Canada’s raw milk production and milk demand both decreased in April 2025, but there was enough supply that butter stocks continued to increase.
In its monthly report on the state of the Canadian milk market, the Canadian Dairy Commission said that butter stocks, which work as a way to store milk production, increased by 911 tonnes in April.
The CDC, which sets prices and helps manage the milk marketing system in Canada, says it continues to expect that total requirements for milk will increase by three per cent in 2025. Its moderate growth rate predicts 1.3 per cent growth.
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The decline in total requirements in April can be explained by a decline of 0.5 per cent in yogurt and 13.3 per cent in butter consumption.
Total requirements for milk decreased by 1.38 per cent compared to March 2025 but showed a 4.39 per cent increase from April 2024. The March to April decline meant a decline in total quota needs to 1.16 million kg of butterfat in daily equivalent. National production was 1.19 million kg of butterfat in daily equivalent in April, down 0.3 per cent from March.
Even though yogurt and butter declined from March to April 2025, year over year April consumption in 2025 was up for cream by 3.9 per cent, yogurt by 10.3 per cent, ice cream by 6.6 per cent, cheese by 0.5 per cent and butter by 9.3 per cent.
Milk product imports remain flat with a 0.39 per cent increase in April over the past 12 months.
The Canadian Dairy Commission expects butter stocks to continue to increase until July 2025.
