Carbery, a key dairy processor based in County Cork, Ireland, has announced a reduction in its base milk price by 1 cent per liter for March 2025. This marks the company’s first price adjustment of the year, reflecting current market conditions. If adopted by its four West Cork cooperative members — Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh, and Lisavaird — the new average milk price would be 52.12c/L, including VAT and bonuses. Other major Irish dairy processors, including Tirlán, Dairygold, Kerry Dairy Ireland, and Lakeland Dairies, also released their March milk prices, showing varied adjustments across the sector.
Carbery Group, a prominent Irish dairy processor headquartered in County Cork, has announced its first milk price adjustment of the year, reducing the base price for March 2025 milk by 1 cent per liter. This decision brings the average milk price to 52.12c/L, inclusive of VAT, a 0.5c/L somatic cell count (SCC) bonus, and the FutureProof sustainability bonus, provided the change is mirrored by Carbery’s four West Cork cooperative members: Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh, and Lisavaird.
Carbery, owned by these four co-ops and renowned for producing value-added dairy ingredients and nutritional solutions globally, cited market alignment as the reason behind the price revision.
A Carbery spokesperson stated, “Our milk price has remained strong since the start of the year. This adjustment reflects the reality of the current dairy market and ensures our pricing remains sustainable for all stakeholders.”
Alongside the adjustment, the company also increased the FutureProof bonus by 0.25c/L, bringing the total sustainability bonus to 1.25c/L for 2025.
Meanwhile, other major Irish dairy processors also revealed their March milk pricing:
- Tirlán announced a total price of 50.08c/L including VAT, based on 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein.
- Dairygold maintained its price at 50c/L including sustainability and quality bonuses. For EU standard constituents, this translates to 54.5c/L.
- Kerry Dairy Ireland declared a March price of 51.43c/L inclusive of all bonuses.
- Lakeland Dairies held its base price steady at 48.75c/L in the Republic of Ireland and 39.8p/L in Northern Ireland, both inclusive of a 0.5c/p/L sustainability incentive.
This pricing update underlines the ongoing volatility in the dairy market, as processors balance competitive farmer returns with market dynamics and long-term sustainability goals.
