U.S. nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) exports reached record levels in June, topping 60,000 tons for the second straight month, according to a monthly summary from the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Once again, sales to Mexico (24,735 tons, +72% vs. a year ago) were particularly heavy. Vietnam (6,432 tons, +244%) also was a major buyer. In the first half of the year, U.S. NDM/SMP exports were 300,764 tons, up 13% from last year’s record pace. U.S. manufacturers exported 55% of their NDM/SMP production in the first half of the year.
In the first half of 2014, exports of WMP were more than double what they were a year ago. January-June shipments were 30,292 tons, up 132%.
Cheese volumes remained strong as well. June shipments totaled 33,930 tons, up 33% from last year and the second-highest figure ever. For the third straight month, the largest customer was South Korea; in the second quarter U.S. suppliers shipped 21,047 tons to South Korea, 62% more than last year. Sales to Japan also improved significantly, with second quarter exports of 18,033 tons, up 162%. In the first half of the year, U.S. cheese exports were 199,013 tons, up 34% from last year’s record pace.
With the reversal in pricing relationships (U.S. butter prices turning more expensive than Oceania or Europe offerings), U.S. butterfat exports have slowed considerably. Second quarter sales were 36% less than first quarter sales.
Since peaking in March, whey exports have declined for three straight months. In May-June, exports were 6% less than a year ago, with WPC exports in particular down 14%. Lactose exports also are lagging; in the second quarter, lactose export volume was down 13% from a year ago.
By value, June dairy exports were $669.2 million, up 14% from a year ago. That brings year-to-date sales to $3.92 billion, up 26%.
In total, U.S. suppliers shipped 182,743 tons of milk powders, cheese, butterfat, whey and lactose in June, up 6% from last year. In the first half of the year, aggregate volume of key products was 1,078,272 tons, up 14%.
U.S. exports (on a total milk solids basis) were equivalent to 17.3% of U.S. milk solids production in June. Imports were equivalent to just 2.7% of production.
| U.S. dairy exports as a percent of production | ||||
| June | June | Jan.-June | Jan.-June | |
| Item | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 |
| NDM/SMP | 57% | 61% | 50% | 46% |
| Total cheese | 7.8% | 6.1% | 7.9% | 5.8% |
| Butterfat | 12.1% | 5.5% | 13.2% | 5.8% |
| Dry sweet whey | 67% | 51% | 66% | 46% |
| Lactose | 62% | 77% | 69% | 76% |
| Total milk solids | NA | 15.7% | NA | 13.7% |
Source: Dairy Herd
