Price of milk and butter soars but dairy is only 14% of average food bill

The price of dairy products in the Netherlands has soared 10% over the past year – the highest increase in 10 years – the national statistics office CBS said at the weekend.

Full-cream milk and butter, for example, cost 35% more than a year ago, while semi-skimmed milk is 25% more expensive. Cheese is up by an average of 7%. The price of yoghurt, by contrast, is up just 2%.

Within the eurozone as a whole, the price of dairy products have shot up the most in the Netherlands, the CBS says.

The CBS says some 14% of the average Dutch food bill goes on dairy products which, despite the Dutch reputation as a nation of dairy lovers, is one of the lowest percentages in Europe. Only Spain, Belgium and Portugal spend less.

By contrast, dairy accounts for nearly 23% of the average Lithuanian food bill.

The rise in the price of dairy products is due to higher milk prices, which have been forced up by increased demand for milk powder in Asia, higher wages and transport costs and margins, the CBS said.