The Italian dairy supply chain is restarting with an agreement aimed at restoring balance and visibility in the coming months, after weeks of significant uncertainty for producers and industries. A new agreement was signed at Masaf, setting the farmgate milk price for the first quarter of 2026, introducing a shared framework for managing volumes and a support plan for sector development activities.
As per the agreement, the price will be set at 0,54 euro/litre in January, 0,53 in February e 0,52 in MarchThese figures are higher than current market levels and are deemed essential to limit the impact of the decline seen in recent months. The agreement also introduces an indexation system that will take into account chamber of commerce prices and production quantities, with the aim of avoiding excessive surpluses compared to the historical figures for the first quarter of 2025.
The ministry will accompany the agreement with a package dedicated to the internationalization and promotion of dairy products, including communication measures, the use of the call for proposals for the needy, and support for businesses in opening and managing foreign markets. This strategic choice aims to strengthen the positioning of Made in Italy products in an international context characterized by increased production in Europe, the United States, and New Zealand.
On the production side, agricultural associations emphasize that the agreement represents a sign of stability for farmers, in a year marked by rising deliveries in Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna. At the same time, the sector remains vigilant: the decline in prices is also affecting some PDO products, with particular pressure on Grana Padano, while butter and other dairy products are showing downward trends.
The parties will resume discussions starting in February with a series of regular meetings: the goal is to monitor market developments, evaluate EU interventions, and define tools to support the economic sustainability of livestock farms. The new agreement, while not definitive, marks a key step towards avoiding tensions in the supply chain and preserving a sector that remains strategic for the Italian agri-food industry.
