Milk deliveries to factories in the Azores increased in 2025, totaling 618,440,702 thousand liters (618.441 million liters), an increase of 9,688,846 thousand liters (9.689 million liters) compared to 2024, representing a 1.59% rise, according to data released by the Azores Regional Statistics Service (SREA).

The volume delivered remained heavily concentrated on the two main producing islands. São Miguel recorded 413,876,494 thousand liters (+1.51% compared to 2024), accounting for 66.9% of the regional total, while Terceira registered 150,289,692 thousand liters (+1.89%), representing 24.3% of the total. Together, the two islands accounted for 564,166,186 thousand liters, equivalent to 91.22% of total annual milk deliveries to factories in the archipelago.

Among the remaining islands with recorded deliveries, the most significant relative increase occurred on São Jorge, which rose to 28,827,205 thousand liters (+8.27%). In contrast, declines were recorded on Pico, which fell to 4,744,390 thousand liters (-11.80%), Faial, with 12,822,550 thousand liters (-4.30%), and Graciosa, with 7,607,091 thousand liters (-3.61%). On a smaller scale, Santa Maria increased to 96,006 thousand liters (+9.75%) and Flores rose to 177,274 thousand liters (+13.91%).

Monthly data show that in 2025, the peak occurred in May, with 59,820,817 thousand liters, while the lowest volume was recorded in September, with 46,027,482 thousand liters. In year-over-year comparisons, only February (-904,894 thousand liters; -1.89%) and March (-309,065 thousand liters; -0.56%) fell below 2024 levels, while notable increases were seen in October (+2,597,662 thousand liters; +5.70%) and November (+2,021,226 thousand liters; +4.53%).

Growth accelerated more noticeably in the second half of the year: from July through December, total deliveries rose 2.76% compared to the same period in 2024, while in the first half of the year the increase was 0.55%.

In Diário dos Açores-Paulo Viveiros, director.