2024 March Board Book

International

December cheese shipments remained mostly steady, totaling 81 million pounds, up 0.6% from December 2022. But the annual total is still down 3% from 2022. Exports to South Korea and Japan fell behind prior year totals, with South Korea landing at 101 million pounds, down 40% from 2022, and Japan at 91 million pounds, down 15%. Volume into Mexico continues to be a bright spot, reaching nearly 30 million pounds in December and bringing the year-to-date total to 327 million pounds, a 20% lift from 2022. Outbound shipments of NDM/SMP reached 144 million pounds in December, down 3% month-over-month and –1% on the year. That brought year-to-date shipments down 3% compared to last year’s levels. Exports to Southeast Asia rose 9% from last December but are down 21% for the calendar year. US dry whey exports continued to tumble as December shipments only reached 34 million pounds, down 15% from December 2022. Volume to China didn’t see improvement, with exports falling 38% year-overyear. Meanwhile, shipments of WPC 80+ were strong at 15 million pounds, a 14% increase compared to December 2022. That brought the year-to-date total to 167 million pounds, an 18% increase.

Source: Ever.Ag Trade Trends (February 7, 2024)