U.S. Dairy Exports Continue to Climb

In April, U.S. export volume and value rose for the third straight month.

by Alan Levitt, USDEC

Though still trailing last year’s pace, U.S. dairy exporters continue to move relatively strong volumes of milk powder, cheese, whey products and lactose in the early months of 2015, according to the latest trade data report from the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).

In April, U.S. export volume and value were up for the third straight month. U.S. suppliers shipped 185,342 tons of milk powders, cheese, butterfat, whey and lactose in April, the second-highest figure ever (on a daily-average basis).

Lactose, whey protein isolate (WPI) and fluid milk exports reached record levels in April, while exports of nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) were the third-most ever.

These results suggest U.S. suppliers are maintaining most of their overseas business, despite the softest market conditions in six years. Exporters in both Europe and Oceania had more product to sell in April; EU-28 milk production was up an estimated 2 percent and New Zealand milk production was up 8.5 percent. In addition, Australia and Argentina posted 3 percent gains. Increased supply has put U.S. exporters in a very competitive world marketplace.

For the U.S. market, solid export numbers for NDM/SMP were particularly critical in preventing powder stocks from continuing to accumulate. Almost 59 percent of U.S. NDM/SMP production for the month was sold overseas, resulting in a small reduction in April carryout inventories.

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