The EEX European Liquid Milk Index is an important reference value for the European milk market and serves as the basis for the pricing of financially settled futures contracts on the European Energy Exchange (EEX). This index reflects the average price for conventionally produced cow's milk with a fat content of 4.0% and a protein content of 3.4%, with prices being collected ex-farm. Since September 2024, the index has been calculated exclusively on the basis of German milk prices published by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). Previously, data from the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland, which was provided by the European Commission's Milk Market Observatory, was also taken into account.
The index always refers to milk deliveries that took place two months before the respective month of publication. This time lag ensures a reliable and comprehensible price basis for market participants. The index is published regularly and provides farmers, dairies, traders and investors with transparent information on the price development of liquid milk in the European market environment. EEX uses this index for the settlement of liquid milk futures, which are settled exclusively financially and not physically. This enables efficient hedging against price fluctuations without actual delivery of the goods.
The EEX European Liquid Milk Index contributes significantly to market transparency and strengthens pricing in agricultural trading. It is a central instrument for strategic planning and risk management in the dairy industry. Thanks to the clear definition of quality parameters and the standardized collection of prices, the index provides a reliable basis for the evaluation of dairy products in futures trading.
Synonyms for the term "EEX European Liquid Milk Index" include "EEX Liquid Milk Index", "European Liquid Milk Price Index", "EEX Milk Price Index" and "EEX Liquid Milk Benchmark".
