August 11, 2014
Milk powder exports lead soaring US dairy exports
In the first half of the year, the United States exported 55% of its non-fat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) production, or 300,764 tonnes, up 13% from last year''s record pace.
The figures are released by the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) in its monthly report.
In the first half of 2014, exports of WMP were more than double what they were a year ago. January-June shipments were 30,292 tonnes, up 132%.
In June, US non-fat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) exports reached record levels, topping 60,000 tonnes for the second straight month. Exports to Mexico of 24,735 tonnes represented an increase of 72% on-year, while exports to another major buyer - Vietnam of 6,432 tonnes saw a 244% increase.
Cheese volumes remained strong, with US cheese exports of 199,013 tonnes in the first half of the year, up 34% from last year''s record pace. June shipments totalled 33,930 tonnes, up 33% on-year, marking the second-highest figure ever. For the third straight month, the largest customer was South Korea. In the second quarter, US suppliers exported 21,047 tonnes to South Korea, 62% more than last year. Sales to Japan also improved significantly, with second quarter exports of 18,033 tonnes, up 162%.
With US butter prices becoming more expensive than Oceania or Europe''s offerings, US butterfat exports have slowed considerably. Second quarter sales were 36% less than first quarter sales.
Since peaking in March, whey exports have declined for three straight months. In May-June, exports were 6% less than a year ago, with WPC exports in particular down 14%. Lactose exports also are lagging; in the second quarter, lactose export volume was down 13% from a year ago.
By value, June dairy exports were $669.2 million, up 14% from a year ago. That brings year-to-date sales to $3.92 billion, up 26%.
In total, US suppliers shipped 182,743 tonnes of milk powders, cheese, butterfat, whey and lactose in June, up 6% from last year. In the first half of the year, aggregate volume of key products was 1,078,272 tons, up 14%.