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The dairy industrial group communicated this Sunday on the refusal of its suppliers to increase the price of milk, by 15 euros per 1000 liters.
The global milk giant Lactalis proposed an increase of 15 euros per 1000 liters of milk to its producers for the first two months of 2024, but the latter refused it, according to the dairy industrial group and according to The echoes. “In a constructive spirit, Lactalis France is revising its January price by increasing it from 405 euros for 1000 liters to 420 euros for 1000 liters in 38/32 and increases it by 15 euros also in February to 420 euros. This effort corresponds to 15 euros more than the Unell-Lactalis contractual formula”, Lactalis said in a press release on Saturday. 38/32 milk is the industry standard and means 38 grams of fat and 32 grams of protein per liter. All premiums combined, this brings the total remuneration to producers “at 460 euros for 1000 liters over the first two months of the year”argues the industrialist.
But according to Lactalis, Unell, which represents more than 4,000 dairy farms delivering more than 2 billion liters of milk to Lactalis, rejected this proposal. Contacted on Sunday, Unell was not immediately available to comment on this information. According to The echoesthe producers’ organization is demanding an increase of 5%, against the 3.7% proposed by Lactalis as a compromise. “Lactalis France will continue the dialogue with Unell under the aegis of mediation”Lactalis confirmed on Sunday.
Read alsoFarmers demonstrate in the West to obtain a better milk price from Lactalis
A price “far from the needs of farmers”
In mid-January, before the national mobilizations of farmers demanded, among other things, better incomes, milk producers demonstrated in front of several Lactalis sites in the west of France to denounce the price of 405 euros for 1000 liters (i.e. 40 centimes per liter), set according to them unilaterally by the group and which “does not take into account the Egalim law at all” who predict “the negotiation and integration of the production costs of milk leaving our farms”.
Currently, the price of milk “is far from the needs of breeders in view of the evolution of production costs and the investments necessary to maintain their activity and attract young people”had denounced shortly before the dairy section of the Regional Federation of Agricultural Operators’ Unions of the West (FRSEAO).
To calm the anger of farmers, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal promised Thursday a “reinforcement” of the Egalim law, with “massive checks” on manufacturers and distributors, as well as sanctions against those who do not respect this law.