After a strong start to the week, the spot cheese market slowed, but Class III futures continued to climb, supported by bullish sentiment in feeder cattle and a brief dip in corn below $4.00
Spot cheese prices surged to their highest levels since June, fueling a sharp rally in Class III futures as traders look ahead to the upcoming June trade data report.
Cheese prices climbed above $1.70 for the first time in a month, lifting nearby Class III futures, while 2026 contracts slid to their lowest level since April.
Spot cheese remained steady in the $1.60s as Class III futures traded at a premium, with the August-September spread driving volume and signaling continued market positioning.
Rising cheese inventories pressured futures markets despite active spot trading, while butter prices and contracts continued to decline amid lackluster demand.
September Class III milk futures fell sharply despite heightened spot block trading activity, as broader dairy and grain markets showed mixed movement.
Butter futures surged Monday on a bullish Cold Storage report, lifting Class III prices despite volatile cheese markets and higher-than-expected inventories.
Butter prices rebounded on Friday following a bullish Cold Storage report, while cheese markets remained quiet with minimal spot activity and mixed Class III futures.
Aggressive selling hit Class III and butter futures following a bearish Milk Production report, as higher milk flows and weaker spot prices added pressure across the board.
U.S. milk production surged 3.3 percent in June, surpassing expectations and pressuring spot butter prices while 2025 futures climbed on strong export demand.