For National Dairy Month, the U.S. Dairy Export Council is answering the questions our farmer-funders frequently ask. This is FAQ No. 8 in a 10-part series. 

Editor's note: We are now offering all 10 FAQs and USDEC's answers bundled in a single, easy-to-read document featuring data, examples and analysis. Click the red button below, fill out a simple form and you'll get the report in an instant.

FAQ 8: What is fueling the dairy boom in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia provides a ripe opportunity for U.S. dairy exporters with its exploding population of young people and growing middle class.  

The region, which encompasses the six major markets of export focus of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and includes Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Laos, has a combined population of more than 675 million people, more than double the population of the United States. 
 

In 2020, Southeast Asia was the United States’ No. 1 global customer on a volume basis and No. 2 on a value (or dollar sales) basis. From 2019 to 2020, sales to Southeast Asia rose 36%, to $1.3 billion.  

The chart compares 2020 trade data with 2019 data.

Southeast Asia's emergence as the largest destination for U.S. dairy exports has been primarily driven by U.S. skim milk powder shipments to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  

The equivalent of about one day’s production of U.S. milk per month now goes to Southeast Asia.      
   
Even more exciting for the future, USDEC has positioned the U.S. dairy industry to take advantage of opportunities in Southeast Asia through the new  U.S. Center for Dairy Excellence in Singapore. 

Learn more:

• FAQ 7: What U.S. dairy products get exported and where are they shipped?

• FAQ 6: How have dairy exports performed with USDEC?

• FAQ 5: Why should friends and neighbors not in the U.S. dairy industry care about exports?
• FAQ 4: How is the U.S. Dairy Export Council funded?
• FAQ 3: How did the U.S. Dairy Export Council start?

• FAQ 2: What does the U.S. Dairy Export Council do?

• FAQ 1: How do U.S. dairy exports benefit farmers?

Subscribe to the U.S. Dairy Exporter Blog    

The U.S. Dairy Export Council fosters collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to enhance global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients. USDEC is primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy farmer checkoff. How to republish this post.