U.S. Dairy Exports Off to Solid 2014 Start, Value Up 35 Percent

Cheese remains one of the best performers, with volume up 46 percent this January compared to January 2013.

U.S. dairy exports got off to a solid start in January, as value reached $583.7 million, a gain of 35 percent from the previous year, according to USDA data released late last week. Aggregate volume of the major export categories (milk powder, cheese, whey, butterfat and lactose) totaled 162,999 tons, on par with each of the last four months of 2013.

Cheese remained one of the best performers, as monthly volume rose 46 percent (compared to the previous January), topping 32,000 tons for the first time.

Butterfat volume jumped 150 percent to 10,128 tons vs. January 2013. Although NDM/SMP rose 22 percent to 38,761 tons, it was the first time monthly volume had dipped below 40,000 tons since March 2013.

For a more in-depth analysis of all the January results, click here.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council is primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy farmer checkoff that builds on collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to build global demand for U.S. dairy products.