Though still trailing last year’s pace, U.S. dairy exporters continue to move relatively strong volumes of milk powder, cheese, whey products and lactose in the early months of 2015, according to USDEC’s latest trade data report.
In April, U.S. export volume and value were up for the third straight month after bottoming out in January. U.S. suppliers shipped 185,342 tons of milk powders, cheese, butterfat, whey and lactose in April, the second-highest figure ever (on a daily-average basis). Total overseas sales were valued at $535 million, down 22% from last year, but up 1% from March (daily average).
Cheese exports in April were down 6% from a year ago. However, lactose, whey protein isolate (WPI) and fluid milk exports reached record levels in April.
These results suggest U.S. suppliers are maintaining most of their overseas business, despite the softest market conditions in six years. Exporters in both Europe and Oceania had more product to sell in April; EU-28 milk production was up an estimated 2% and New Zealand milk production was up 8.5%. In addition, Australia and Argentina posted 3% gains. Increased supply has put U.S. exporters in a very competitive world marketplace.
For the U.S. market, solid export numbers for NDM/SMP were particularly critical in preventing powder stocks from continuing to accumulate. Shipments of NDM/SMP were 57,400 tons, the third-highest total ever. This volume was up 8% from March (daily average) and up 8% from last year. Sales to Southeast Asia – led by Vietnam and Indonesia – were the most ever. In addition, sales to Mexico were up 20%, and exporters registered new sales of 3,836 tons to Pakistan.
Almost 59% of U.S. NDM/SMP production for the month was sold overseas, resulting in a small reduction in April carryout inventories.
U.S. exports (on a total milk solids basis) were equivalent to 16.7% of U.S. milk solids production in April, the most since June 2014. Imports were equivalent to 3.2% of production in April.
| U.S. dairy exports as a percent of production | ||||
|
Apr. |
Apr. |
Jan.-Apr. |
Jan.-Apr. |
|
| Item |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
| NDM/SMP |
59% |
56% |
49% |
50% |
| Total cheese |
7.1% |
7.7% |
6.8% |
7.9% |
| Butterfat |
3.2% |
11.5% |
3.3% |
12.9% |
| Dry sweet whey |
50% |
69% |
44% |
66% |
| Lactose |
89% |
61% |
74% |
69% |
| Total milk solids |
16.7% |
16.9% |
14.2% |
16.2% |
| Source: USDA, USDEC, NMPF | ||||
By Alan Levitt, U.S. Dairy Export Council