Milk production has fallen by a third in one year!

The significant decline in the quantities of collected milk in Croatia continues, along with a decrease in the production of drinking milk. In July, the total amount of collected cow’s milk was 17.5 percent lower than in July of last year, and the production of drinking milk fell by 35.9 percent, according to the latest data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS).

According to this data, in Croatia, 41,626 tons of cow’s milk were collected in July of this year, which is 8,808 tons less than in July of last year.

Compared to the average in 2012, when an average of 50,180 tons of cow’s milk was collected monthly, 17 percent less milk was collected in July of this year.

July marks the 14th consecutive month in which statistics record a decline in purchased quantities of milk, and it is already the 11th month in a row with a reduction greater than 10 percent.

DZS data shows that in July, the production of drinking milk was significantly reduced on an annual basis – 13,926 tons were produced, which is 7,805 tons, or 35.9 percent less than in July of last year.

The decline is even more pronounced when compared to the average monthly production from last year.

Namely, the average monthly production of drinking milk last year was 25,319 tons, meaning that production in July of this year was 45 percent lower.

Statistical data shows that in July of this year, compared to the same month last year, the production of fermented products, cream, and butter was also reduced, while only the production of cow’s cheese increased.

In July of this year, 7,776 tons of fermented products were produced, which is 21 percent less than in July of last year, and the production of cream fell by 18.9 percent, to 2,100 tons.

At the same time, the production of butter decreased by 15.2 percent, to 235 tons.

Among dairy products, only the production of cow’s cheese recorded an increase, with 3,197 tons produced in July, or 6.7 percent more than in July of last year.

The DZS obtains data on cow’s milk production from the Croatian Agricultural Agency – Central Laboratory for Milk Control, which conducts analysis of purchased milk from industrial and registered small dairies in Croatia.

According to data from the monthly bulletin of the HPA, in July, milk was supplied by 10,829 producers, which is 17.1 percent, or 2,232 producers less than in July of last year.