Recent preliminary data from the MMO indicates that Estonia saw the most significant decline in the average raw milk purchasing price in January, plummeting by 25% to 37.42 cents per kilogram. This downturn is reflective of the challenging market conditions, highlighted further by the bankruptcy of Estonia’s largest cheese producer, "E-Piim Tootmine," which is primarily owned by the dairy cooperative "SCE E-Piim." Such developments point to deeper issues within the dairy sector in the region, which has been under strain from various economic factors.

Across Europe, a noticeable trend of declining milk prices is evident, particularly in countries where dairy product exports represent a considerable share of their market structure. In Denmark, milk prices dropped by 9% to 41.9 cents per kilogram, while the Netherlands saw a similar decrease of 9% to 39.5 cents per kilogram. Latvia experienced a slightly smaller reduction of 5%, lowering its milk price to 42.89 cents per kilogram, as indicated by the same preliminary MMO data. These trends indicate a broader regional issue affecting dairy producers and their pricing strategies.

In Lithuania, the milk purchasing price fell by 6% in January, reaching 40.36 cents per kilogram. Larger farms selling over 40 tons of milk per month received a higher rate of 43.28 cents per kilogram for their natural fat milk. This situation reflects the ongoing pressure on the dairy industry, and various stakeholders will need to adapt to the changing economic landscape while considering the implications for both producers and consumers alike.