Cows' milk collection in the European Union grew in March 2020 despite the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic, and Croatia was among a small group of countries that registered a decrease in milk collection, according to a report by Eurostat.

An estimated 12.7 tonnes of cows’ milk was collected on farms in EU member states in March 2020, up by 1.2% compared to March 2019, Eurostat reported.

Cows’ milk collection increased compared to February 2020, which is usual for spring, considering the availability of fresh grass. The level of cows’ milk collected in the EU does not seem to have been affected by the containment measures for the COVID-19 pandemic, Eurostat said.

Cows’ milk collection increased in most EU member states year on year.

Among the leading states in cows’ milk collection, the Netherlands took the third place, registering the largest increase in March 2020, up by 3% to 1.2 million tonnes.

Poland and Italy earned the fourth place by collecting 1.1 million tonnes of cows’ milk in March. However, Poland registered a 1.9% increase, while collection in Italy decreased by 2.8%.

In Germany and France, the two leading EU member states in cows’ milk collection, in March 2020 the collection remained on almost the same level as in March 2019. In Germany 2.8 million tonnes of cows’ milk was collected, and in France 2.2 tonnes.

In March 2020, 38,690 tonnes of cows’ milk was collected in Croatia, down by 3.3% compared to March 2019.

A year on year decrease was also registered in Greece, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania.

March data also suggests an above-seasonal increase in the production of butter and drinking milk, in both quantity and the share of milk used, Eurostat noted.

On the other hand, seasonal growth in the production of skimmed milk powder was more limited than in previous years.