The purchase prices of cow's milk in Poland fell to PLN 1.83/l in March 2026. – this is 1.71 TP3T less than in February and a whopping 19.61 TP3T less than a year earlier. Data published on April 23, 2026, by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) show clear regional differences: the difference between the most expensive and cheapest voivodeships reaches almost 0.30 PLN per liter.

What do the latest GUS data say about milk prices?

According to the report Agricultural product prices in March 2026 (GUS, 23/04/2026), the purchase price of cow's milk was 183.23 PLN/hl (1.83 PLN/l)This is a worse result both on a monthly basis (–1.7% compared to February 2026) and on an annual basis (–19.6% compared to March 2025).

Milk performed the worst among all key agricultural products monitored by GUS. While most categories rebounded month-to-month in March, milk prices continued their downward trend. This is a warning signal for producers, especially given rising production costs.

Milk prices by region – ranking (March 2026)

Below is the full ranking of regions from highest to lowest milk purchase price (GUS data, excluding VAT):

Podlaskie is once again the leader. The Podlaskie Voivodeship achieved the highest purchase price in the country – PLN 1.99/l, which is 16 groszy above the national average. This is the result of a strong concentration of specialized dairy farms and large dairies (including SM Mlekovita and OSM Piątnica), which, thanks to their scale of purchases, offer better pricing to suppliers.

Łódź at the bottom of the table. The lowest purchase price was recorded in the Łódź Voivodeship – 1.70 PLN/l, which is 29 groszy less than in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. With production reaching tens of thousands of liters per month, this difference translates into a significant loss of revenue.

Month-to-month changes – who gained, who lost?

Comparing March 2026 with February 2026, only 3 voivodeships recorded an increase milk purchase prices:

• Świętokrzyskie ▲ +0.02 PLN/l
• Subcarpathia ▲ +0.01 PLN/l
• Lesser Poland ▲ +0.01 PLN/l

The remaining 13 voivodeships recorded declines or stabilization. The largest monthly decline occurred in Lubusz (▼ –0.06 PLN/l), and right behind it Podlaskie, Masovian and Lower Silesian Voivodeships (▼ –0.04 PLN/l each).

Why did milk prices drop so sharply year-on-year?

The nearly 20% drop is one of the largest declines in recent years. Several factors contributed:

1. High Base 2025 March 2025 was a month of exceptionally high milk procurement prices – likely near the local peak of the dairy market price cycle. The current level represents a correction after that period.

2. Oversupply of milk in Europe. Throughout 2025 and early 2026, European markets struggled with a surplus of raw materials, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. Increased herd productivity combined with weakening export demand (including from China and the Middle East) put pressure on procurement prices.

3. Falling demand for dairy products. Changes in consumption habits – the growing popularity of plant-based beverages and general inflationary pressure limiting purchases – have reduced the dairy industry's demand for raw materials.

4. Production costs remain high. Paradoxically, despite falling purchase prices, milk production costs (feed, energy, fertilizers) remain elevated. This translates into increasing pressure on farmers' margins.

How do farm-gate prices compare to retail prices?

It is worth noting that the Central Statistical Office data concern only purchase prices – that is, prices paid to farmers by dairies and intermediaries (excluding VAT). Retail milk prices in stores are much higher and depend on the margins of processors, distributors, and retail chains.

Market (open-air) prices for milk are not monitored by GUS in the same way as for grains or potatoes.

Summary – what’s next for the milk market in Poland?

March 2026 continued the negative price trend for dairy farmers in Poland. With a 19.6% year-on-year drop and another monthly decrease, farm profitability is under pressure – especially for smaller farms without long-term contracts.

Key takeaways:

• Average milk price in Poland: 1.83 PLN/l
• Highest price: Podlaskie (1.99 PLN/l)
• Only 3 regions saw monthly increases
• Year-on-year drop of –19.6% – the deepest among major agricultural products

Source: GUS, “Agricultural product prices in March 2026”, published April 23, 2026. Own analysis based on GUS data.

Data source: Central Statistical Office, "Agricultural product prices in March 2026", published on April 23, 2026. Own study based on Central Statistical Office data.