Under soft global dairy market conditions, U.S. export gains remain elusive.

Powder exports lead the way, with other products in a lower gear.

European Union steps up its game following the end of quota limits, increasing market share and finding new customers. 

January NDM/SMP sales increased 23 percent from a year ago but the overall value of U.S. dairy exports fell to their lowest figure since 2011.

Despite the gain in NDM/SMP volume for the month, challenging market conditions continued to impact overall sales. 

NDM/SMP and lactose held up, but other products fell into a lower gear in 2015.

It will take most, if not all, of 2016 for the markets to rebalance. 

NDM/SMP and lactose are higher, but other products are struggling to gain traction.

Real market recovery must be felt at the farm, requiring a sustained skim milk powder price of at least $3,000/ton.

Output is up 3 percent since quotas came off in April, adding to the global surplus.

The Russian embargo and reduced sales to China have prompted U.S. competitors to focus more on skim milk powder, cheese and butterfat. 

USDEC offers a preview of the year ahead, identifying trends that will shape bottom lines.

Nearly one-third of total U.S. dairy exports in October went to Mexico.

USDEC’s Global Outlook Webinar suggests a return to a sellers’ market might still be a long ways off.

Prices continue to fall; USDEC webinar will provide market outlook.

Necessary supply corrections have yet to materialize.

Not counting China and Russia, global trade was up more than 10 percent in the first half of the year.

Lighter shipments of cheese and whey were a drag on overall volume.

U.S. dairy exporters told: ‘We don’t think real recovery is at hand.’ 

Inventories from the world's five major suppliers built as exporters weren’t able to move supplies off-shore.