In 2025, the price of raw milk at the farm gate remained above the average of recent years, standing, according to European Commission data, in the range of €50–52 per 100 kg. This development supported farmers’ incomes but intensified pressure on processors’ margins.

From an economic perspective, raw material is the main cost component in the dairy industry. When milk prices remain high and final demand is relatively rigid, the room for margin adjustment becomes limited.

From a legislative standpoint, requirements related to food safety, traceability, and sustainability add fixed costs that cannot be avoided. In 2026, the economic balance of the dairy sector will depend on processing efficiency and the stability of contractual relationships with farmers, not solely on the evolution of raw material prices.

(Photo: AI GENERATED)