According to the European Commission figures, European milk processors placed nearly 9,000t of skimmed milk powder (SMP) into public intervention between 4 and 10 July.

Ireland was among the main contributors, with just over 1,000t offered. France, Belgium and Germany remain the heaviest users.

Since the European Commission raised the maximum volume allowed for fixed-price buying at the end of June, processors had been slow to use the scheme after the frenzy observed in May. The past week’s figures show a lot of product still cannot find a market, with Ireland using intervention for the first time since the ceiling was raised.

Private storage aid

The quantities of SMP offered into private storage aid, too, jumped to 2,290t in the past week – the largest weekly volume so far this year. A quarter of that came from the UK, which used the scheme for the first time this year. Ireland has not yet availed of it.

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Ireland back in intervention scheme with 1,000t of milk powder

Ireland was one of the main contributors to the past week’s European intervention buy-in, which saw increased activity from leading EU milk producers.