US export volumes continued to slump in July, falling for the third straight month. Suppliers shipped 148,777 tonnes of milk powders, cheese, butterfat, whey and lactose in July, down 13% from a year ago, and down 7% from June (daily average). Total overseas sales were valued at $416 million, down 33% from last year, and down 11% from June (daily average).
To download a printable pdf summary of the July trade data, click here.
Exports of nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) were 40,546t, the lowest since February, and down 22% from a year ago. Cheese exports fell for the fourth straight month, dropping to 25,534t. This figure is down 21% from last year, and marks the third-lowest total in the last 29 months.
With very weak global whey markets, US whey exports continued trending lower as well. Total whey export volume was 37,951t, a five-month low and down 11% from last July. Among other products, exports of butterfat (-65% year-over-year), whole milk powder (-67%) and milk protein concentrate (-56%) continue to lag.
The soft July performance follows a first half in which US suppliers lost share of global dairy trade. In the first half of the year, the United States accounted for 16.0% of global exports of milk powder, cheese, butterfat and whey, down from 17.6% in the first half of 2014. The European Union, Australia and Belarus picked up share at the United States’ expense.
To use interactive charts with current and historical trade data, see usdec.org's page on US export data.
