The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) reported in its May Export Profile that 2012 U.S. cheese exports grew nearly 16 percent, breaking the $1 billion mark for the first time. USDEC added that the export level was no fluke or temporary spike but called it «a milestone more than a decade in the making.»
“Global demand growth driven by emerging market eco¬nomic expansion, urbanization, population growth, and retail and foodservice chain modernization set the stage for cheese exports,†says Angélique Hollister, USDEC vice president, cheese and consumer products.
U.S. dairy exports began 2013 on a solid note, with first quarter volume of dry ingredients (milk powder, whey products, lactose), cheese and butterfat at 412,000 tons, a gain of 11 percent over the fourth quarter of 2012.
Source:Â United State Export Council