Heat wave led to shortage of dairy products; likely to intensify during the Holidays

The upcoming Holidays in Tishrei will be accompanied by a shortage of dairy products in retail chains - officials of the milk market estimate. This is because of the few production days in Tishrei, since all the Yomim Tovim fall during weekdays - and this leads to the production capacity in some weeks reducing by half.

According to a senior in the dairy market, "we expect it to be very difficult for us to provide the usual amounts because of the lack of production days, so there is a specific expected shortage."

Another senior expects a wide shortage of products. It is estimated that the shortage will be reflected in basic dairy products, because of the relatively short shelf life of these products.

In addition, milk producers - Tnuva, Strauss and Tara – are forbidden to coordinate their production, so if they will be prioritizing the production lines, it may also exacerbate a shortage of one product over another product.

Tnuva currently uses all the raw milk that the company has, so if, for example, Tara decides to reduce the production of liquid milk during the holidays - the shortage will be felt immediately, since Tnuva is unable in the present situation to increase production.

At the same time, for the past few weeks there is a shortage of milk products of the different producers due to a production reduction. The reason for the reduction in milk production is the lack of milk, as a result of which the Strauss Group reduced the production of cottage cheese by 30%, and some of the points of sale can not be found Strauss cottage for days on end.

Tnuva, in turn, has reduced the yield by 20% of the production of chocolate milk, salty cheese and the production of beverage Rivion. Tara, the third player in the market, has also reduced production of some products.

Cows produced less milk
In the last week of June, the milk supply amounted to 27.4 million liters, and on the last week of August it stood at only 23.2 million liters - a decrease of 15.3%. On average the decrease in July to August was about 10%.

It is important to note that the phenomenon of a 5% decline in milk production in August is usual, but this year it is a particularly drastic decline was not seen on the market since 2010, and therefore had a direct impact on the production lines.

A senior in the market told Globes "that the more hot it is, the less milk a cow produces. This year the heat came much earlier, and already the third week in July 35 degrees C were measured. In addition, while the average temperature rose by 2 degrees on average.

"The last week of July and up until last week, milk production fell by 10%. When you take into account the milk market should meet this year 1.4 billion liters of raw milk, this is a drama. The lack divides between Tnuva, Strauss and Tara depending on the market share of each one, and that means half a lack is by Tnuva and the other half by Strauss and Tara together. "

- Is the drying of milk powders in winter not enough to overcome the deficiency?

"There is a limit to how much you can make use of milk powders. In liquid milk, delicacies, yogurt and cottage it is impossible to put milk powder".

Tnuva's response: "The company's policy is to ensure a steady supply of base products and regulated products, rather than reduce production of these products."

Strauss Group, said: "The temporary decline in production volumes of cottage is strictly related to the heat load and decrease in milk production derived from it. At no point was there a discontinued production of cottage cheese. At the national level it is not missing on the shelves, and production volumes are already returning to their natural dimension".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!