“In January, we assume that no major changes will happen. During the year, it is impossible to make any kind of conjectures because it depends on factors that no analyst can give us answers to”, said the secretary general of the National Federation of Cooperatives of Milk Producers (Fenalac), Fernando Cardoso.
In the same vein, the secretary general of the Association of Milk Producers of Portugal (Aprolep), Carlos Neves, said that there is, at the moment, no indication that points to a rise in the price of milk paid to professionals in the sector and, consequently, of the amount paid by the final consumer. “If there is anything, it will be very slight”, he underlined.
The price of milk and dairy products has been increasing, since February, an evolution that producers consider late, abrupt, but necessary given the pressure that production costs have exerted on the sector since 2021.
“In the case of milk and dairy products, the question is more why did it happen so late? We had already lived, until before the war in Ukraine, with a huge increase in energy and food costs for animals to produce milk”, defended the secretary general of the National Federation of Producer Cooperatives. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February caused the price of energy and cereals to skyrocket.
How can you defend this? Local cheese is now more expensive than imported one. I wonder how it is possible that irish produced cheese is now cheaper than portuguese. Imported cheese gone up maybe 5% whereas local cheese 50% in some cases. The cheese producers must look into their costs, efficiency rather than blame everything else.
By Roberto from Alentejo on 18 Dec 2022, 13:19
Roberto from Alentejo: I´m going to assume you speak Portuguese, - you know the saying “Quem te avisa, teu amigo é”? (Rough translation for others- the 1 who warns you is your friend). Well, since Ukraine war broke out our Pt food producers from nearly every sector asked, then begged- all the while never shunning support for Ukraine, mind you- and our government ignored them permanently, stubbornly, stupidly (why last adjective: because WE ALL NEED TO EAT). I´m not a farmer, cattle grower, bee keeper, etc – but I´m also not deaf, blind and stupid. They all warned there would be problems on this front further down the road, and no one minded them (“Oh, Let´s save Ukraine!”). That you choose to chastise them for problems they tried MONTHS AGO TO MITIGATE, is profoundly cruel and ignorant. We´re all paying for misgovernment, so me thinks you´re taking it out on the wrong people.
By guida from Lisbon on 19 Dec 2022, 04:36