Shortage of milk pushes up price

File photo: Supplied

File photo: Supplied

Published Jul 19, 2014

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Johannesburg - Consumers have grown tired of crying over spilt milk. Now Brixton, Johannesburg, residents are buying any milk that is readily available or affordable.

This comes as supermarkets across the country continue to experience shortages of Ultra High Temperature (UHT) processed or long life full cream milk.

 

An employee at a local Spar said they also experienced a shortage of long life milk with a few brands and that stock was unavailable.

Last month South African dairy producers said the price of milk products would rise, but not too dramatically, as the shortage is likely to be felt until the end of the year.

The shortage was being fuelled by local economics and a global shortage of dairy products, say producers.

Etienne Terreblanche, managing director of the Milk Producers Organisation, which represents 3 300 dairy farmers countrywide, said milk prices should not rise excessively despite possible increases in the price farmers receive for raw milk products.

“I predict the shortage to continue until the end of this year, but consumers will be able to find fresh milk somewhere. It might not be in a supermarket but in a smaller shop,” he said.

“If the price of dairy increases by a rand to the litre there is no reason milk on the shelves should go up by R4 a litre,” Terreblanche said.

Saturday Star

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