EU Milk Quotas

A total of eight countries have exceeded their 2013/14 milk quota and are now facing a superlevy bill.  As per last year Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany and Poland all produced more than their national allocations, but after better weather this year Ireland now join the group along with The Netherlands and Luxembourg.  Details of the over production and the fines faced can be seen in the table below. The Netherlands is also facing a fine on direct sales, the country exceeded its direct sales quota by 4.2% and will now have to pay €918,000 on top of the 132m superlevy bill for producing over its wholesale quota.

Estonia and Latvia, although still under quota are getting near to exceeding it (-0.6% and -0.9% respectively), as investment in these countries continue.  Belgium and Italy continue to hover around their national quota levels. Overall the EU-28 remains 4.6% below total quota volumes. In the current milk year, the weather has been more favourable and production in many countries has increased compared to year earlier levels.  With the milk price falling and the threat of super levy, production is expected to ease a little in the new year.  Milk Quotas end on 31st March 2015.