Stocks have been increasing since August 2024, even though dairy consumption is going up.
Butter stocks continue to rise in Canada as milk production increases have been greater than increases in consumption.
That means that Canadian butter stocks grew by another 992 tonnes in March, says the Canadian Dairy Commission in its report on March milk marketing.
Why it matters: Butter is often stockpiled during the winter and spring so that there’s enough stock for the summer and fall. Butter stocks also serve as a balance for when during some months milk production is over or under quota.
Dairy product consumption continues to increase, but it is being out-paced by milk production increases, so March butter stocks reached 40,052 tonnes, about 6,837 tonnes higher than the same period last year. Butter stocks have been higher since Aug. 1, 2024, the start of the dairy reporting year in Canada. The CDC said in its recent report that it expects stocks to continue to grow.
Total requirements for milk reflect that dairy processors expect they’ll need for a given period. In March 2025 requirements were 1.25 million kg of butterfat in daily equivalent. That’s represents a 5.65 per cent increase from February 2025 and a 3.78 per cent increase from March 2024.
Consumption of ice cream, up 10.7 per cent and butter, rising by 32.2 per cent drove most of the March increase over February.
Total requirements for the year ending March 2025 were 441.2 million kg of butterfat, a 2.7 per cent increase from the equivalent period last year in daily average.
Over the past 12 months, there was an increase in the consumption of milk by 1.2 per cent, cream by 1.4 per cent, yogurt by 3.1 per cent, ice cream by 5.5 per cent, cheese by 2.7 per cent, and butter by 1.1 per cent.
Milk consumption rebounded to 1.2 per cent, after a 2.8 per cent drop in February 2025.
Total quota, the national targets for butterfat production, was 1.17 million kg in March, an increase of 4.97 per cent from February. March production 1.19 million kg of butterfat, a decrease compared to February but a 2.91 per cent increase from March 2024.
Imports
Dairy products imported into Canada were the equivalent of 2.42 million kg of butterfat during March, 2025. Over the past year, ending March 2025, imports were down 1.47 per cent.
You can now read the most important #news on #eDairyNews #Whatsapp channels!!!
🇺🇸 eDairy News INGLÊS: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaKsjzGDTkJyIN6hcP1K
