WPI, WPC Foster U.S. Whey Export Expansion (Chart)

The value of U.S. whey exports has quickly outpaced volume growth as overseas demand for higher-value, higher-protein varieties has soared.

U.S. export data suggests the benefits of whey protein are starting to get through to overseas end-users of dairy ingredients.

While overall U.S. whey product export volumes managed good but unexciting 10 percent growth from 2010-2014, U.S. value soared 73 percent over the same period. That was primarily due to a shift in U.S. product mix to higher protein, higher value products.

In 2010, lower value sweet whey powder made up 56 percent of U.S. volume. By 2014, that number had dropped to 46 percent. Whey powder essentially swapped places with whey protein concentrate (WPC) and whey protein isolate (WPI), which lifted their combined share of U.S. export volume from from 44 percent to 54 percent.

Through six months of 2015, combined WPC and WPI volume accounted for 57 percent of total U.S. whey exports. WPI shipments rose a whopping 83 percent, well on its way to a record. Perhaps the most impressive figure: WPI value January-June exceeded sweet whey powder $145.7 million to $131.8 million.

The reason: “Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition,” says Véronique Lagrange, USDEC Vice President, Strategy and Insights. “No other single ingredient can improve muscle tone, prevent stunting, change body composition, stimulate muscle synthesis and growth, address abdominal fat and lower incidence of low birth weight.”

These posts from The U.S. Dairy Exporter Blog make the same point, but in greater detail: :

• Global Boom of 65+ Population Opens Door for U.S. Whey Protein
• Research Confirms Benefits of Whey Protein
• Alpha-lactalbumin Golden Opportunity for U.S. Dairy
• Milk Powder and Whey Pace U.S. Dairy Exports in May

Work done by the Whey Protein Research Consortium, which is managed by Dairy Management Inc., has been critical to securing dairy protein’s position in the most lucrative markets.

For 12 years, the Whey Protein Research Consortium has been working to document the unique benefits of whey proteins with a focus on body composition for an eventual science-based claim on package labels. The consortium is a pre-competitive, international group of whey suppliers, global customers and associations that includes USDEC and USDEC members.

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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.  

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