There will be no scarcity of butter in supermarkets. Between a drop in the flock of cattle, the high level of world prices and the epidemic of catarhale ovine fever, some fear seeing butter pads on the shelves, or even missing as the shortage of the summer of 2017.
“With our animals that do not support heat waves, like us humans, and the passage of catarhale fever […]We have a drop in the milk of 500 liters “, which represents” 30% of our production “, observes in BFMTV a rater of Lloire-Atlantique, after a difficult summer season for its cows.
Another breeder of the Museo, which suffered the same limitations, points out an excessively low milk price practiced by Agrifood manufacturers. “If it gives us a little more price on this fat, we could do a little more. But today, this is not the case. We will not produce something that costs us,” he regrets BFMTV.
Milk collection and butter manufacturing, in France and worldwide, should be up to demand. “We certainly had a seasonal peak somewhat delayed this year in spring, but not non -existent,” said the economist. “Butter stocks are not very high,” he continues, but this will be added to a delay since the beginning of the year (-3.5% in retail sales).
A stabilization of world prices
In recent years, butter consumption has increased in France, especially through products such as cakes. According to the expert, despite catarraha fever and heat peaks, milk collection during the year should be “comparable” to 2024.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the production of butter at the end of May increased 1.7% compared to the first five months of 2024, to 162,629 tons, when milk collection fell during the same period of 0.9%. In addition, global prices, which guide manufacturers purchases, have stabilized since the beginning of the year, even if the levels remain “high” in the face of growing world demand and manufacturing tensions in 2024.
“At the expense of French producers”
In 2017, an increase in world prices had led some manufacturers to favor export to the distribution of French masses, empty certain rays and push the French to make purchases a caution, but the current situation is completely different. In recent weeks, prices have even been reflected slightly, according to Jean-Marc Chaumet, because “the actions are beginning to rebuild” thanks to American and New Zealand production.
“I think in supermarkets, we can find fat, butter,” confirms Yohann Barbe, president of the National Federation of Milk Producers (FNPL) and Fensea spokesman, in BFMTV.
According to him, “it is necessary for all economic actors to have ambition in the same sense, that means to remunerate producers so that they want to produce, and we will quickly be in the ability to honor the French market in terms of fat.”
Source: BFM TV
