• The average milk price in June at the United Dairy Farmers (UDF) milk auction stood at 18.83ppl.
• This is a fall from May, and remains 27.2% (7.03ppl) below the average price in June 2008.

The June United Dairy Farmers milk auction only sold milk on one month contracts, for delivery in July. A total of 42 million litres of milk were sold at an average price of 18.83ppl, some 0.39ppl lower than last month's auction (19.22ppl). Prices of a year ago were significantly higher at 26.21ppl on average across all contracts sold, when markets were more buoyant.

The weakening of the auction price this month may reflect a less certain market for Northern Ireland manufacturers going forward. In particular, WMP prices on world markets eased back in June and the Fonterra WMP auction price also fell this month. Sterling has continued to appreciate against the Euro and the US Dollar over the past month which has also adversely affected the competitive position of Northern Ireland manufacturers in export markets.

UK SPOT MILK PRICES
1 month Contracts
(PENCE PER LITRE)	June-09 for July-09	1 month before	12 months before
United Dairy Farmers	18.83	19.22	25.86
3 month Contracts
(PENCE PER LITRE)	June-09 for July-09	1 month before	12 months before
United Dairy Farmers	no auction	no auction	26.22

Note: No milk was sold on three month contracts from November 2008 to June 2009