality milk in 2008 was 66.49 percent, while this year Dukat’s goal is to achieve an 85 percent share of EU quality milk in its own procurement.
During 2009, Dukat exported more than 26 million kilograms of milk, dairy products, and cheeses worth 175 million kuna. Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Slovenia are Dukat’s largest export markets, and Dukat firmly maintained its position as the largest Croatian exporter in the dairy industry in 2009. Despite a series of unfavorable market conditions, such as high procurement prices for milk, declining sales in domestic and foreign markets, increasing imports of finished dairy products, and rising stocks, Dukat ended 2009 as the largest purchaser of fresh raw milk in Croatia and the largest Croatian exporter, as well as an investor in the dairy industry, according to the company’s statement. (E. F.)
