News

Cheese exports in February near record

The U.S. Dairy Export Council says total cheese exports in February were the second highest on record.

Cheese exports were up 16 percent from 2018 to more than 32,000 tons, falling just short of the record set in March 2014.  Shipments were up in most all top markets with South Korea up more than 70 percent.

USDA Outlook Chair Seth Meyer says trade tariffs are impacting exports and price outlooks for the year but cheese exports help.

“Declines in export volumes of nonfat dried milk and dry whey are reflected in the product prices.  We raised our cheese price because, despite the fact that we have pretty large cheese stocks, we also have pretty solid demand.”       

More than 160,000 tons of dairy products moved during the month which was valued at nearly $470 million, up three percent from last year.

Large sales of cheese, fluid milk and cream, butter fat and whole milk powder offset declines in whey, nonfat/skim milk powder, and lactose.