U.S. dairy product export growth string reaches 14 months

October whey and milk powder sales to Asia-Pacific helped push U.S. dairy exports to a 14th consecutive month of year-over-year gains, according to a monthly update from the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Here’s a look at the topline numbers: Volume basis: U.S. dairy export volume (milk solids basis) grew 14% in October (versus the previous year). It was a record for October and the third time this year that U.S. suppliers topped the 200,000 metric tons in a single month. The U.S. remains on pace to set a new annual record for export volume. The big rebound in October 2020 whey sales (up 64%) to China followed last year’s retaliatory tariffs and reduced demand due to African swine fever. Shipments of higher-valued whey to Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia are also a growth market. In addition to whey, strong sales of skim milk powder (SMP) to Southeast Asia were enough to offset reduced demand across categories in Mexico and slow U.S. cheese sales in most other regions due ...