Overall BICO dairy exports for the first quarter were valued at $502.4 million, down 51 percent, according to trade data released by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service May 12. March exports were valued at $170.1 million, also down 51 percent.

 

U.S. suppliers exported 50,294 tons of NDM/SMP in the first quarter, down 52 percent from last year, says USDA/FAS. Shipments to all regions were lower, with large declines registered in U.S. sales to Mexico, Southeast Asia, China and Middle East/North Africa.

 

Cheese exports in the first quarter were 24,621 tons, down 26 percent. Exports to Mexico were higher, but not enough to offset declines in sales to Asia and the Middle East/North Africa.

 

First quarter butterfat exports were just 5,162 tons, down 78 percent from prior year. Shipments to Mexico and Canada were higher, but there were no sales to Russia or North Africa, significant customers a year ago.

 

Whey continues to be a bright spot for U.S. exporters. Exports of whey proteins were above year ago levels, with gains in shipments of dry whey and whey protein isolate. Dry whey exports were 50,359 tons in the first quarter, up 19 percent from a year ago and exports of whey protein isolate were 3,624 tons, up 40 percent. Meanwhile, exports of whey protein concentrate were 28,144 tons, down 18 percent. Total whey proteins export sales were 82,127 tons, up 3 percent from first quarter 2008. Sales to China, Japan and Mexico were higher, while shipments to Southeast Asia were lower.

 

U.S. suppliers exported 45,265 tons of lactose in the first quarter, down 3 percent. Shipments to China and Oceania doubled, but that was offset by declines to Japan, Southeast Asia, Mexico and Korea.

 

Among other key products, in the first quarter:

Fluid milk, 11.1 million liters, -20 percent

Food preps, 17,282 tons, -11 percent

Whole milk powder, 4,665 tons, -57 percent

Ice cream, 5,469 tons, +7 percent.

 

Overall, exports were down to nearly all destinations. The value of shipments to Southeast Asia plunged 67 percent in the first quarter, sales to Middle East/North Africa dropped 76 percent and exports to Mexico declined 45 percent.

 

In the first three months of the year, U.S. exports were equivalent to 23 percent of the NDM/SMP produced, 48 percent of the whey proteins, 58 percent of the lactose, 2.2 percent of the cheese and 2.4 percent of the butter.