The price of cow butter in Europe has reached record highs, exceeding $8,700 per tonne, an 83% increase from the previous year, creating challenges for confectionery manufacturers ahead of the Christmas season. This surge is due to limited butter stocks and increased demand for oil, as global milk production remains constrained. Milk processors are focusing on cheese production, which is more competitive, leading to a 1.6% decline in butter production and a 3.2% increase in cheese production from January 2023 to July 2024. Additionally, cow diseases like bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease in Western Europe have further strained supply.