MD_DA104                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA104 Butter/Butteroil - Europe                               

MADISON, WI.  December 22, 2016 (REPORT 51)                      

WESTERN EUROPE                                                   
INFORMATION GATHERED  12/12/2016 - 12/23/2016                    
U.S. DOLLARS PER METRIC TON, FOB PORT   

WESTERN EUROPE                                                   
                                                                 
BUTTER/BUTTEROIL:  

Western European butter prices are steady at the bottom of the 
price range, but slightly weaker at the top. Butteroil prices 
are mixed. Retail butter sales in the EU have been strong, 
keeping manufacturers busy. Sales are near the expected peak of 
the year. In store demand is strong. Interest is much quieter on 
the industrial side this week. There are active negotiations for 
first quarter orders. Views diverge, slowing agreements. Buyers 
are reluctant to commit because current pricing is near the high 
for 2016. Manufacturers are concerned that cream prices might 
rise. Until those factors come closer together, contracting is 
expected to be slow. Butter exports from the EU during October 
are 8.6% below the level during October last year and Butteroil 
was 47.1% below last October, according to Eucolait. Butter 
exports January-October this year are 31% above the same period 
last year, according to Eurostat.

82% BUTTERFAT:            4,650 - 4,725                          
99% BUTTERFAT:            4,325 - 5,300                          

0930c eric.graf@ams.usda.gov 
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-
news/dairy
Dairy Market News database portal: 
http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home