MD_DA104                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA104 Butter/Butteroil - Europe                               

MADISON, WI.  April 02, 2015 (REPORT 13)                         

WESTERN EUROPE                                                   
INFORMATION GATHERED  03/23/2015 - 04/03/2015                    
U.S. DOLLARS PER METRIC TON, FOB PORT                            
                                                                 
WESTERN EUROPE                                                   
                                                                 
BUTTER/BUTTEROIL:  Bulk butter prices decreased this reporting period.  
Demand and trading activity are light as numerous buyers have their near 
term needs covered.  Talks are ongoing for second half 2015 needs, but 
little progress is being made as manufacturers are unwilling to finalize 
contracts at current price levels and buyers are in no hurry to finalize 
purchases. The anticipated increase in global supplies in the coming 
weeks contributes to the market's weak undertone.  PSA stock levels 
through March 22 amounted to 40,367 MT. The Netherlands has contributed 
just over half of the supplies held in PSA.  January 2015 butter exports 
for the EU-28, as reported by GTIS, increased 11% compared to January 
last year.  The top destinations for European butter exports were Saudi 
Arabia, Uzbekistan and Egypt.  According to Eurostat, EU butter 
production for January 2015 showed the following percentage changes for 
selected countries compared to January last year: France, +9.4%; Germany, 
+2.2%; Belgium, +15.3%; Ireland, -3.2% and the Netherlands, -4.3%.  
Butteroil prices moved marginally lower on the upper end of the range in 
light trading.  Export demand has slowed going as buyers anticipate 
continuing weakness in the market and are holding off purchases for a 
clearer picture of the market.    

82% BUTTERFAT:            3,250 - 3,600                          
99% BUTTERFAT:            3,875 - 4,375                          

0930c rick.whipp@ams.usda.gov 608.278.4151
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
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