Big May jump in butter consumption drove increase in butterfat demand

May butterfat requirements were up 10 per cent from May 2024

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Published: July 13, 2025

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Total butterfat requirements in Canada continue to rise. Photo: Canadian Dairy Commission

Canadian raw milk production declined in May 2025, leading to a decrease in butter stocks, says the Canadian Dairy Commission’s monthly market update.

Total requirements from processors increased as well, which meant a decline of 1,521 tonnes in national butter stocks.

Lower production with greater demand goes against the trend so far this year of production increases outpacing demand increases, resulting in growing national butter stocks.

Ice cream consumption saw a 6.8 per cent jump in May, compared to April, as hot weather across the country had people looking for ways to cool down. Butter consumption saw a big leap of 16.3 per cent compared to April. Butter usage continues to grow, up 31 per cent from May 2025 to May 2025.

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Total requirements for butterfat for May were 1.29 million kg of butterfat daily equivalent, a 5.25 per cent increase from April 2025 and a 10.06 per cent increase from May 2024.

Growth in total requirement for milk fat for the year ending May 2025 was 3.2 per cent. Growth over the next year is expected to range from 1.6 to 2.6 per cent.

Total imports of dairy products during the 12 months ending May 2025 were down 0.67 per cent over the previous year.

The total amount of quota in the system in daily equivalent is now 1.21 million kg of butterfat, a 4.4 per cent increase from April 2025 and a 10.8 per cent increase from May 2024.

About the author

John Greig

John Greig

Senior Editor

John Greig is a senior editor with Glacier FarmMedia with responsibility for Technology, Livestock and Ontario. He lives on a farm near Ailsa Craig, Ontario. Contact John at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @jgreig.

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