March 13, 2014

In December 2013, the average price of cow's milk in Greece was US$0.452 per litre while it was US$0.391 per litre in the same period in 2010, according to data released by the Greek Organisation of Milk and Meat (ELOGAK).

This increase is mainly due to the combination of the reduced Greek production and the increased input costs, said the Deputy Minister.

Data for the period January-November 2013 show that Cyprus has the highest price (US$0.575/kilogramme), followed by Malta (US$0.527/kilogramme), Finland (US$0.456/kilogramme) and Greece (US$0.445/kilogramme). During the last eight years, the domestic production of cow's milk is shrinking while the national quota is rising. It is estimated that from about 742,000 tonnes of production with a quota of 820,000 tonnes before eight years, Greece currently produces about 627,000 tonnes of production with a quota of 870,000 tonnes. Moreover, the cattle farmers who a decade ago amounted to over 8,500, are currently numbered at only 3,600.