Dairy exports set a record and other dairy industry news
Dairy exports in 2013 set a record. U.S. dairy exporters shipped record levels of milk powder, cheese, whey products, lactose and fluid milk, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Overseas sales were worth $6.7 billion last year, up 31% from the year before. On a volume basis, exporters sold 3.91 billion pounds of milk solids, 19% more than 2012.
“Overseas demand remained strong, led by China and Russia,” said USDEC President Tom Suber. “Production from Oceania, Europe and South America was shorted by weather issues. And world prices rallied significantly in the second quarter, making U.S. prices more attractive by comparison. Faced with these factors, overseas buyers turned to the United States like never before, and U.S. suppliers responded.”