DAIRY
World Markets and Trade
January 1998

Exports of Total Dairy Products from the United States

Bureau of the Census data for the first 10 months of 1997 show that the pace of U.S. dairy product exports is running substantially above that of 1996. For the first 10 months of 1997, the total value of dairy exports was up 24 percent compared to the same period of 1996. On a product basis, most of the increase is due to sharply higher shipments of milk powders as a result of the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP). Butter and anhydrous milkfat have also been aided by DEIP, but the bulk of the new contracts have not yet shown up in export statistics. Outside DEIP, exports of fresh milk and cream and cheese exports are significantly higher while condensed and evaporated milk are down sharply. Exports of ice cream and yoghurt were both behind last year's pace while the whey complex is running just ahead of last year. Dairy based food products, (other dairy products) continue to show rapid growth on a value basis.

On a regional basis, Mexico, boosted by sharp increases in both DEIP and non-DEIP commodities was the leading destination for U.S. dairy products with a 10-month value of $137 million, 50 percent above last year's comparable total.

Growth in Japan, the second major market, was a more modest 9 percent. U.S. exports to Canada, the third most important destination, were a modest 3 percent above last year's 10-month total of $80 million. Taiwan and Hong Kong, with 10-month trade of $59 million and $39 million respectively round out the top 5 markets. Other regions or countries that showed very rapid growth during the first 10 months of 1997 includes Caribbean and Central America as regions and Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and China, all with growth of 50 percent or more compared with the January-October period last year.

Last modified: Thursday, April 06, 2000