U.S. Dairy Exports Surge to $9.51 Billion in 2025

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:50:01 GMT

The U.S. dairy industry closed 2025 just shy of an all-time export record, signaling strong global demand and growing diversification across international markets.

According to calendar year 2025 data released by USDA, U.S. dairy exports reached $9.51 billion, narrowly missing the record $9.54 billion set in 2022. That total is up 15% from 2024, showing how U.S. dairy continues to gain ground in global markets.

In addition to higher value, export volumes also increased. According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), U.S. dairy exports totaled 2.8 million metric tons in 2025, up 5% from the previous year. Growth was driven largely by expanding demand in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and South America, regions that are playing an increasing role in strengthening and diversifying U.S. dairy exports.

“This near-record year demonstrates that U.S. dairy exporters are succeeding in diversifying both markets and product portfolios,” says Michael Dykes, IDFA president and CEO. “Growth across North Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, South America and the European Union reflects a deliberate strategy to reduce concentration risk, deepen customer relationships and compete in emerging and established markets alike. Today, U.S. dairy exports reach 143 countries, and our product mix spans consumer-ready foods, high-value ingredients and specialized nutrition products — a level of diversification that strengthens long-term export resilience.”

Regional Growth Highlights

Export growth in 2025 was broad-based, with several regions posting double- and even triple-digit gains. The following breakdown from IDFA highlights how U.S. dairy exports performed by region:

North Africa — Exports surged 107% by value and 69% by volume, reflecting accelerating demand across the region.
Middle East — Exports grew 48% by value and 19% by volume, driven largely by processed cheese, sweetened milk powder, whey protein powder and concentrate, lactose and natural milk products.
South Asia — Exports grew 63% by value and 25% by volume, led by strong growth in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. U.S. dairy exports to India alone increased 71% by value and 31% by volume.
South America — Exports grew 14% by value and 7% by volume.
Central America — Exports grew 19% by value and 13% by volume.
North America — Exports grew 6% by value and 2% by volume.
East Asia — Exports grew 14% by value and 2% by volume.
European Union — Exports increased 61% by value and 69% by volume.
Sub-Saharan Africa — Exports grew 9% by value.

Higher-Fat Products Help Drive Momentum

Demand for higher-fat dairy products saw a sharp increase in 2025, contributing to overall growth in U.S. dairy exports. Global export volumes rose by approximately 165% for butter and milk fat and by 56% for whole milk powders, reflecting shifts in global purchasing patterns and increased use of these products in both consumer foods and food manufacturing.

Several other categories also posted solid gains. Dairy spreads, whey protein concentrates and cheese were among the stronger-performing products, indicating continued demand for both value-added ingredients and consumer-ready dairy products across a range of markets.

Combined with broader regional growth, higher export volumes and near-record export value, U.S. dairy continues to expand its role in international markets.

“Looking ahead, our industry is poised for even greater growth,” Dykes says. “A renewed trade agenda that expands market access, strengthens enforcement and opens new opportunities in Southeast Asia, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East will allow U.S. dairy exporters to compete and win in markets around the globe.”

With momentum already built in 2025, the outlook for 2026 points toward continued export gains fueled by expanding opportunities.

Africa: Land of Milk and Beef?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:39:25 GMT

Investing in Africa’s beef and dairy industries could be a boom for global agriculture, but it does come with some baggage.

During Alltech’s 30th Annual International Symposium in Lexington, Ky., a presentation was given about the potential of Africa’s agriculture industry. Speaking on panel was Charles Moore a consulting nutritionist from Cape Town, South Africa. He discussed some of the opportunities and challenges related to putting Africa’s beef and dairy industries on a level playing field with more established areas of the world like Australia, Brazil and the U.S.

Moore listed the countries that would be best suited for dairy production and here were some of his favorites:

Angola would be an excellent place to start a dairy in Africa because there is a large population with an economy fueled by the oil industry. The climate it is well suited for milk production and access to water is not a problem. There would also be the potential for export because of the close proximity to Middle East and Southeast Asian markets.
Zimbabwe would be another good fit for dairy production thanks to a built-in infrastructure, a culture that values cattle, favorable climate and quality water sources. However, Moore notes that political turmoil is road block to development.
“Kenya we know is a big dairy market. There are about a million dairy farmers in Kenya milking 3 million cows, so that is 3 cows per farmer,” Moore adds. “There is a lot of room for investment to increase the size and the scale of those farms.”
South Africa already has a well-established dairy industry says Moore. He believes that the country now needs to look at value added products to increase profitability. Much like the rest of the world there is a lot of consolidation within the South African dairy industry, but farmers there are on the cutting edge compared to the rest of the continent. South Africa produces approximately 50% of Africa’s milk.
Other countries that could benefit from investment include Zambia and Ethiopia.
Northern Africa is the one region of Africa that is not conducive for raising cattle because it is a desert.

Moore believes that South Africa’s model will be “the way to go in Africa with 500 to 1,000 cow herds. The small producers are going to get eaten up.”

The true potential in Africa lies in the beef industry where beef cattle out number dairy cows 30 to 40 times.

“It’s part of a subsistence culture where everyone has three cows, but there is a lot of room for consolidation in the market,” Moore says.

Right now there has not been a substantial effort to make the African beef industry profitable, and that is largely because of a lack of infrastructure.

“If we can setup operations that encompass export quality abattoirs (or packing plants) to move some of the beef out, then it is a way to improve the markets,” Moore adds.

Another downfall to the beef industry in Africa comes in the form of wildlife. The country prides itself on the variety of big game species that call the continent home. However there is a risk of disease, particularly Foot and Mouth, because cattle come in close contact to carrier animals like wildebeest and impala.

Keeping wild animals and domestic cattle divided has proven to be quite profitable says Moore. For instance, in Botswana there are specially designated Foot and Mouth free areas that are protected by fences. Cattle originating from disease free regions of Botswana made three times the amount of their unprotected counterparts.

“This is the reality of Africa that you have wild animals and domestic livestock cohabitating where there is not a lot of fencing, so this is a big challenge,” Moore says.